TSGLI – Helping Heroes
in Times of Need
What is TSGLI?
Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (TSGLI) was
established by Congress to provide relief to Soldiers and their families after
suffering a traumatic injury. TSGLI
provides payments of up to $100,000 per traumatic event to severely injured
Soldiers who meet the qualifications set forth by Regulation. The benefit is attached to Servicemembers’
Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage and provides payments to members who
suffer a qualifying loss due to a traumatic injury. TSGLI is available to Soldiers from all
components-Active, Reserve, or National Guard.
TSGLI is focused on Soldiers who incur a traumatic injury
while serving their country-on or off the battlefield. The coverage began on December 1, 2005, and
all Soldiers from that point forward who elected SGLI coverage pay an
additional $1 for TSGLI coverage. In
addition, Soldiers who incurred qualifying traumatic injuries from October 7,
2001 through November 30, 2005 while supporting Operational Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
and Operational Enduring Freedom (OEF) or under orders in a Combat Zone Tax
Exclusion (CZTE) area are covered retroactively by TSGLI, regardless of whether
they were covered by SGLI at the time of their injury.
How does TSGLI benefit
Soldiers?
TSGLI provides valuable support to qualifying Soldiers and
their families, giving them financial assistance to help them through their
recovery from a traumatic loss. The
TSGLI benefit is a one-time, lump-sum, tax-free payment per traumatic event and
is not intended to serve as income replacement.
Receiving this benefit will not affect Army or VA disability
compensation determinations.
How can money received
through TSGLI be spent?
TSGLI money received by qualifying Soldiers can be spent at
the Soldier’s discretion. Typical uses
may include defraying the cost of having the Soldier’s family with him/her
during recovery, helping to meet other unexpected expenses resulting from the
Soldier’s traumatic loss; or assisting Soldiers in getting a financial head
start on life after recovery. In order
to maximize the benefit, there is financial counseling available by calling
1-800-428-3416 or e-mailing fcs@financialpoint.com.
ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
Who is covered under
TSGLI?
There are two groups of Soldiers covered under TSGLI:
-
Soldiers
who incurred a qualifying traumatic injury from October 7, 2001 through
November 30, 2005 while under orders supporting OEF and OIF or deployed to a
Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE) area.
-
Soldiers
who elect SGLI coverage and incur a qualifying traumatic injury after December
1, 2005, regardless of their component (Active, Reserve or National Guard) or
the location in which they incurred the injury.
There are some specific circumstances under which a traumatic injury
will not be covered by TSGLI. See below
for examples.
When did the injury
have to occur in order to be covered?
-All qualifying
losses that are a result of a traumatic injury most occur within 365 days of a
traumatic event.
-
To
be eligible for the retroactive benefit, the event must have occurred during
the time period October 7, 2001 through November 30, 2005.
What types of injuries
are covered?
-
A
traumatic injury involves a physical injury severely impacting a Soldier’s
ability to undertake activities of daily living.
-
Traumatic
injuries covered may include, but are not limited to the following:
o
Total
and permanent loss of sight in one or both eyes;
o
Loss
of hand or foot by severance at or above the wrist or ankle;
o
Total
and permanent loss of hearing in one or both ears;
o
Loss
of speech;
o
Loss
of thumb and index finger of the same hand by severance at or above the
metacarpophalandeal joints;
o
Quadriplegia,
paraplegia or hemiplegia;
o
3rd
degree or worse burns covering 30 percent of the body or 30 percent of the
fact;
o
Coma
or traumatic brain injury;
o
Other
traumatic injuries resulting in the inability to carry out two (2) of the six
(6) Activities of Daily Living (ADL).
What do quadriplegia,
paraplegia, and hemiplegia mean?
-
Quadriplegia: Paralysis of all four limbs.
-
Paraplegia: Complete paralysis of the lower half of the
body including both legs, usually caused by damage to the spinal cord.
-
Hemiplegia: Paralysis affecting only one side of the body.
Claim Process
www.tsgli.army.mil;
e-mailing TSGLI@hoffman.army.mil,
or by calling 1-800-237-1336.
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Contact your local CVSO.
Feel free to contact Oconto County VSO – CALL 920-834-6817
or e-mail: cvso@co.oconto.wi.us, or visit us at The
Courthouse,