It was 250k for me. I believe there is an option to increase the amount after a certain number of years served.
As far as families of victims of 9/11 getting money for lost ones. This act was partially also the US Government covering their own asses because of negligence. Because of the catostrophic failure of intelligence leading up to 9/11, it could be argued that the US was legally responsible for the deaths. Part of the agreement with compensations meted out by the US was the victims' families signing a contract that stated they would not seek punitive damages in a court of law.
