SF 2823 is the Standard Form that federal employees, annuitants and compensationers use to name who receives their Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) benefits; it carries OMB number 3206-0136 and is issued under the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) program. The form needs two witnesses, and the insured person must sign it personally. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF. The official PDF is published by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), and the designation takes effect only if the right office receives it before the insured's death.
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What is SF 2823?
SF 2823, Designation of Beneficiary, is the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program form on which an insured employee, retiree or compensationer, or an assignee, names the person, firm, trust or other entity that will receive the insurance benefits after the insured dies.
The form is issued by OPM and carries OMB number 3206-0136. It has five sections: A (information about the insured), B (the beneficiaries), C (statement of the insured or assignee), D (witnesses) and E (for agency use only). It is printed in two parts: Part 1 is the original and Part 2 is the duplicate. The back of Part 1 gives seven examples of designations, and the back of Part 2 holds the instructions and the Privacy Act and Public Burden statements.
Naming a beneficiary is optional. If you do not designate one, the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI) pays benefits in the order set by law, which the instructions list, unless you assigned the insurance or a valid court order is on file.
Completing SF 2823 cancels every earlier FEGLI designation. The form also differs from an assignment: an assignment of ownership, usually made on Form RI 76-10, is not the same as a designation of beneficiary. More background is in the FEGLI Handbook (RI 76-26) and the FEGLI Booklet (FE 76-21, or FE 76-20 for Postal employees).
Who needs to file SF 2823?
The main users are insured employees, annuitants (retirees) and compensationers covered by FEGLI who want benefits paid to someone other than the people the law names by default. Nobody is required to designate a beneficiary.
- The Insured: an employee, a retiree, or a person receiving Federal Employees' Compensation signs the form personally.
- An Assignee: if the Insured assigned ownership of the insurance, only the assignee may designate a beneficiary, and the assignee signs.
Limits stated in the instructions:
- If a valid assignment is on file, only the assignee can designate. If there is no assignment but a valid court order is on file with the agency or OPM, a designation for the same benefits is not valid.
- A person with a power of attorney, a guardian, a conservator or another fiduciary cannot sign for the Insured or the assignee.
- Two people must witness the signature, and a witness cannot be a beneficiary.
- You may name any person, firm, corporation or legal entity, except an agency of the Federal or District of Columbia government. You cannot designate Option C - Family.
When to file SF 2823
File SF 2823 whenever you want to name or change a beneficiary, but the designation counts only if the Insured's agency, or OPM when the Insured is an annuitant or compensationer, receives it before the Insured's death. The form sets no other deadline.
You may cancel or change a designation at any time, without the beneficiary's knowledge or consent, unless you assigned the insurance or a valid court order is on file. A designation is canceled automatically 31 days after the Insured stops being insured, and also when the Insured or assignee assigns the insurance or submits another valid designation.
OPM asks you to keep the designation current: submit a new one if a beneficiary's address changes or your intentions change, for example after marriage, divorce, death or birth. To withdraw all designations, use a new form and write "Cancel prior designations" in Section B.
Documents you need
- A blank sheet marked as an attachment, only if you need more room: write "See Attached" in Part B, put your name, date of birth and Social Security number at the top, list each beneficiary's Part B details, and sign it with the same two witnesses.
How to fill out SF 2823
Identify the Insured in Section A
Type or print the Insured's name (last, first, middle), date of birth in mm/dd/yyyy format and 9-digit Social Security Number. Name the Insured, not the assignee.
Mark the Insured's status
Place an "X" in the box for an employee, a retiree or a compensationer. If the Insured is retired or receiving Federal Employees' Compensation, give the CSA, CSI or OWCP claim number.
Enter the department or agency
Give the department or agency, bureau or division, and location (city, state and ZIP code) where the Insured works. For a retiree, give the last agency where the Insured worked.
List each beneficiary in Section B
Enter each beneficiary's first name, middle initial and last name, 9-digit Social Security Number (leave it blank if unknown), address with ZIP code, and relationship. To name your estate, write "My estate".
Show each share
In the percent or fraction column, enter shares that total 100% or 1.0, with no dollar amounts. Do not write a Total if you designated by type of insurance.
Add special designations if needed
For a contingent beneficiary, a trust, or different beneficiaries for Basic, Option A and Option B, follow examples 3 to 6 on the back of Part 1. To cancel all designations, write "Cancel prior designations" (example 7).
Attach extra pages for more room
If Section B is too short, write "See Attached" in Part B and use a blank sheet headed with your name, date of birth and Social Security number. List the Part B details for each beneficiary and sign the attachment.
