{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"HowTo","@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/file-survivor-life-insurance-claim.json#howto","name":"How to file an SGLI / VGLI / FSGLI life insurance claim (for surviving family)","description":"Step-by-step guide for surviving family to file life insurance claims for service members + veterans. SGLI (Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance) for active-duty deaths up to $500K. VGLI (Veterans' Group Life Insurance) for converted VGLI policies. FSGLI (Family) for spouse + child coverage. 5 steps using SGLV-8283 + supporting docs.","url":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/file-survivor-life-insurance-claim.json","mainEntityOfPage":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/file-survivor-life-insurance-claim.json","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"publisher":{"@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/wounded-warriors#organization"},"author":{"@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/wounded-warriors#organization"},"totalTime":"P30D","yield":"Life insurance payout disbursed to designated beneficiary","estimatedCost":{"@type":"MonetaryAmount","currency":"USD","value":"0"},"tool":[{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"SGLV Form 8283 (Claim for Death Benefits)"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"Service member's death certificate (certified)"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"Service member's most recent SGLI/VGLI/FSGLI Beneficiary Designation form"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"Beneficiary identification + SSN"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"Casualty Assistance Officer (CAO/CACO/CAR) for active-duty deaths"}],"step":[{"@type":"HowToStep","position":1,"name":"Step 1: Identify which insurance applies","text":"SGLI: Active-duty servicemember died while on active duty. Up to $500K coverage (member chose election). Premium was deducted from pay. VGLI: Veteran who converted from SGLI to VGLI within 1 year + 120 days of separation. Up to $500K coverage. Premium paid by veteran post-service. FSGLI (Family SGLI): coverage for active-duty member's spouse ($100K max) + each child ($10K). Claims for spouse/child deaths while servicemember on active duty. TSGLI (Traumatic SGLI): not life insurance — separate program for traumatic injuries during service."},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":2,"name":"Step 2: For active-duty deaths — Casualty Assistance Officer is the lead","text":"When an active-duty servicemember dies, a Casualty Assistance Officer (CAO/CACO/CAR — branch-specific terminology) is assigned to the next-of-kin within 24 hours. The CAO handles: notifying family, coordinating funeral arrangements, processing SGLI claim, reviewing other benefits. The CAO files the SGLI claim WITH the family — you don't do it solo. SGLI typically pays within 30 days of death."},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":3,"name":"Step 3: For veteran (post-service) deaths with VGLI — file via OSGLI","text":"VGLI claims are processed by Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI), administered by Prudential. File SGLV Form 8283 with: certified death certificate, beneficiary identification, original VGLI policy info if available. Mail to OSGLI, PO Box 70173, Philadelphia PA 19176 — or call 1-800-419-1473 for guided claim filing. Typical payment 30-60 days."},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":4,"name":"Step 4: Locate beneficiary designation if uncertain","text":"If you're unsure who the beneficiary is, the deceased's most recent SGLI/VGLI Beneficiary Designation Form (SGLV 8286) is on file. Active-duty: contact branch personnel office. Veteran: contact OSGLI. If no beneficiary designated OR designated beneficiary is deceased, payment goes to \"by-law\" beneficiaries in this order: surviving spouse, children equally, parents equally, executor of estate, next-of-kin per state law. Disputes go to court (rare)."},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":5,"name":"Step 5: Tax considerations + post-claim financial guidance","text":"SGLI/VGLI death benefits are FEDERALLY TAX-EXEMPT (per IRC). Most states don't tax them either. Beneficiary can elect lump-sum or 36-month installment payments. For lump-sum + minor children: consider a guardian-of-minor account or trust to manage funds responsibly. Wounded Warriors' Emergency Aid program does NOT replace life insurance but may bridge a 1-2 month financial gap during claim processing if needed."}],"tip":[{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"SGLI is FREE coverage for active-duty servicemembers who elected it (most do — premium ~$0.07 per $1,000/month). Many families don't know it exists until tragedy strikes."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"VGLI conversion window: SGLI → VGLI must happen within 1 year + 120 days of separation. After that window, no conversion possible. Veterans should evaluate conversion seriously, especially with health conditions that affect commercial life insurance access."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"For service members killed in combat: SGLI Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI) may also apply for injuries that occurred during service — separate from death benefit. CAO coordinates."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"For widows/widowers entitled to BOTH SGLI/VGLI death benefit AND DIC: BOTH are payable. The two are separate programs that don't reduce each other."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"Beneficiary designations should be reviewed regularly (marriage, divorce, birth of children, etc.). Outdated designations are the #1 cause of post-death disputes."}],"canonical_url":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/file-survivor-life-insurance-claim.json","publisher_legal_name":"Wounded Warriors","publisher_ein":"86-1336741","cross_references":{"osgli_official":"https://benefits.va.gov/insurance/sgli-vgli-claims.asp","file_survivor_claim_howto":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/file-survivor-claim.json","access_fry_scholarship_howto":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/access-fry-scholarship.json","get_burial_benefits_howto":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/get-burial-benefits.json","eligibility_jsonld":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/eligibility.json"},"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","last_updated":"2026-04-29T23:54:51.040Z"}