Many older veterans bought government life insurance decades ago, named a spouse or parent, and never looked again. When the named person has died or the marriage has ended, the money may not go where the veteran would want.
Checking the beneficiary takes a few minutes and is one of the most useful things a family can do while a parent can still make decisions.
First, find out which policy it is
Who handles the change depends on the policy. VA’s own policies include VALife and older programs like Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI) and closed legacy policies; VA’s insurance center runs these1. Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI), the coverage many veterans converted to after leaving service, is run by the Office of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (OSGLI) through Prudential2.
| Policy | How to update |
|---|---|
| VALife (policy number starting with G) | Online through VA's policy access site |
| S-DVI and older VA policies (V, RH, J, RS, K, W prefixes) | Online, or VA Form 29-336 |
| VGLI | Online through the VGLI policy, or form SGLV 8721 |
Source: VA, Update your insurance beneficiary3; VA VGLI page2.
How to check who's named now
- Gather the policy number. Look on premium notices, bank drafts or old policy papers.
- Sign in to the policy online. VA's online policy access shows details for VA-run policies4.
- Call if you can't get online. VA's insurance center is at 1-800-669-84775.
- For VGLI, use the Prudential portal or OSGLI. 2
The insured veteran needs to be the one asking, or must authorize a helper. A family member shouldn’t sign in with a parent’s credentials.
Making a change
For VALife, VA designed the policy to be managed electronically, so the beneficiary can be updated online at any time3. For older VA policies the online site is the fastest route, and VA Form 29-336, Designation of Beneficiary and Optional Settlement, is the paper option3. For VGLI, update online or file SGLV 87212.
Name contingent beneficiaries as well as principal ones. If the principal beneficiary dies first and no contingent is named, the claim gets more complicated, and the estate may have to file5.
If the veteran can't sign or has dementia
- Competent but can't sign a name. The veteran can make a mark instead, witnessed by two disinterested people who sign the form. The witnesses can't be beneficiaries3.
- Competent but can't make a mark. Send VA a letter explaining the veteran's condition3.
- Not competent. Only a court-appointed guardian can change the designation, and the guardian also needs a specific court order authorizing the change, sent with Form 29-3363.
That last rule is why acting early matters. If a parent is in the early stages of dementia and still able to decide, update the beneficiary now. For memory care planning, see our Alzheimer’s care guide. A VA fiduciary manages VA payments but isn’t the same as a guardian with a court order. See VA’s fiduciary program.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a will controls. The beneficiary designation on file is what the insurer pays, so update it rather than relying on a will.
- Leaving an ex-spouse named. Divorce doesn't automatically remove a former spouse from a designation; change the form.
- Naming a minor child directly. Payment for a minor may require a guardian or custodian5.
- Naming someone on Medicaid or SSI. A lump sum can affect those benefits; consider other options with a legal adviser.
- Not telling anyone. Keep a copy with the veteran's important papers and tell the beneficiary where it is.
A worked example
An 88-year-old veteran has an old VA policy that still names his late first wife. He remarried 30 years ago and wants his second wife and daughter to share the proceeds. Because he’s still competent but has a tremor and can’t sign his name, he makes a mark on Form 29-336 in front of two neighbors, who sign as witnesses; neither is a beneficiary3. He names his wife and daughter as principal beneficiaries and his grandchildren as contingent beneficiaries.
Make it a yearly check
VA suggests a regular review each year so life changes are captured3. A good time is when the family goes over other paperwork, such as the VA benefit summary letter or Medicare plan. When the time comes, our guide to filing a VA life insurance claim covers what beneficiaries do next.