§8141 Civil Air Patrol Volunteers

Summary

Volunteer civilian members of the Civil Air Patrol (but not cadets under 18) get special rules for federal disability and death payments. Their monthly pay is treated as the basic pay for GS‑9, step 1 when figuring those benefits. If a covered member dies and was fully or currently insured under Social Security, survivor payments follow set percentages: 45% to a surviving spouse (with no extra child payments while the spouse gets that); 20% for one child plus 10% for each extra child up to a 75% total; and parent payments of 25% to one parent if only one was fully dependent, 16% each if both were fully dependent, or a proportional amount if dependence was partial. No payment is allowed under section 8133(a)(5). "Performance of duty" only means active service (and travel to and from it) for authorized Civil Air Patrol operational missions under Air Force direction and a written assignment with a time limit. The Secretary of Labor must tell the Social Security Commissioner when a claim is filed and eligibility is established under the listed survivor rules, and Social Security must certify whether the member was fully or currently insured at death. The Secretary of Labor may tell the Secretary of the Air Force when a claim is filed. If asked, the Air Force must report the facts about the injury and whether the member was on or traveling to or from an approved Civil Air Patrol mission. The usual report by the member’s immediate superior is still required.