Death in Service

Should personnel die in military service, the Casualty reporting requirements are the same as other casualty events n the first instance. The JCCC will then instigate the appropriate follow-on actions, which may include repatriation of the deceased to the UK, registration of the death and marking of the grave.

In association with our SPVA colleagues at Norcross, we work closely with the Notifying Authority, the Casualty Notification Officer (CNO) and the Visiting Officer (VO) to ensure that families are supported throughout such difficult occasions.

The SPVA is the single point of contact for bereaved families on all financial matters relating to Service in the Armed Forces and operates a Freephone Helpline on 0800 169 22 77. The Helpline can offer advice on pension, compensation, accommodation, pay and allowance issues. However, VO’s or families seeking specialist advice on repatriation, funeral entitlements, the marking of graves or estate issues should contact the JCCC direct.

Following a death in service, the Deceased Estates staff of the JCCC will authorise the release of any personal effects found on military property to the next of kin or executor, and is responsible for notifying the executor of any monies due to the Estate from the MoD (such as balance of pay / death in service grant). Payment is made to the Executor once the necessary legal authority has been obtained (click this link for details of unpaid estates).

The team also makes payments to the Estate of ex service personnel in respect of a preserved pension and will investigate and may grant exemptions from Inheritance Tax on an Estate where death arises during or, in the view of Service medical authorities, is proved to have been hastened by, active service against an enemy, or other service of a war like nature.

Anyone who dies in military service is entitled to a funeral at public expense (a Service Funeral) plus a £500 funeral Grant. Alternatively, where the family prefers to organise a private funeral, the MoD will provide a larger grant (up to £3,086) towards the cost.
 
If a Service funeral is held, the JCCC offers to provide a military pattern headstone, urn plot marker (UPM), or entry in a Book of Remembrance, at public expense, as a memorial to the deceased. Service headstones (not UPM) will be maintained in perpetuity (subject to certain conditions) under arrangements put in place by the JCCC (for non war graves) or the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (War Graves).

Full details of the regulations pertaining to headstones and markers are available at Volume 2 Chapter 3 of JSP 751 (refer to Related Links).

The JCCC also provides details of all those who die in military service, to the Trustees of Armed Forces Memorial.  This memorial, located in the National Memorial Arboretum, at Alrewas, in Staffordshire, commemorates service personnel who have died whilst on duty, or as the result of terrorist activity, since 1 January 1948.  The decision as to which names appear on the memorial is a matter for the Trustees and not the JCCC.  Further information on the Armed Forces Memorial and a roll of honour listing all those who have died in military service (on or off duty) since 1 January 1948 may be obtained via the following link: http://www.veterans-uk.info/afm/index.htm 

Contact us:
To contact a member of the JCCC Post Death Administration Team please:

Telephone 01452 712612 :
Ext 6323 / 6301 (Estates),
Ext 5680 / 8174 (Inheritance Tax ),
Ext 6304 / 6442 (Graves).

Or write to:
Service Personnel & Veterans Agency,
JCCC, Room G35,
Innsworth House,
Imjin Barracks,  Gloucester. GL3 1HW.
Email: jccc@spva.mod.uk