Complete Section C
Enter your name and address with ZIP code and check whether you are the Insured or an Assignee. Check all three boxes: you have not assigned the insurance, two people witnessed your signature, and you did not name either witness as a beneficiary.
Sign and date the form
Sign in the Section C box and enter the date in mm/dd/yyyy format. The form is not valid without the signature of the Insured or assignee.
Have two witnesses sign Section D
Two people who watch you sign each give their signature and address with ZIP code. Neither witness may be a beneficiary. Leave Section E blank, as it is for agency use.
Review, download and print both parts
Check that there are no erasures or cross-outs. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, printing Part 1 (original) and then Part 2 (duplicate) as the form directs, and send it as described under How to submit.
How to submit SF 2823
Send the signed and witnessed SF 2823 by mail or delivery to one of two offices, depending on the Insured's status. The form names no online channel.
- Employing agency: send it here if the Insured is an employee, or has been receiving Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) payments for less than 12 months and is still on the agency's rolls as an employee.
- OPM: send it to the Office of Personnel Management, Retirement Operations Center, P.O. Box 45, Boyers, PA 16017-0045 if the Insured is a retiree, or receives OWCP compensation and is not still employed or has received it for at least 12 months.
The agency or OPM notes receipt in Section E and returns a copy to you as evidence that it received and filed the original. Keep that copy. A properly completed designation is not valid unless the right office receives it before the Insured's death. The form states no fee.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Erasing, crossing out or altering entries. The instructions say to complete a new form, because alterations delay payment and can invalidate the whole designation.
- Having a guardian, conservator or agent under a power of attorney sign for the Insured or assignee; only the Insured or assignee may sign.
- Naming a witness as a beneficiary, or using fewer than two witnesses. A witness cannot receive benefits as a beneficiary.
- Entering shares that do not total 100% or 1.0, or using dollar amounts instead of percentages or fractions.
- Writing names such as M.E. Brown or Mrs. John H. Brown instead of the beneficiary's full name.
- Trying to designate Option C - Family, or listing Basic when the Insured elected a full living benefit; in that case list only Option A and Option B.
- Naming an agency of the Federal or District of Columbia government as a beneficiary.
- Mailing the form to the wrong office: employees use their agency, retirees and most compensationers use OPM at P.O. Box 45, Boyers, PA.
- Sending the form so late that it is received after the Insured's death; such a designation is not valid.
- Adding an attachment for extra beneficiaries without signing it, or without the same two witnesses signing both the form and the attachment.
Frequently asked questions
What is SF 2823 used for?
SF 2823 is the Designation of Beneficiary form for the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program. The insured employee, retiree or compensationer, or an assignee, uses it to name who receives the insurance benefits after the insured dies. A new valid form cancels all earlier FEGLI designations.
Do I have to designate a beneficiary on SF 2823?
No. If you do not, OFEGLI pays in the order set by law, starting with the widow or widower, then children, parents, the estate's executor and other next of kin. You need the form only if you want payment made differently and have not assigned the insurance or have no court order on file.
Who can sign SF 2823?
Only the Insured, or the assignee if the insurance was assigned, may sign. A guardian, conservator or agent acting under a power of attorney cannot sign. Two witnesses must also sign, and neither witness can be named as a beneficiary.
Where do I send SF 2823?
Send it to the Insured's employing agency if the Insured is an employee. Retirees, and most compensationers, send it to OPM, Retirement Operations Center, P.O. Box 45, Boyers, PA 16017-0045. The instructions explain which office applies to each OWCP situation.
Can I change or cancel my FEGLI beneficiary later?
Yes. You can cancel or change a designation at any time, without the beneficiary's consent, by submitting a new SF 2823. The exceptions are an assignment of the insurance or a valid court order on file with the agency or OPM.
What if I need to name more beneficiaries than the form has room for?
Write "See Attached" in Part B and use a blank sheet. Put your name, date of birth and Social Security number at the top, list the Part B information for each beneficiary, sign it, and have the same two witnesses sign both the form and the attachment.
Can I fill out SF 2823 online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, not connected to OPM or GSA, and it does not file the form. You still sign it, have it witnessed and send it to the agency or OPM.
What happens if my SF 2823 designation is invalid?
OFEGLI pays according to the next most recent valid designation. If there is none, it pays in the order listed on the back of Part 2. Erasures, cross-outs and alterations can make the whole designation invalid, so complete a new form instead.
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