FEGLI Life Insurance Claim Lawyer
When a federal employee dies, their survivors are entitled to FEGLI life insurance proceeds — but receiving those proceeds requires navigating a claims process administered by a government contractor under federal law. Understanding what coverage exists, who is entitled to receive it, and how to submit a claim correctly can be the difference between a straightforward payment and a prolonged dispute.
FEGLI Life Insurance Coverage: What Exists and What It Pays
FEGLI — the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance program, governed by the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Act (FEGLIA) — provides four types of life insurance coverage. Each is separate, each is elected independently, and each must be claimed separately.
| Coverage Type | What It Covers | How the Amount Is Set |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | The employee's life. Automatically enrolled unless waived. | Annual salary rounded up to the next $1,000, plus $2,000. Additional accidental death benefit applies separately. |
| Option A — Standard | The employee's life. Must be elected. | $10,000 flat amount. |
| Option B — Additional | The employee's life. Must be elected. | 1 to 5 multiples of annual salary (employee chooses at enrollment). Each multiple equals one times the annual salary rounded to the next $1,000. |
| Option C — Family | Eligible spouse and eligible dependent children. Must be elected. | 1 to 5 multiples of a base amount (employee chooses). Each multiple provides $5,000 for a spouse and $2,500 per eligible dependent child. |
The total benefit owed to a beneficiary depends on which options the employee elected during their federal service, whether that coverage remained in effect at the time of death, and whether any reductions apply — which can occur for retirees who did not elect to maintain coverage. Confirming exactly what coverage was in force is the first step in any life insurance claim.
Who Receives the Benefit: Designation and Order of Precedence
FEGLI life insurance proceeds do not automatically pass through a will or state probate law. Federal law governs who receives the benefit — and how that determination is made depends on whether the employee completed a valid beneficiary designation form.
Federal employees designate beneficiaries using Standard Form 2823 (SF 2823). If a valid, complete SF 2823 is on file with the Office of Personnel Management or the employing agency at the time of death, FEGLI pays the named beneficiaries according to that form. The designation controls regardless of divorce, remarriage, or changes in family circumstances — unless the form was updated.
If no valid designation exists, FEGLI pays according to a statutory order of precedence established under 5 U.S.C. § 8705:
- Widow or widower
- Child or children in equal shares; descendants of deceased children by representation
- Parents in equal shares, or the surviving parent alone
- Executor or administrator of the estate
- Next of kin under the laws of the state of domicile
This structure creates a meaningful distinction between who the employee may have intended to receive the benefit and who is legally entitled to receive it. An outdated designation naming a former spouse — or a designation that was never completed — can send proceeds to an unintended recipient. These situations often give rise to competing claims and beneficiary disputes.
Making a FEGLI Life Insurance Claim
FEGLI life insurance claims are processed by OFEGLI — the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance — which is operated by MetLife under contract with the Office of Personnel Management. Claims are not filed directly with OPM or with a private insurance company in the conventional sense.
The typical process begins when the employing agency — or OPM, in the case of a deceased annuitant — notifies OFEGLI of the employee's death and submits basic employment and coverage information. Beneficiaries then file Form FE-6 (Claim for Death Benefits) directly with OFEGLI, along with supporting documentation.
What OFEGLI typically requires to process a claim:
- A certified copy of the death certificate
- The completed FE-6 claim form
- The SF 2823 beneficiary designation form, or a statement that no designation is on file
- Proof of the claimant's identity and relationship to the insured
- For Option C claims: documentation of the relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificates)
In straightforward cases with a clear designation and no competing claims, OFEGLI processes payment without extended delay. In cases involving disputed designations, enrollment questions, or missing documentation, the process can stall — and the legal landscape becomes significantly more complex.
Where FEGLI Life Insurance Claims Go Wrong
Life insurance claims under FEGLI are not always straightforward. The most common sources of complications are:
Missing or Outdated Beneficiary Designations
If the employee never filed an SF 2823 or filed one that is incomplete, order of precedence applies — which may not align with what the employee intended or what a surviving family member expects.
Divorce and Remarriage Complications
FEGLI does not automatically update beneficiary designations when an employee divorces or remarries. An ex-spouse named on a pre-divorce SF 2823 remains the designated beneficiary unless the form was changed.
Enrollment and Coverage Gaps
If the employee waived coverage, failed to re-enroll after a qualifying event, or had coverage lapse during a period of leave without pay, the expected benefit may not exist. These gaps are not always apparent to surviving family members.
Agency Administrative Errors
Employing agencies handle FEGLI enrollment. When an agency fails to process an enrollment election, enter the correct coverage amount, or transmit accurate information to OPM, the error can affect what the beneficiary receives.
Competing Claims
When two or more parties assert entitlement to the same FEGLI proceeds — often a surviving spouse and a former spouse, or children from different relationships — OFEGLI may interplead the funds and require a court to determine the rightful recipient.
Documentation Disputes
OFEGLI may request additional documentation, challenge the validity of records submitted, or delay payment pending further review. How those requests are handled — and what goes into the record in response — matters for any later appeal or litigation.
Why Legal Representation Matters at the Claims Stage
Many beneficiaries assume that legal representation only becomes necessary after a denial. In FEGLI matters, that assumption carries real risk.
The foundation of Dorian Law's approach is the Litigation-Back framework: before any letter is written, the question is what would need to be proved in court to win. That question applies at the claims stage just as much as it does at the appeal or litigation stage — because the record built during the initial claim is the record that matters if the dispute escalates.
