Skip to page navigation
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

OPM.gov / Insurance / Life Insurance / Designating a Beneficiary
Skip to main content

Beneficiary Order of Precedence

Beneficiary Order of Precedence

If there isn't a valid designation on file when you die, benefits are payable in this order:

First: to your widow or widower

Second: if none, to your child or children in equal shares, with the share of any deceased child distributed among that child's descendants

Third: if none, to your parents in equal shares or the entire amount to your surviving parent

Fourth: if none, to the executor or administrator of your estate

Fifth: if none, to your next of kin under the laws of the State where you lived at the time of your death.

BE SURE to read the specific instructions on each designation form before designating beneficiarites.

Control Panel