NASAPeople

NASA Employee Benefits Handbook - Chapter 16
If You Die

Perhaps one of the most often asked questions from employees with new families, employees with serious illnesses, or employees who realize that we’re not getting any younger is: "If I die, how will my family be taken care of?" This chapter is intended to give you a broad overview of your employee benefits as they relate to your survivors -- if you were to die while employed at NASA as a civil servant.

First of all, you may rest assured that your Employee Benefits Counselors will make every possible effort to insure that your survivors receive every benefit and payment from your civil service employment that they are entitled to.

Benefits Assistance for Your Survivors

As a routine, if you die your Employee Benefits Counselors will meet with your survivors either to discuss your civil service benefits, insurance, and any annuities for which your survivors may be eligible. Your Employee Benefits Counselors will continue to assist your survivors with the survivors’ benefits for as long as they need help.

Your Employee Benefits Statement

To help you understand your survivors’ specific entitlements in the event of your death, Your NASA Employee Benefits Statement provides a current listing based upon your current employment status. This information is updated biweekly and is available to either you upon your request or to your survivors if you were to die. You are encouraged to review this information with your family/survivors. The table below explains the information contained in the benefits statement.

If You Die What do Your Survivors Receive?

Based upon your employment status when you die, your survivors will receive:

Payment for Accrued Annual Leave	Your beneficiary will receive a lump sum payment for your unused, accrued annual leave.
Basic Lump Sum Death Benefit to Spouse (FERS Only) plus	If you are covered under FERS, your surviving spouse will receive a basic lump sum death benefit. This amount is $15,000 indexed annually by the CSRS cost-of-living adjustment. Spouse must be married to you for at least 9 months or your death must be accidental. Requires that you have at least 18 months service.
Lump Sum Death Benefit to Spouse (FERS only) (Requires 18 Months of Service)	If you are covered under FERS, your surviving spouse will receive an additional lump sum death benefit of one-half of your annual basic pay. Spouse must be married to you for at least 9 months or your death must be accidental. e.g. If your annual salary is $60,000 -- your spouse would receive $30,000.
Your Final Paycheck for Hours Worked	Your beneficiary will receive a lump sum payment for all the hours you have worked in your final pay period.
Beneficiary May Withdraw Your Own Contributions, Government Matching and TSP Earnings From Thrift Savings Plan	Your beneficiary is eligible to withdraw your TSP contributions, the Government matching contributions, and all the earnings from your Thrift Savings Plan account.
Eligible to Withdraw Government 1% Automatic TSP Contribution	Your beneficiary is eligible to withdraw the Government 1% Automatic TSP contribution from your Thrift Savings Plan Account. (Does not apply if you are covered under the CSRS retirement system)
Non-Accidental Death Benefit - FEGLI Life	The dollar amount of your FEGLI life insurance that your beneficiary will receive if you were enrolled and your death is non-accidental. Or
Accidental Death Benefit - FEGLI Life	The dollar amount of your FEGLI life insurance that your beneficiary will receive if you were enrolled and your death is accidental.
Non-Accidental Death Benefit - NEBA Life	The dollar amount of your NEBA life insurance that your beneficiary will receive if you were enrolled and if your death is non-accidental. Or
Accidental Death Benefit - NEBA Life	The dollar amount of your NEBA life insurance that your beneficiary will receive if you were enrolled and if your death is accidental.
Social Security Death Benefit (if FERS or CSRS with Social Security Eligibility)	The dollar amount of the death benefit your spouse or eligible child will receive if you are fully or currently insured for Social Security at the time of your death.
CSRS Survivor Annuity (Requires 18 months of Service)	The current monthly CSRS annuity your spouse will receive in the event of your death. Spouse must be married to you for at least 9 months or your death must be accidental.
FERS Survivor Annuity (Requires 10 Years of Service, Reduced by Any Social Security Benefit)	The current monthly FERS annuity your spouse will receive in the event of your death. Spouse must be married to you for at least 9 months or your death must be accidental.
Dependent Child Annuity- for Each Dependent Child Under Age 19 OR Disabled Child who Becomes Disabled Before Age 19 (for FERS, Child’s Annuity is Reduced by any Social Security Benefit Payable)	The current monthly annuity your eligible child will receive in the event of your death. This amount is payable for up to 3 children. If more than 3 children, each child’s amount is 3 times the monthly annuity divided by the number of children.
Estimated Worker’s Compensation Benefit (OWCP)	If your death is work related your survivors may be eligible for continuing compensation through the Worker’s Compensation program.
Percent of Annual Salary OWCP Surviving Spouse - No Eligible Children	The current annual amount your surviving spouse with no eligible children will receive if your death is work related.
Percent of Annual Salary OWCP Surviving Spouse - With Eligible Children	The current annual amount your surviving spouse with eligible children will receive if your death is work related.
*Plus*
Percent of Annual Salary OWCP Each Eligible Child	The current annual amount each of your surviving eligible children will receive if your death is work related.
Percent Maximum Amount OWCP Surviving Spouse - With Eligible Children	The current maximum annual amount your surviving spouse and eligible children will receive if your death is work related.
Percent of Annual Salary OWCP No Spouse - With One Eligible Child	The current annual amount your first eligible child will receive if you leave no surviving spouse.
*Plus*
Percent of Annual Salary OWCP Each Eligible Child	The current annual amount each additional eligible child will receive if you leave no surviving spouse.
Percent Maximum Amount OWCP No Spouse With Eligible Children	The maximum annual amount your eligible children will receive if you leave no surviving spouse.

Designation of Beneficiary

As a current Federal worker you usually have significant employment and retirement benefits to pass on to your survivors. Do you know who will receive yours?

Every year throughout the Government, there are cases of agencies having to pay benefits to someone not intended by the decedent because he or she failed to file or change a designation of beneficiary.

Whenever a change occurs, such as marriage, divorce, birth, or death, you should consider its impact on your survivor benefits.

Order of Precedence

If you do not designate a beneficiary, or if your designated beneficiary is not living at the time of your death, benefits listed above will automatically pay in the following order:

To your widow or widower;
If neither of the above, to your child or children in equal shares, with the share of any deceased child spread among the descendants of that child;
If none of the above, to your parents in equal shares or the entire amount to the surviving parent;
If none of the above, to your executor or administrator of your estate; or
If none of the above, to your next of kin who may be entitled under the laws of the State in which you live at the time of your death.

Benefits Forms

There is a separate form to designate beneficiaries for each benefit:

SF 2808 (CSRS) or SF 3102 (FERS) for lump-sum retirement system benefits (a lump-sum is not payable if there is a surviving spouse or surviving child eligible for a survivor annuity);
SF 2823 for the Federal Employee's Group Life Insurance; and
SF 1152 for unpaid salary and annual leave;
TSP-3 for Thrift Savings Plan;

It is very important for you to review your designation forms if your family status changes. Some of the forms are contained in your Official Personnel Folder.