---
title: Active duty military: What Your Family Gets If You Die on the Job
url: https://coverfolk.com/jobs/active-military/on-the-job-death
updated: 2026-10-08
---

# SGLI pays up to $500,000. Is that enough, and what about after you get out?

What workers comp, a work plan and Social Security really pay, and what they leave out.

Updated October 8, 2026[Fact checked](/editorial-standards)

The short answer

SGLI is a strong start, but it ends after you get out unless you convert it. A policy you own pays no matter where or how you die.

## What your family may get

| Source | What it pays for service members |
| --- | --- |
| **SGLI** | Up to $500,000 while you serve. You pick the amount. It ends after you get out unless you convert it. |
| **Social Security** | A one time $255 payment, plus monthly checks for kids and some spouses if you worked long enough. |

## How to close the gap

* Buy a term policy you own. It stays with you if you change jobs.
* Pick an amount close to 10 years of pay plus your mortgage.
* Tell the insurer your real job. Hiding it can lead to a denied claim.
* Ask an agent which companies treat service members fairly.

[Find my gap](/jobs/active-military/calculator)

## Common questions

What happens if a service member dies on the job?

Not the same system. Military deaths are covered by military benefits instead. SGLI covers up to $500,000 while you serve. It ends after you leave unless you convert it.

Does workers comp pay life insurance?

No. Workers comp is not life insurance. It may pay part of your lost pay and some funeral costs if a work injury kills you. It does not pay for deaths off the job.

Does my own life insurance pay if I die at work?

Yes. A regular life policy pays whether you die at work, at home or on vacation, as long as you told the truth on the application and the policy is in force.

Will my job make life insurance cost more?

It might. Some insurers add a charge for risky jobs. Others don't. A licensed agent can compare companies that are fair to service members.

## Sources

1. [59 percent of private industry workers had access to life insurance through work (March 2026)](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ebs2.nr0.htm)
2. [Social Security pays a one time $255 death payment to a surviving spouse or child who qualifies](https://www.ssa.gov/personal-record/when-someone-dies/lump-sum-death-payment)
3. [Social Security: Survivors benefits](https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/survivors/)
4. [SGLI covers up to $500,000](https://www.va.gov/life-insurance/options-eligibility/sgli/)