If you have “assigned” your life insurance coverage, neither you nor the assignee may elect living benefits. Image: ssguy/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffYou may elect to receive a lump-sum living benefit payment from FEGLI if you are terminally ill and have a documented medical prognosis that you are not expected to live more than nine months. The policy differs somewhat between active employees and retirees, though.
Active employees may elect a full living benefit of the total amount of their Basic FEGLI insurance or a partial benefit in multiples of $1,000. Annuitants may only elect a full lump-sum payment equal to their Basic life insurance amount; annuitants cannot elect a partial Living Benefits payment; that option is available only to employees.
If you elect Living Benefits after retirement, no Basic life insurance will be payable after your death. The Office of Personnel Management will stop withholding any Basic life insurance premiums from your monthly annuity. If you elect Living Benefits before you retire, the amount of Basic life insurance payable after your death and the premiums the Office of Personnel Management withholds from your annuity depend upon the amount of Living Benefits you received before retirement.
If you have “assigned” your life insurance coverage, neither you nor the assignee may elect living benefits.
An election of living benefits has no effect on the amount of any Optional life insurance you may have. OPM will continue to withhold any premiums for Optional insurance.
You may contact the FEGLI administrative office at 800-633-4542 to obtain the form to elect living benefits (Form FE-8). The form is not available from personnel offices or from your retirement system.
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