How are claims paid under the FEGLI Program?
A. The Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI) is an administrative unit of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company that pays claims for the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program.
If OFEGLI is paying the beneficiary less than $5,000, the beneficiary will receive a check.
If OFEGLI is paying the beneficiary $5,000 or more, the beneficiary will have a choice of two ways to receive the payment.
- A check
- A MetLife Total Control Account or (TCA), an interest bearing account set up in the beneficiary's name, with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife)
If the beneficiary is receiving $5,000 or more and does not make a decision on how to receive payment, a MetLife Total Control Account will be set up in the beneficiary' s name.
Q. What is a MetLife Total Control Account (TCA)?
A. The MetLife TCA is a settlement option offered by MetLife for the payment of claims. A MetLife TCA is not a checking, savings, or money market bank account. Since the MetLife TCA is not a bank account, it is not insured by the FDIC or any government agency. Instead, MetLife guarantees the full amount in the MetLife TCA, including all interest earned. MetLife's guarantee is further backed by the beneficiary's respective state guaranty association. Maximum guarantee limits vary from state to state and may change over time. If the beneficiary chooses a MetLife TCA, the relationship is between
the beneficiary and MetLife, not with the federal government or any of its
agencies.
The MetLife TCA offers a minimum guaranteed annual effective interest rate, meaning that
MetLife commits to pay the beneficiary at least that specified rate of interest on the money in the account. The beneficiary begins earning interest the day the MetLife TCA is created. Interest is earned daily, but is not credited until the last day of the month. The interest rate offered on the MetLife TCA may be better or worse than
the prevailing market rates. The MetLife TCA is a product offered by
MetLife on which the company may make a profit. The beneficiary pays no
monthly maintenance fees on a MetLife TCA.
The beneficiary has complete control of, and access to, the entire amount of the
insurance proceeds. The beneficiary can withdraw the full amount from the MetLife TCA at any time. The information packet the beneficiary receives will include a draft book (similar to a checkbook). At any time and at no cost, the beneficiary can write drafts (similar to checks) from a minimum of $250 up to the full balance of the account. In addition, the beneficiary will receive periodic activity statements, and can designate a beneficiary for the account. If the beneficiary chooses the MetLife TCA settlement option, he or she will receive more detailed information when the account is opened.
Q. Where do I get the FE-6, Claim for Death Benefits, and how do I complete it?
A. You can get the form from the employee's agency or from the retirement system if the deceased was retired. You can also download the form from this website
[275 KB].
You should complete the FE-6 Claim for Death Benefits form according to the instructions on page 1 of the form. If you need help, you may contact the insured's employing agency for the death of an active employee, and the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (1-800-633-4542) for the death of a retired employee.
Q. Where do I send the FE-6 form?
A. Send the completed form with a certified copy of the death certificate to the insured's agency if he/she died as an employee. If you are the deceased's widow(er) and the agency told you to send your claim form and other documents directly to OFEGLI, you should do that.
If the deceased was retired, send the form with a certified copy of the death certificate to:
Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance
P.O. Box 6512
Utica, NY 13504-6512
Q. Can a Power of Attorney sign the FE-6 form?
A. There are limited circumstances where an Attorney-in-Fact, named in a power of attorney, may sign the FE-6 on behalf of a claimant. Whenever possible, however, the claimant should sign the claim form. For more information, please call the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance at 1-800-633-4542.
Q. How do I claim benefits for the death of a family member?
A. You should complete the FE-6 DEP, Statement of Claim, Option C -- Family Life Insurance according to instructions on the form. If you need help, you may contact your human resources office if you are an employee or the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (1-800-633-4542) if you are a retired employee. You can get the form from your human resources office if you are an employee or from your retirement system if you are retired. You can also get the form here.
Send the completed form, with a certified copy of the death certificate, to the insured's agency if he/she died as an employee.
If the deceased was retired, send the form, with a certified copy of the death certificate, to:
Office of Personnel Management
Retirement Operations Center
Attention: FE-6 DEP
Boyers, PA 16017