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5.2. Eligibility

If you are automatically insured under full-time SGLI, you are automatically covered by TSGLI. TSGLI coverage applies to active duty members, reservists, National Guard members, funeral honors duty and one-day muster duty.

To be eligible for payment of TSGLI, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• You must be insured by SGLI when you experience a traumatic injury
• You must incur a scheduled loss and that loss must be a direct result of a traumatic injury
• You must have suffered the traumatic injury prior to midnight of the day that you separate from the uniformed services
• You must suffer a scheduled loss within 2 years (730 days) of the traumatic injury
• You must survive for a period of not less than seven full days from the date of the traumatic injury (The 7-day period begins on the date and time of the traumatic injury, as measured by Zulu [Greenwich Meridian] time and ends 168 full hours later)

This benefit is also provided retroactively for servicemembers who incurred severe losses as a result of traumatic injuries incurred between October 7, 2001 and November 30, 2005, regardless of the geographic location where the injury occurred, and regardless of whether coverage was in effect at the time of injury.  Effective October 1, 2011, the Veterans' Benefit Improvement Act of 2010 removed the requirement that injuries during the retroactive period be incurred in Operations Enduring or Iraqi Freedom.

You can use VA's eligibility questionnaire to see if you may be eligible for a Retroactive TSGLI payment.

You may also view a list of losses eligible for TSGLI payment.