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Family SGLI Procedures Guide
Eligibility For FSGLI Coverage
FSGLI Coverage Levels
Automatic Coverage
FSGLI Premiums
FSGLI Beneficiary
Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service (BFCS)
Conversion
Accelerated Benefits Option (ABO)
Family SGLI (FSGLI) coverage provides life insurance coverage for the spouses and dependent children of all service members (Active Duty, Ready Reserve and National Guard) who have full-time SGLI coverage.
A "dependent child" includes any unmarried child in one of the following categories:
- natural born child
- legally adopted child
- stepchild who is a member of the service member's household
- unmarried dependent child between the ages of 18 and 23 who is pursuing a course of instruction at an approved educational institution
- child who became permanently incapable of self-support before age 18
Spousal coverage is a maximum of $100,000 and can be in lesser amounts in increments of $10,000. However, spousal coverage cannot exceed the service member's level of SGLI coverage.
| Example: If the service member's coverage is for any level of coverage between $400,000 and $100,000, then the spousal coverage can be as high as $100,000. If the service member's coverage is $50,000, then the spousal coverage can be no more than the service member's level of coverage. |
Service members married to service members can be covered under both their own member's SGLI for $400,000 and their spouse's FSGLI for $100,000 for a maximum combined coverage of $500,000.
Dependent child coverage is the set amount of $10,000 for each dependent child.
FSGLI coverage begins automatically for service members who:
- were married when the program began on November 1, 2001
- enter onto active duty or "Ready Reserve/National Guard service* and are married/has dependent children OR
- get married/gain a dependent child during service AND
- have full-time SGLI coverage
Spousal coverage is automatically set at the maximum level of $100,000 or the service member's SGLI coverage level, if it is less than $100,000.
Automatic coverage begins with the following events:
The service member pays premiums for the spousal coverage. The dependent child coverage is free.
Premiums for spousal coverage are due the month of the event that causes coverage to occur (e.g. Nov 1, 2001, induction of the service member into service or the date of a marriage while in service). If the member does not notify the service of his/her marriage, premiums for spousal coverage are still due and will be collected retroactively.
For Army, Navy and Air Force, the collection of FSGLI premiums is based upon the spouse's birth date in DEERS. If the spouse is not registered in DEERS, premiums will not be withheld from the service member's pay, however, premiums for spousal coverage are still due and will be collected retroactively. (Service members married to service members must register each other as a spouse in their respective DEERS records.)
Unlike service member's SGLI premiums that are one premium rate for all members, spousal premiums are based on age brackets. When a spouse moves to a new age bracket, the new higher premium begins the first day of the month following the birth month. (See Appendix B at the end of this document for the premium rates for each spousal age bracket.)
For Army, Navy and Air Force, the spouse's birth date in DEERS determines the premium rate to be collected. If the spouse's birth date is incorrect in DEERS, the incorrect premium rate will be collected. And if the spouse's birth date is not in DEERS, premiums will be collected at the maximum rate.
For Army, Navy and Air Force, the member must report to DEERS via RAPIDS changes such as divorce or death of a spouse in order to stop premium collection.
The service member is the beneficiary of the FSGLI coverage, so no naming of a beneficiary is needed. A service member is not entitled as beneficiary if he/she is convicted or pleads guilty to involvement in the death of the spouse or the dependent child. In such cases, the beneficiary or beneficiaries are determined under 38 USC 1970(a).
BFCS is available to a service member who claims the FSGLI upon the death of a spouse. BFCS provides free personal financial counseling to beneficiaries of FSGLI policies. The service member will be notified of this benefit when they receive the payment of the proceeds of their FSGLI.
When the FSGLI coverage ends under certain circumstances, there is 120 days of free coverage and the spouse can convert the spousal FSGLI coverage to a commercial life insurance policy. If the insurance is converted within the 120 day period, proof of good heath is not needed. Dependent child coverage cannot be converted. More information about conversion is available on our conversion information page. The spouse can get information about conversion by contacting the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI)
The Accelerated Benefit Option (ABO) gives the service member access to the death benefits of the FSGLI policy before the death of a terminally-ill spouse. The member may receive up to 50% of the face value of the spousal coverage through the ABO. The ABO is available in $5,000 increments. In order to qualify for the ABO, the spouse must have a medical prognosis of life expectancy of nine months or less. Only the service member can apply for ABO and the benefit will be paid only to the service member.
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