Interim Final Rule for the FECA Death Gratuity (5 U.S.C. 8102a)

Division of Federal Employees' Compensation (DFEC)

The FECA Death Gratuity (established by the 2008 Defense Authorization Act) created a new benefit for beneficiaries of federal employees (and employees of non-appropriated fund instrumentalities). This provision authorizes the Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs to pay up to $100,000 to the survivors of "an employee who dies of injuries incurred in connection with the employee's service with an Armed Force in a contingency operation." An Interim Final Rule implementing this benefit was published on August 18, 2009.