Directions To Service Member
What You Should Know
This insurance is granted under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance provisions of title 38, United States Code, and is subject to the provisions of that
title and its amendments, and title 38 Code of Federal Regulations.
This form must be correctly completed, signed and received by your Uniformed Service before your death in order for this designation to be valid.
Marriage and SGLI Coverage
If you are married or you get married after completing this form, your spouse is automatically covered under Family SGLI and premiums will be
deducted from your pay, unless you decline Family SGLI coverage by completing SGLV 8286A. You must register your spouse in DEERS for Family
SGLI premiums to be deducted from your pay. If you do not register your spouse in DEERS, premiums cannot be deducted. This will result you owing
a debt for back premiums.
Periods of Coverage
SGLI is in effect throughout the period of full-time active duty or active duty for training. Coverage is also in effect on a full-time basis for reservists who
are assigned to a unit or position in which they may be required to perform active duty or active duty for training and each year will be scheduled to
perform at least 12 periods of inactive duty training that is creditable for retirement purposes under Chapter 1223 of title 10, United States Code. SGLI
coverage continues for 120 days following separation or release. You may convert your SGLI to Veterans’ Group Life Insurance within 120 days of
separation without proof of good health, or within one year and 120 days of separation with proof of good health by contacting the Office of
Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (see below).
Instructions On Completing This Form (Type or print in ink all items except where otherwise noted.)
1. Naming Beneficiaries
a. A new SGLV-8286 must be completed to change your beneficiary. You may name anyone as beneficiary without his/her consent. However,
your spouse will be notified if you reduce coverage or name a beneficiary other than your spouse.
b. If the beneficiary is a married woman, use her given first and middle names. For example, use Mary Lisa Smith, instead of Mrs. John Smith.
c. A named beneficiary will NOT be changed automatically by any event occurring after you complete this form (e.g. marriage, divorce, etc.).
Your beneficiary cannot be changed by, and is not affected by, any other documents such as a divorce decree or will.
d. If you want to name more than four principal or contingent beneficiaries, list the additional beneficiaries on the Beneficiary Continuation Form
(page 5) and check the block under the principal or contingent blocks on page 2, indicating that you have done so. The Beneficiary
Continuation Form (page 5) should then be attached to page 2 of the 8286.
e. If you name minor children as beneficiaries, the insurance will be paid to the court-appointed guardian of the children's estate.
f. You can establish a trust for the benefit of the children and name the trust as beneficiary. A trust names a trustee of your choice to be legally
responsible for administering the insurance proceeds for the children. Naming a trust as a beneficiary on this form does NOT create a trust.
Before naming a trust as beneficiary, you should consult a military attorney for assistance.
2. Social Security Number - Do not delay completing this form if you do not have a beneficiary's Social Security Number. The Social Security
Number helps us to locate the beneficiary, but is not required.
3. Shares to each Beneficiary - If you name more than one beneficiary, the sum of the shares must equal 100% or the full dollar amount of your
insurance.
Example: mother $200,000 50% 1/2
father
$200,000 or 50% or
1/2
Total $400,000 100% 1
4. Payment Option - You may choose whether you want the beneficiary to receive payment in one lump sum or in 36 equal monthly payments by
writing "lump sum" or "36" in the column labeled Payment Option. If you choose 36 payments, the beneficiary cannot choose to receive a lump
sum payment. If you want the beneficiary to have a choice at the time of payment, write "lump sum" or leave the block blank.
5. Provisions For Payment Of Insurance
a. If you name more than one principal beneficiary and one or more predeceases you, the share(s) will be divided equally among the remaining
principal beneficiaries, unless otherwise stated. If there are no surviving principal beneficiaries, the proceeds will be divided among the
contingent beneficiaries.
b. If you do not name a beneficiary, or if there are no surviving beneficiaries, or if you indicate that payment should be made by law, the proceeds
will be paid in the following order:
1. Widow or widower
2. Children in equal shares (the share of any deceased child will be distributed equally among the descendants of that child)
3. Parent(s) in equal shares or all to surviving parent
4. A duly appointed executor or administrator of your estate
5. Other next of kin
What Your Beneficiaries Should Know
Upon your death, the Casualty Assistance Office for your branch of service will assist your beneficiary in filing a claim for the insurance proceeds. These
claims are submitted to the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, 80 Livingston Avenue, Roseland, NJ 07068-1733. Your beneficiary may
also call 1-800-419-1473 for claim information.
SGLV 8286, December 2007 To Member p. 3
