Commandant
United States Coast Guard
2100 Second Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20593-0001
Staff Symbol: G-WPC-3
Phone: (202) 267-2346
Fax: (202) 267-4580
COMDTINST 12550.21A
MAY 8, 2003
COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION 12550.21A
Subj: COAST GUARD DEATH GRATUITY PAYMENT
Ref: (a) Section 651 of Public Law 104-208 (5 U.S.C. § 8133 note)
(b) Section 415 of Public Law 107-295 (14 U.S.C. § 823a(b)(9))
1. PURPOSE
. This Instruction amends the Coast Guard's death gratuity payment policy. The law
grants authority to make a death gratuity payment to the personal representative of a civilian
employee whose death results from a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty (reference (a)).
Reference (b) extends coverage to Coast Guard Auxiliary members who die from a traumatic injury
sustained while assigned to authorized Coast Guard duty on or after 1 January 2001.
2. ACTION
. Area and district commanders, commanders of maintenance and logistics commands,
commanding officers of Headquarters units, assistant commandants for directorates, Chief Counsel,
and special staff offices at headquarters shall ensure compliance with the provisions of this
Instruction and its enclosure. Internet release authorized.
3. DIRECTIVES AFFECTED
. Coast Guard Death Gratuity Payment, COMDTINST 12550.21 dated
14 January 1999, is cancelled.
4. BACKGROUND
. Past events where Federal employees have died in the performance of duty
leaving some families without the financial resources to cover funeral expenses and other needs,
prompted Congress to legislate an additional death benefit gratuity. Section 651 of Public Law 104-
208 gives Department and agency heads the authority to pay up to $10,000, as a death gratuity, to
the personal representative of an employee who dies from an injury sustained in the line of duty
occurring on or after 2 August 1990. Section 415 of reference (b), the Maritime Transportation
Security Act of 2002, amends federal law (14 U.S.C. § 823a) to render Coast Guard Auxiliary
members eligible on or after 1 January 2001.
DISTRIBUTION – SDL No. 140
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
A
B
8 21* 1 12 10 3 5 6 35344428233 3 3 113 1
C
2 1 3 3 2 2 1 6131 8 1 2 211
D
1 1 1 1 1
E
F
3
G
H
NON-STANDARD DISTRIBUTION: B:c MLCLANT, MLCPAC (16 extra); D:d Boston, South Portland, Southwest Harbor, Woods Hole,
Long Island Sound, New York, Baltimore, Hampton Roads, Charleston, Humboldt Bay (1)
