The DIME methodology establishes comprehensive family death benefit requirements across four essential liability categories: - **D (Debt & Final Expenses):** Unsecured consumer loans, vehicle debt, and funeral costs. - **I (Income Replacement):** Gross annual salary multiplied by replacement duration and target income percentage. - **M (Mortgage Balance):** Outstanding home loan balance to ensure surviving dependents remain debt-free. - **E (Education):** Anticipated college or technical school tuition funding per dependent child.

Total gross coverage need is calculated by summing the four categories and subtracting existing liquid savings and active policy benefits: $$\text{Net Coverage} = (\text{Debts} + \text{Final Expenses} + \text{Income} \times \text{Years} \times \text{Pct} + \text{Mortgage} + \text{Kids} \times \text{College}) - (\text{Existing Coverage} + \text{Savings})$$

### Worked Numeric Example A 35-year-old in preferred health earning $85,000 annually with 15 years of replacement at 80% ($1,020,000 income requirement), $20,000 non-mortgage debt, $15,000 final expenses, $260,000 mortgage balance, and 2 children with $50,000 college funds ($100,000 total education) has a Gross Need of $1,415,000. Offsetting $50,000 employer coverage and $25,000 liquid savings leaves a Net Coverage Requirement of $1,340,000. Under baseline actuarial multipliers (0.17 age factor * 1.0 health factor = $0.17 per $1,000 base rate), estimated monthly premiums evaluate to $164/mo for 10-year term, $228/mo for 20-year term, $337/mo for 30-year term, and $1,777/mo for permanent whole life.