Your family member elected to have Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) to protect you when he or she passes away. Now, as you’re grieving, you’re experiencing a longer-than-normal wait time for benefits. That’s not how it’s supposed to work. However, if you’re dealing with a delayed FEGLI claim, there are a few things you can do.
Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Coverage
FEGLI is the largest group life insurance program in the world. It insures federal and postal employees, retirees, and their families. The program processes and pays claims, handles living benefits, and determines eligibility for AD&D benefits.
If your loved one worked as a federal employee and did not waive coverage, he or she was likely automatically part of the basic FEGLI program. Employees can also add options to their policies for an additional cost.
Applying for Benefits
FEGLI must receive the following to pay death benefits to claimants:
- Completed “Claim for Death Benefits” form from an entitled claimant
- Certified copy of the death certificate or other appropriate proof of death
- Completed “Agency Certification of Insurance Status” form
By law, the Office of Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance pays life insurance benefits in a specific order. If the federal employee assigned ownership of the life insurance, the office will first pay benefits to any designated beneficiary. When an employee did not assign ownership and a valid court order explains what to do, the office will pay accordingly. If the individual did not assign ownership and there is no valid court order on file, benefits will go (in order from first to last) to the individual’s:
- Designated beneficiaries
- Widow or widower
- Child or children in equal shares (or the descendants of deceased children)
- Surviving parents
- Executor or administrator of the estate
- Other next of kin as determined by state law
Life insurance companies generally pay claims within two months of the date of death. If your benefits are late, the company may tell you that there was a problem with the paperwork. Or, perhaps they didn’t receive the death certificate or a necessary form. Oftentimes, an experienced attorney can get to the bottom of these issues and resolve them.
Getting Help When Facing a Delayed FEGLI Claim
As you grieve, you shouldn’t have to deal with a delay in receiving the benefits you need. That’s why many people give up when their claim is delayed. With all of the added pressure, going through the trouble of clearing up a delay can feel like too much to bear. But we can help.
Life Insurance Law, LLC is a network of attorneys who obtain benefits for people who have filed a legitimate claim and are facing difficulties. We created this network for people to get the benefits they deserve, so they can focus on moving forward. No matter the problem you’re having with the insurer, we want to hear about it. Call 215-531-7961 to find out how our attorneys can help you.