Turner’s bipartisan bill would protect deceased veterans’ retirement benefits

U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) on March 26 offered a bipartisan bill that would prohibit the federal government from taking back the final retirement benefit paid to a U.S. military veteran during the month that he or she dies. 

“Under the Department of Defense’s current policy, the final month’s retirement benefit of a deceased veteran may be refunded if the family fails to immediately notify the DOD of their loved one’s passing,” Rep. Turner said. “Military families in grieving should not be punished under heartless and unnecessary penalties.”

Rep. Turner is the lead original cosponsor of the Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act, H.R. 2214, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA), which would direct the forgiveness or offset of an overpayment of retired pay paid to a joint account for a period after the death of the retired member of the Armed Forces, according to the congressional record bill summary.

Military families having joint bank accounts into which retirement benefits are often deposited electronically, many times are unaware that the DOD “can claw back overpayments without their consent,” resulting in funds being drawn back from those accounts and subjecting them to overdraft fees, according to Rep. Turner’s office.

“Congressman Garamendi and I introduced the Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act to fix this misguided policy,” said Rep. Turner. “Military families deserve our respect, and our bipartisan bill will help these families avoid undue hardship during what is already a difficult time.” 

H.R. 2214 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee.