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Survivor Benefits

Reporting the Death of an Employee

If you are a survivor and need to report a death:

  1. Contact the Benefits Office at [email protected].
  2. If you are an NIH employee, locate the employing Institute or Center’s Administrative Officer (Servicing AO) in the NIH Enterprise Directory (NED).
  3. Review the next of kin claims process.

Specific Benefits

Life Insurance (OFEGLI)

Life insurance benefits are not taxable, but any accrued interest is taxable. Eligible claimants will receive payment upon claim approval. This means that complete documentation must be sent to MetLife and approved before payment is issued.

Claimants are responsible for sending the FE-6 Claim for Death Benefits and a certified death certificate to OFEGLI directly to ensure timely processing of the life insurance claim. Include any other supporting documents such as Divorce Decrees, Court Orders, Executor/Trustee documentation, guardianship papers, etc. as applicable.

Mail FEGLI claims to:

OFEGLI
10 E.D. Preate Drive
Moosic, PA 18507

If it has been 30 days since you mailed your claim to OFEGLI, you can call 1-800-633-4542 to check on the status.

Health Insurance

Continued Coverage

  • Eligible if the employee had a Self and Family enrollment at the time of death, and a survivor annuity is payable.
    • Enrollment must be immediate with no lapse in coverage.
    • Premiums will be deducted from the survivor annuity.

Temporarily Coverage

  • Eligible if the employee had a Self and Family enrollment at the time of death, but no survivor annuity is payable.
    • Enrollment in Temporary Continuation of Coverage will terminate within 30 days.
    • Within 30 days, the survivor can convert to an individual policy.

No Coverage

  • The employee had a Self Only enrollment at the time of death.
    • Enrollment terminates at death.
    • Survivor cannot enroll in, or convert to, an individual policy.

Unpaid Compensation

If you are a designated beneficiary or fall in the order of precedence and are entitled to unpaid compensation, then you need to complete the election regarding method of payment for unpaid compensation.

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