TREASURY DEPARTMENT,

BUREAU OF WAR-RISK INSURANCE,

DIVISION OF MILITARY AND NAVAL INSURANCE.

BULLETIN No. 2.

BRIEF OUTLINE OF FAMILY ALLOWANCES, ALLOTMENTS, COMPENSATION, AND INSURANCE FOR THE MILITARY AND NAVAL FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES PROVIDED UNDER ACT OF CONGRESS APPROVED OCTOBER 6, 1917.1

By act of Congress approved October 6, 1917, the United States makes certain provisions for the families and dependents of the members of its military and naval forces.

The full title of the law, which is sometimes referred to as the soldiers and sailors insurance law, is "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to authorize the establishment of a Bureau of War-Risk Insurance in the Treasury Department.'

The law provides, in brief, the following:

1. For the support, during the war, of the families and dependents of enlisted men.

(a) Allotments of pay.-Certain proportions of pay are to be withheld from the man and paid directly to the families or dependents, or for insurance, or for other purposes. Allotment or deposit of one-half of pay may be required in all cases.

(b) Family allowances. In addition to all allotments of pay by the man, the United States will pay monthly allowances to the wife, children, and certain dependents.

2. For the protection of officers and enlisted men and their dependents from the hazards of injury, disease, and death.

(a) Compensation.-Monthly payments, for disability and death due to injury and disease incurred in the line of duty.

(b) Insurance.-Provided by the United States upon application and payment of premium, without medical examination, against total permanent disability and death. The premium will be at normal peace rates without loading, and the United States will bear the extra cost due to war service. Provision is made for the continuation of the insurance after leaving the service.

MILITARY AND NAVAL PAY DEPOSIT FUND (SEC. 21).

A separate fund created in the Treasury, for deposit of allotments of pay for the benefit of the men themselves.

These deposits to receive 4 per cent interest, compounded semiannually.

The Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy may require every enlisted man to deposit in this fund such proportion of his

Prepared for the conference of Army and Navy officers and representatives, Oct. 16-18, 1917, Washington, D. C

2 Section references cite the sections of the law which are here summarized.

pay, not otherwise allotted, as will, added to the compulsory allotment, equal one-half pay.

DEFINITIONS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE ACT (SEC. 22).

"Military or naval forces" means the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, the Naval Reserves, the National Naval Volunteers, and any other branch of the United States service while serving pursuant to law with the Army or the Navy.

"Commissioned officer" includes a warrant officer, but includes only an officer in active service.

"Man" or 66 enlisted man "" means person, male or female, in active service in the military or naval forces of the United States, and includes noncommissioned and petty officers and members of training camps.

66

Injury" includes disease.

"Pay" means the pay for service in the United States according to grade and length of service, excluding all allowances.

"Child" is limited to an unmarried person either under 18 years of age, or incompetent, and includes, under certain conditions, a stepchild, adopted child, and illegitimate child.

"Parent" includes a parent, grandparent, and step-parent, either of the person in the service or of the spouse.

"Brother" and "sister" include brothers and sisters of the half blood as well as those of the whole blood, stepbrothers and stepsisters, and brothers and sisters through adoption.

The bureau on request shall furnish information to and act for persons in service with respect to insurance as may be prescribed by regulation, and may on request keep records of policies, companies, etc. (Sec. 24.)

Punishment provided for perjury or fraud. (Secs. 25-26.)

ALLOTMENTS AND FAMILY ALLOWANCES.

(Applies to enlisted men, not to officers.)

ALLOTMENT OF PAY (SEC. 201).

Allotment of pay, compulsory as to wife (divorced wife in certain cases), compulsory as to child, voluntary as to other persons.

Monthly compulsory allotment shall be in an amount equal to family allowances hereinafter specified but not more than one-half pay, or less than $15.

The enlisted man may allot any proportion or amount of his pay in addition to the compulsory allotment for such purposes and persons as he may direct, subject to regulations. (Sec. 202.)

The Secretary of War and the Secretary of Navy may require that any proportion of one-half pay which is not allotted shall be deposited in the military and naval pay deposit fund for the benefit of the man. (Sec. 203.)

Compulsory allotment may be waived on written consent of wife, supported by evidence of her ability to support herself and children. (Sec. 201.)

Compulsory allotment may be excused for good cause shown, subject to regulations. (Sec. 201.)

FAMILY ALLOWANCE (SEC. 204).

A family allowance not to exceed $50, in addition to pay allotted by the man, shall be paid by the United States.

Family allowance shall be paid upon application, which may be made by the man, or made by or in behalf of the beneficiary.

No family allowance shall be made for any period preceding November 1, 1917.

Family allowance will be paid from the time of enlistment, but ceases one month after the termination of the war, or at death in, or one month after discharge from the service.

