[Claim for Deceased Navy Employee's Unpaid Compensation]

An individual appealed the denial of her claim for a deceased Navy employee's unpaid compensation, contending that she was the deceased's common-law wife. The claimant presented 10 persons' statements that she cohabitated with the deceased until his death. GAO held that: (1) the claimant clearly showed that she met the requisite criteria to qualify as a widow; and (2) since the deceased did not designate a beneficiary, the widow had precedence over the deceased's children. Accordingly, the claim was allowed.