A designation of beneficiary is a legal document outlining how benefits will be paid in the event of your death. Benefits for life insurance, retirement, Thrift Savings Plan, and unpaid compensation are automatically distributed in the following order of precedence:
-
First, to your widow or widower.
-
Second, to your child or children, with the share of any deceased child distributed among descendants of that child.
-
Third, if none of the above, to your parents in equal shares or the entire amount to your surviving parent.
-
Fourth, if none of the above, to the executor or administrator of your estate.
-
Fifth, if none of the above, to your other next of kin as determined under the laws of the State where you lived.
An exception to the order of precedence is for Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI). If you assigned ownership of your FEGLI, benefits will be paid:
-
First, to the beneficiaries designated by your assignees, if any.
-
Second, if there is no beneficiary, to your assignees.
If you did not assign FEGLI ownership and there is a valid court order on file, benefits will be paid according to that court order. You are not required to complete a designation of beneficiary form if you want your benefits distributed according to the order of precedence. If you want benefits paid to someone else or in a different order, you must designate a beneficiary.
If you complete a designation of beneficiary form, you are responsible for ensuring that it remains accurate. Benefits will be paid based on a valid designation, regardless of whether that designation still reflects your intentions.
You should review your beneficiary designation whenever you have a significant change in your life, such as a marriage, divorce, or death. A divorce does not invalidate a designation that names your former spouse as beneficiary; you must complete a new designation form. You should file a new form whenever there is a change in a beneficiary’s address or name.
ACTION REQUIRED TO DESIGNATE A BENEFICIARY
Federal Employee Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)
Complete an SF 2823, Designation of Beneficiary, FEGLI. If the SF 2823 does not have enough room for you to list all your beneficiaries, write "See attached" in Part B of the SF 2823 and complete CBC 12870-19, Attachment to SF 2823 with the additional names. The same witnesses should witness both of your signatures and sign both the SF 2823 and the CBC 12870-19. Mail to:
OCHR Norfolk Operations Center
ATTN: Civilian Benefits Center
Norfolk Naval Shipyard Building 17
Portsmouth, VA 23709-1005
Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)
Complete an SF 2808, Designation of Beneficiary, CSRS. Mail to:
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Retirement Operations Center
P.O. Box 45
Boyers, PA 16017-0045
Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
Complete an SF 3102, Designation of Beneficiary, FERS. Mail to:
OCHR Norfolk Operations Center
ATTN: Civilian Benefits Center
Norfolk Naval Shipyard Building 17
Portsmouth, VA 23709-1005
Thrift Savings Plan
Adding and updating one or more beneficiaries to your TSP account online is easy to do and only takes a few minutes online. Before you get started, be sure to have the Social Security number, full name, birth date, and address of each beneficiary. If your beneficiary is a trust, an estate, or another organization, you'll need to know the trustee's, executor's, or business's information. Please visit http://www.tsp.gov
Unpaid Compensation
Complete an SF 1152, Designation of Beneficiary, Unpaid Compensation of Deceased Civilian Employee. Mail to:
OCHR Norfolk Operations Center
ATTN: Civilian Benefits Center
Norfolk Naval Shipyard Building 17
Portsmouth, VA 23709-1005
Designation of a Recipient of the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act Death Gratuity Payment under Section 1105 of Public Law 110-181 (Section 8102a). Designates distribution of the death gratuity payment of up to $100,000 when a Federal civilian employee dies of injuries incurred in connection with his or her service with an Armed Force in a contingency operation.
Complete a CA-40 Designation of a Recipient of the Federal Employees' Compensation Act Death Gratuity Payment. Read the instructions on the form carefully since they are different from other beneficiary forms. Mail to:
OCHR Norfolk Operations Center
ATTN: Civilian Benefits Center
Norfolk Naval Shipyard Building 17
Portsmouth, VA 23709-1005