How to file an SGLI, VGLI or FSGLI death claim — SGLV 8283 to OSGLI, and VA Form 29-4125e for VA-issued policies
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI, up to $500,000), Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI, $10,000–$500,000) and Family SGLI (spouse up to $100,000, each child $10,000) are administered for VA by the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI) at Prudential. A beneficiary files SGLV 8283 (Claim for Death Benefits) for SGLI or VGLI and SGLV 8283A for FSGLI, with a copy of the death certificate; for an active-duty death the branch's Casualty Assistance Office helps submit the form. VA-issued policies — VALife, Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance and the older government life insurance programs — are claimed separately on VA Form 29-4125e with the VA Insurance Center. Proceeds are paid to the named beneficiary, and beneficiaries get two years of free financial counseling and an online will service.
What you'll need
- SGLV 8283 (Claim for Death Benefits — SGLI and VGLI) or SGLV 8283A (Claim for Family Coverage Death Benefits — FSGLI)
- A copy of the death certificate showing date and cause of death (originals are not required)
- For a death after leaving active duty: the DD-214, NGB-22 or other separation document
- VA Form 29-4125e (Claim for One Sum Payment) for VALife, S-DVI or other VA-issued policies
- The branch's Casualty Assistance Officer for an active-duty death; your eight-digit claim number for the counseling service afterward
Step-by-step
Step 1: Identify which coverage applies
SGLI covers service members on active duty, Ready Reserve and Guard members assigned to units, cadets and midshipmen, up to $500,000 in $50,000 increments, and continues free for 120 days after separation (up to two years for a totally disabled member). VGLI is the coverage a veteran converted to within 1 year and 120 days of separation, $10,000 to $500,000, kept by paying premiums. FSGLI covers the spouse (up to $100,000, not more than the member's SGLI) and dependent children ($10,000 each, free) of a member with full-time SGLI. VALife is VA whole life insurance of up to $40,000 for veterans with a service-connected rating; S-DVI and older VA policies also exist. TSGLI is a traumatic-injury payment to the member, not a death benefit.
Reference: https://www.va.gov/life-insurance/options-eligibility/sgli/
Step 2: Active-duty death — SGLI or FSGLI through the Casualty Assistance Office
For a member who died on active duty, complete SGLV 8283 (or SGLV 8283A for the death of a covered spouse or child) and contact the branch's Casualty Assistance Office; the casualty officer helps submit the form and death certificate to OSGLI. VA's forms page has a separate version of SGLV 8283 for claims a casualty officer is assisting with.
Reference: https://www.benefits.va.gov/INSURANCE/file_death_claim.asp
Step 3: VGLI, or SGLI after leaving active duty — file directly with OSGLI
For a VGLI policy, complete SGLV 8283 and fax it with a copy of the death certificate to 877-832-4943, or mail it to Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI), PO Box 70173, Philadelphia, PA 19176-9912. If the insured had SGLI but was a Reservist or Guard member, or had been released from active duty before death, also include the DD-214, NGB-22 or other separation document. OSGLI: 800-419-1473, osgli.osgli@prudential.com. The claim form lets you choose a lump sum or 36 equal monthly installments.
Reference: https://www.benefits.va.gov/INSURANCE/file_death_claim.asp
Step 4: VA-issued policies — VA Form 29-4125e
For VALife, Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance or any other policy issued by VA itself, the principal beneficiary files VA Form 29-4125e (Claim for One Sum Payment) online with the death certificate attached; a contingent beneficiary adds the principal beneficiary's death certificate, and an estate representative adds letters testamentary or VA Form 29-541e. You can also upload the documents through VA's secure page or mail them to Department of Veterans Affairs, Insurance Center, PO Box 5209, Janesville, WI 53547-5209. For monthly payments instead of a lump sum, call 800-669-8477. If a beneficiary cannot be found, VA keeps an unclaimed-funds search at insurance.va.gov.
Reference: https://www.benefits.va.gov/INSURANCE/file_death_claim.asp
Step 5: Who is paid, and the help that comes with the payment
Proceeds go to the beneficiary the member or veteran named most recently (service members name SGLI and FSGLI beneficiaries in the SGLI Online Enrollment System; VGLI beneficiaries are updated with OSGLI). If no valid beneficiary is named, the law pays the surviving spouse, then children in equal shares, then parents, then the estate's executor or administrator, then other next of kin. Life insurance proceeds are generally not taxable income. After the claim is paid, SGLI, VGLI and FSGLI beneficiaries get two years of free Beneficiary Financial Counseling through FinancialPoint (40 hours of personal counseling; 888-243-7351) and an online will-preparation service — register with organization ID BFCSVA and your claim number.
Critical tips
- There is no deadline to file an SGLI or VGLI death claim; file as soon as you have the death certificate.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation from VA and a life insurance payment are separate — receiving one does not reduce the other.
- A veteran within 1 year and 120 days of separation can still convert SGLI to VGLI; within 240 days no health questions are asked.
- VALife is open to veterans age 80 or younger with any service-connected rating, including 0%; full coverage starts two years after application.
- Questions about an SGLI, VGLI or FSGLI claim: OSGLI 800-419-1473. Questions about a VA-issued policy: 800-669-8477.
- In crisis: dial 988 then press 1, or text 838255.