The U.S. Army provides support for more than 78,000 relatives of fallen soldiers. Critics say that assistance hasn’t kept pace with inflation, especially for families who’ve recently lost a loved one.

Karen Nance lost her husband, Kerry, in 2002, after he died of complications from his military service. The years that followed were challenging for the Tennessee mom.

“I had to work two jobs for many years and work ... longer than most people work,” she said.

Nearly 25 years later, Nance spends her time volunteering with the Gold Star Wives of America to help other families of fallen service members.

“You have to know how to plan and, you know, you can’t just continue living like you were living,” Nance said.

She waited 18 months to receive her benefits after her husband’s death and knows other widows who waited years. 

The military pays out a death gratuity, also called a bridge payment, to keep families afloat.

“It’s supposed to get paid in that first week, to really cover those immediate financial requirements and anything else that the family is going through during the hardest time in their life,” said Rep. Matt Van Epps, R-Tenn.

Those payments haven’t kept pace with inflation. They’ve been set at $100,000 since 2006. That would be worth about $167,000 today, accounting for inflation. A new bipartisan bill in Congress aims to double that payment to $200,000 and ensure it keeps up with inflation going forward.

“This is one small thing to alleviate some financial burden that should not be there,” said Van Epps, who sponsored the bill. Van Epps himself served in Iraq and Afghanistan and currently serves with the Tennessee Army National Guard. 

“I’ve had friends and colleagues that have been killed in action, teammates, and that really provided the impetus for this,” Van Epps said. “It’s a full family that serves. And when tragedy strikes, it is the hardest thing these families will ever go through.”

Nance said she’s glad to hear of the effort to raise the bridge payment but said there’s more Congress can do to look out for the families of fallen service members.

“You need all kinds of support,” she said. “Mental, physical, financial, all of it.”

Van Epps said he’s confident his bill will be incorporated into next year’s annual must-pass defense policy bill.