OPM · Official form

SF 2823: Designation of Beneficiary, Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program

SF 2823 lets federal employees, annuitants, and compensationers name who receives their Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) proceeds, overriding the default order of precedence.

Fill out SF 2823 in the editor Download the blank PDF Quick fill on this page

This is the genuine OPM PDF, unmodified. Source: OPM official page.

What is SF 2823?

SF 2823, Designation of Beneficiary for the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program, is the OPM form used to direct FEGLI death benefits to specific people, organizations, or a trust or estate. If no valid designation is on file, benefits are paid under the statutory order of precedence, which starts with a widow or widower and then children.

A designation is only valid if it is properly completed, signed, and witnessed, and received by the right office before the insured's death. Two witnesses must sign, and a witness cannot be named as a beneficiary. Life events such as marriage or divorce do not automatically update a FEGLI designation, so filing a fresh SF 2823 after major changes is the safe practice.

Who files SF 2823?

Federal employees who want FEGLI benefits paid to someone other than the default order of precedence
Annuitants and compensationers updating an old designation after marriage, divorce, or a death in the family
Employees naming a trust, organization, or estate as a FEGLI beneficiary
Anyone canceling a previous designation so benefits again follow the order of precedence

How to fill out SF 2823

Fill in your name, date of birth, and Social Security number exactly as they appear in your employment records.
List each beneficiary with their full name, address, relationship to you, and the share each should receive; shares must total 100 percent.
Sign and date the form in the presence of two witnesses, who must also sign. A witness cannot be a named beneficiary.
If you are an employee, file the form with your employing office. If you are an annuitant or compensationer, send it to OPM at the address in the form instructions.
Keep the returned copy with your records and file a new SF 2823 whenever your wishes change.

Quick fill SF 2823 on this page

Prefer to see the form itself while you type? Open SF 2823 in the editor to fill it on the actual pages, add a signature, and download.

These are the form's own fields, in the order they appear on the pages. Fill in what you know; anything left blank stays a fillable field in the PDF, so you can finish it in any PDF reader. Nothing you type here is sent to OPM.

Page 1 54 fields

First name, middle initial, and last name of the first beneficiary.

Nine digit social security number for the first beneficiary.

Address, including ZIP code, for the first beneficiary.

Relationship to the first beneficiary.

Percent or fraction designated for the first beneficiary.

Total (Must equal 100% or 1.0) (Do not use dollar amounts)

Insured or Assignee's name.

Insured or Assignee's street address line one.

Insured or Assignee's street address line two, if applicable.

Insured or Assignee's city, state, and zip code.

Select this box indicating you have not assigned the insurance.

Select this box indicating the two people who witnessed your signature signed below.

Select this box indicating you did not name either witness as a beneficiary.

Select Part 1 - Original, then use the print button. Next, select Part 2 - Duplicate, then print again.

Address of Witness 1, including ZIP Code.

Address of Witness 2, including ZIP code.

Name of the insured in last, first, middle format.

Insured's date of birth. Enter a two digit month and day and a four digit year.

9 digit social security number of the insured.

If the Insured is retired or receiving Federal Employees' Compensation, enter the CSA, CSI, or OWCP claim number.

Department or agency where the Insured works.

Bureau or division where the Insured works.

Location where the Insured works. Enter city, state and ZIP code.

Date the Insired/Assignee signed this form. Enter a two digit month and day and a four digit year.

Date of receipt. Enter a two digit month and day and a four digit year.

Receiving agency

Title of authorized official.

Select whether you are an employee, a retiree, or a compensationer.

Select whether you are the insured or an assignee.

First name, middle initial, and last name of the second beneficiary.

First name, middle initial, and last name of the third beneficiary.

First name, middle initial, and last name of the fourth beneficiary.

First name, middle initial, and last name of the fifth beneficiary.

First name, middle initial, and last name of the sixth beneficiary.

Nine digit social security number for the second beneficiary.

Nine digit social security number for the third beneficiary.

Nine digit social security number for the fourth beneficiary.

Nine digit social security number for the fifth beneficiary.

Nine digit social security number for the sixth beneficiary.

Address, including ZIP code, for the second beneficiary.

Address, including ZIP code, for the third beneficiary.

Address, including ZIP code, for the fourth beneficiary.

Address, including ZIP code, for the fifth beneficiary.

Address, including ZIP code, for the sixth beneficiary.

Relationship to the second beneficiary.

Relationship to the third beneficiary.

Relationship to the fourth beneficiary.

Relationship to the fifth beneficiary.

Relationship to the sixth beneficiary.

Percent or fraction designated for the second beneficiary.

Percent or fraction designated for the third beneficiary.

Percent or fraction designated for the fourth beneficiary.

Percent or fraction designated for the fifth beneficiary.

Percent or fraction designated for the sixth beneficiary.

Lock the PDF after filling (values become permanent, fields are removed)

Processed on our own servers, never sent to a third-party service. Files are deleted automatically after two hours, and you can delete them sooner from the result screen.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I never file SF 2823?

FEGLI benefits are paid under the order of precedence set by law: first to any assignee, then a designated beneficiary if one exists, then widow or widower, children, parents, executor of the estate, and next of kin. If that order matches your wishes, no designation is needed.

Does divorce cancel my FEGLI beneficiary designation?

No. A designation naming a former spouse generally remains valid until you file a new SF 2823 or a cancellation, unless a court order on file provides otherwise. Review your designation after any divorce or remarriage.

Can my witnesses be family members?

Witnesses can be family members as long as they are not named as beneficiaries on the form. A designation witnessed by a beneficiary is invalid as to that beneficiary.

SF 2823: Designation of Beneficiary, Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program

What is SF 2823?

Who files SF 2823?

How to fill out SF 2823

Quick fill SF 2823 on this page

Frequently asked questions

Related forms

SF 2818: Continuation of Life Insurance Coverage as an Annuitant or Compensationer

SF 3107: Application for Immediate Retirement (Federal Employees Retirement System)

SF 1199A Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form