FEGLI Death Benefit Claims: How Long Processing Takes and What to File

The Process No One Wants to Think About

When a federal employee or retiree dies, their FEGLI death benefit doesn't pay automatically. Someone has to file a claim, submit documentation, and wait for processing. The mechanics are straightforward, but the timeline and paperwork requirements matter — especially when a surviving family member is depending on the payout to cover immediate expenses.

Understanding this process before it's needed is the entire point. Grieving family members shouldn't be discovering claim procedures for the first time.

Who Processes FEGLI Claims

FEGLI death claims are handled by the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI), which is operated by MetLife (the current FEGLI contractor). This is separate from OPM's Retirement Services division, which handles the annuity and retirement processing.

The distinction matters because OFEGLI has its own contact information, its own forms, and its own processing timelines. OPM cannot expedite or intervene in the insurance claim process — that's between the claimant and OFEGLI.

OFEGLI contact: 1-800-633-4542 (for both active employee and retiree claims).

What to File

The primary claim form is FE-6 (Claim for Death Benefits). The claimant — whoever is entitled to the proceeds under the beneficiary designation or the statutory order of precedence — submits this form along with:

• A certified copy of the death certificate
• The claimant's identification and relationship documentation
• If claiming under SF 2823 (Designation of Beneficiary): a copy of the designation on file, though OFEGLI independently verifies against OPM records
• If the death was accidental: documentation supporting the accidental nature of the death (for the AD&D benefit)
• For Option C claims (death of a spouse or child): documentation of the family member's death and the retiree's coverage status

The employing agency (for active employees) or OPM Retirement Services (for retirees) transmits a separate certification of the deceased's coverage levels, reduction elections, and insurance status to OFEGLI. The claimant doesn't need to provide this — it comes through the administrative channel.

How Long It Takes

OFEGLI's processing time for a complete, uncontested claim varies. The clock starts when OFEGLI has everything it needs — the claim form, the death certificate, the agency or OPM certification, and any supplemental documentation.

Delays happen when:

Documentation is incomplete. The most common delay. A missing death certificate, an unsigned claim form, or a failure to provide identity verification stops the clock until the deficiency is corrected.

The beneficiary designation is contested. If multiple parties claim entitlement — for example, a current spouse and an ex-spouse named on an old SF 2823 — OFEGLI cannot pay until the dispute is resolved. This can involve legal proceedings that extend the timeline by months.

The death circumstances are ambiguous. For accidental death claims, OFEGLI may investigate the circumstances to determine whether the AD&D provision applies. Deaths involving unclear causes, substance use, or circumstances that could be classified as either accidental or non-accidental require additional review.

The coverage status is unclear. If there's a question about whether the five-year rule was met, whether a coverage was properly continued at retirement, or whether an irrevocable assignment affects the payout, OFEGLI coordinates with OPM to verify the coverage status before paying.

Payment Amounts and Breakdown

The total death benefit combines all coverage types the deceased held at the time of death:

• Basic coverage — BIA amount (after any post-65 reductions); an Extra Benefit may apply to an active employee who dies before age 45, and AD&D may apply to an active employee if the death qualifies as accidental
• Option A — $10,000 (or the reduced post-65 amount, down to the $2,500 floor)
• Option B — salary multiples (after any post-65 reductions under Full Reduction; full amount if No Reduction)
• Option C — not applicable for the employee/retiree's own death; Option C pays on the death of the covered family member

SF 2823 covers all FEGLI coverage components, so one designation generally controls Basic, Options A, B, and C. A separate process — assignment of ownership through Form RI 76-10 — is required to split control of different coverage components.

Interest on Late Payments

If a valid claim is delayed, ask OFEGLI whether interest applies under the applicable FEGLI rules.

What Survivors Should Do Immediately

If a federal employee or retiree has died and you need to file a FEGLI claim:

1. Contact the employing agency (if the deceased was an active employee) or OPM Retirement Services at 1-888-767-6738 (if the deceased was a retiree). They will notify OFEGLI and initiate the administrative certification.

2. Obtain a certified death certificate — you'll need at least one original for the FEGLI claim. Order several; you'll need others for the annuity, TSP, Social Security, and other benefits.

3. Contact OFEGLI directly at 1-800-633-4542 to request form FE-6 and confirm what documentation they need for your specific situation.

4. Locate the SF 2823 if you know one exists. The designation on file generally controls the payout — not the deceased's will or trust, unless a qualifying court order or assignment applies.

For a comprehensive pre-retirement guide that includes beneficiary audit procedures, the SF 2823 review process, and how to ensure your family knows the claim procedure before they need it, the FEGLI Retirement Decision Guide covers the full end-to-end process.

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