BENEFICIARIES ENTITLED TO FAMILY ALLOWANCE, AND SCHEDULES. If the enlisted person is a man:

Class A. Wife, child, or children:

(a) If there be a wife but no child, $15.

(b) If there be a wife and one child, $25.

(c) If there be a wife and two children, $32.50, with $5 per month additional for each additional child.

(d) If there be no wife, but one child, $5.

(e) If there be no wife, but two children, $12.50.

(f) If there be no wife, but three children, $20.

(g) If there be no wife, but four children, $30, with $5 per month additional for each additional child.

Class B. Grandchild, parent, brother or sister:

(a) If there be one parent, $10.

(b) If there be two parents, $20.

(c) For each grandchild, brother, sister, and additional parent, $5.

If the enlisted person is a woman:

Class A. (None.)

Class B. Child, grandchild, parent, brother or sister:

(a) If there be one parent, $10.

(b) If there be two parents, $20.

(c) For each grandchild, brother, sister, and additional

parent, $5.

(d) If there be one child, $5.

(e) If there be two children, $12.50.

(f) If there be three children, $20.

(g) If there be four children, $30, with $5 per month addi

tional for each additional child.

Family allowances for class A shall be paid only if and while a compulsory allotment is made to a member or members of such class. (Sec. 205.)

Family allowances to members of class B shall be paid only if and while the member is dependent in whole or in part on the enlisted man, and only if and while an allotment of pay is made to a member or members of such class. (Sec. 206.)

The total monthly allowance to beneficiaries of Class B added to the enlisted man's monthly allotment to them shall not exceed the average sum habitually contributed by him to their support monthly. The commissioner after investigation shall make an award, on which the amount of allotments shall be determined.

The commissioner shall have continuing jurisdiction over his awards.

The amount of each monthly allotment and allowance shall be determined according to the conditions then existing. (Sec. 210.)

COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY (SEC. 300).

Compensation is payable to officers and enlisted men and to members of the Army Nurse Corps or of the Navy Nurse Corps when employed in active service under the War or Navy Department.

Compensation shall be payable for death or disability resulting from personal injury suffered or disease contracted in line of duty, unless caused by the person's own willful misconduct.

The cost of compensation shall be paid by the United States without contributions from the persons protected.

COMPENSATION IN CASE OF DEATH (SEC. 301).

TO FAMILY.

The only persons entitled to receive compensation in case of death are the widow, children, and dependent widowed mother of the deceased.

The monthly sums payable in each case are stated and are not based upon the pay of the deceased.

(a) For a widow alone, $25.

(b) For a widow and one child, $35.

(c) For a widow and two children, $47.50, with $5 for each additional child up to two.

(d) If there be no widow, then for one child, $20.

(e) For two children, $30.

(f) For three children, $40, with $5 for each additional child up to two.

(g) For a widowed mother, $20. The amount payable under this subdivision shall not be greater than a sum which, when added to the total amount payable to the widow and children, does not exceed $75.

Compensation to a widow or widowed mother shall continue until death or remarriage.

Compensation to a child shall cease at the age of 18, or at marriage, unless the child is incompetent.

FUNERAL ALLOWANCE.

The United States shall pay burial expenses not to exceed $100.

COMPENSATION IN CASE OF TOTAL DISABILITY (SEC. 302).

During the continuance of total disability, monthly compensation shall be paid to the injured person.

The amounts payable monthly are stated in this section; they are not based upon the pay of the injured person.

(a) If he has neither wife nor child living, $30. (b) If he has a wife but no child living, $45.

(c) If he has a wife and one child living, $55.

(d) If he has a wife and two children living, $65.

(e) If he has a wife and three or more children living, $75. (f) If he has no wife but one child living, $40, with $10 for each additional child up to two.

(g) If he has a widowed mother dependent upon him for support, then, in addition to the above amounts, $10.

To an injured person who is totally disabled and in addition so helpless as to be in constant need of a nurse or attendant, such additional sum shall be paid, but not exceeding $20 per month, as the director may deem reasonable.

For certain specified conditions, or if the injured person is permanently bedridden, $100 monthly compensation is provided. (But no allowance for a nurse shall be made.)

COMPENSATION IN CASE OF PARTIAL DISABILITY.

The amount of compensation in case of partial disability is a percentage of the compensation provided in case of total disability. The percentage is equal to the reduction in earning capacity resulting from the injury.

A schedule of disability ratings shall be adopted, based upon average impairments of earning capacity in civil occupations resulting from specific injuries of a permanent nature.

PROVISIONS RELATING TO DISABILITY.

In addition to compensation the United States shall furnish medical, surgical, and hospital services, and supplies.

Provision is made for frequent examinations of the disabled.

Every person in receipt of compensation shall submit to reasonable treatment. (Sec. 303.)