If an enrollment dispute exists, the time to document it is before OFEGLI issues a denial. If a competing claim is anticipated, the time to establish the basis for your entitlement is before the other side does the same. If documentation is missing, the time to address it is while options still exist.
Early involvement does not guarantee a smooth claim. It does mean that if something goes wrong, the record is already positioned for what comes next.
We help beneficiaries understand their coverage, assemble the documentation OFEGLI needs, identify and address potential problems before they become denials, and navigate competing claim situations. Where a denial is anticipated or coverage disputes are likely, we begin building the record the moment we are retained.
If you are trying to make a FEGLI life insurance claim and have questions about coverage, eligibility, or the claims process, a free case evaluation is the right first step.
Free FEGLI Case EvaluationIf Your Claim Has Already Been Denied
This page addresses the claims stage — the process of making an initial claim. If OFEGLI or MetLife has already issued a denial letter, the next step is an appeal. FEGLI claimants have 90 days from the date of denial to file an administrative appeal, and that window is the critical opportunity to build or supplement the record before the case can proceed to federal court.
Frequently Asked Questions About FEGLI Life Insurance Claims
What is FEGLI life insurance, and what types of coverage does it provide?
FEGLI — the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance program — provides group life insurance to federal civilian employees under the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Act (FEGLIA). Four types of coverage exist: Basic (approximately one year's salary plus $2,000, automatically provided unless waived), Option A (a flat $10,000 additional benefit), Option B (one to five multiples of annual salary, elected by the employee), and Option C (family coverage for an eligible spouse and dependent children). Each type is claimed separately, and the amount owed depends on which options the employee elected and maintained during federal service.
Who is entitled to receive FEGLI life insurance benefits?
FEGLI proceeds go to whoever is identified on the employee's beneficiary designation — Standard Form 2823, filed with the employing agency or OPM. If a valid designation exists, it controls. If none exists, FEGLI pays according to a statutory order of precedence under federal law: first to a surviving widow or widower, then to children in equal shares, then to parents, then to the estate, and finally to next of kin. State inheritance laws and wills do not govern FEGLI distributions.
What happens if the federal employee did not designate a beneficiary?
The absence of a valid SF 2823 does not prevent a claim — it changes how entitlement is determined. FEGLI applies its order of precedence, paying first to a surviving spouse, then to children, and so on. Problems arise when multiple parties in the same tier disagree about the distribution, or when the order of precedence produces an outcome the surviving family did not expect — particularly in cases involving blended families, estranged relatives, or competing claimants.
Can a former spouse receive FEGLI life insurance benefits?
Yes — if the employee never updated the SF 2823 after divorce. FEGLI does not automatically revoke a beneficiary designation when an employee divorces. An ex-spouse named on a pre-divorce form remains the designated beneficiary unless a new SF 2823 was filed. Unlike some private plans, FEGLI provides no automatic revocation-on-divorce rule. The designation controls regardless of what a divorce decree says about life insurance, and this is among the most common sources of FEGLI beneficiary disputes.
How do I file a FEGLI life insurance claim?
FEGLI life insurance claims are filed with OFEGLI — the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance — operated by MetLife under contract with OPM. After the employing agency or OPM notifies OFEGLI of the employee's death, beneficiaries complete Form FE-6 (Claim for Death Benefits) and submit it with a certified death certificate, the SF 2823 beneficiary designation form or a statement that none exists, and proof of identity and relationship. OFEGLI reviews the submission and either pays or issues a denial letter.
What if there is a dispute about who should receive FEGLI life insurance proceeds?
Competing claims are governed by federal law. When two or more parties assert entitlement to the same benefit — most often a surviving spouse and a former spouse named on an outdated designation, or children from different relationships — OFEGLI may interplead the funds into federal court and allow a judge to determine the rightful recipient. These proceedings require navigating FEGLI's specific statutory framework in federal court, and the arguments made during the claims and appeals process become the foundation for that litigation.
What if the employing agency made an error affecting the employee's FEGLI coverage?
Agency administrative errors are a recognized basis for challenging a FEGLI coverage denial. Employing agencies are responsible for processing enrollment elections, entering accurate coverage information, and transmitting correct data to OPM. When an agency fails to process an election, enters the wrong coverage amount, or otherwise mishandles a federal employee's FEGLI record, the resulting coverage gap may be attributable to the agency rather than the employee. Establishing an agency error requires documentation, and building that record before OFEGLI issues a formal denial preserves the most options.
Is FEGLI governed by state insurance law?
No. FEGLI is governed exclusively by federal law — specifically FEGLIA (5 U.S.C. §§ 8701–8716), OPM regulations at 5 C.F.R. Part 870, and the FEGLI Handbook. State insurance laws, including state rules about beneficiary designations, insurable interest, or bad faith claims handling, do not apply. Federal common law and federal court standards govern FEGLI disputes. This is one of the most consequential distinctions between FEGLI and private life insurance, and it determines how every aspect of a claim, appeal, or lawsuit must be approached.
Do I need a lawyer to file a FEGLI life insurance claim?
Legal representation is not required to file an initial claim. However, the record built during the claims stage is often the record that determines the outcome if a dispute arises. FEGLI appeals and federal court litigation are evaluated largely on what was submitted during the administrative process. If a coverage dispute, competing claim, agency error, or documentation problem exists, addressing it with the litigation standard in mind — rather than waiting for a denial — preserves more options and avoids foreclosing arguments that would otherwise be available.
Free FEGLI Case Evaluation
Whether you are navigating a straightforward claim, dealing with a coverage dispute, or anticipating a problem before it becomes a denial, we can help you understand where your case stands and what to do next.
Speak with a FEGLI Lawyer