While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides life insurance for veterans, service members and their spouses and dependent children. Life insurance offers financial security in the event of injury, disability or death.
VA Life Insurance is available through the following programs:
Service members and veterans pay a monthly premium for VA Life Insurance and will need to continue to make payments to maintain coverage.
Learn more about VA Life Insurance on the federal website here.
If an insured individual is injured, becomes disabled or dies, the beneficiary will file a life insurance claim to receive compensation from the policy. The payment sum will depend on the amount for which the individual was insured.
Through VMLI, beneficiaries can receive funds for mortgage protection if the insured becomes disabled. However, the VA pays the lender directly.
In addition to claim payments, the VA provides financial counseling services at no cost. Beneficiaries can get advice from professionals and help to prepare a will.
Click here for more details about financial counseling and will preparation.
The amount beneficiaries receive is dependent on the policy and its level of insurance coverage. The following are the maximum coverage amounts, but policyholders can choose the amount to insure:
Higher coverage means monthly premiums are greater. Discover how to assess life insurance coverage with the VA Life Insurance Needs Calculator here.
Each VA Life Insurance program has different eligibility requirements. SGLI is available to eligible service members. To be eligible you must meet one of the requirements listed here.
FSGLI is available to spouses and dependent children of service members. To be eligible for FSGLI, you must be a spouse or dependent child of a service member on active duty covered by full-time SGLI or a member of the National Guard or Ready Reserve covered by full-time SGLI.
TSGLI is available to eligible service members covered by SGLI. In addition, to be eligible for TSGLI you will also need to meet the requirements listed here.
VGLI is available to veterans. To be eligible for this benefit, you must meet any of the requirements listed here.
S-DVI is available to eligible veterans. To qualify for this benefit you must meet a series of requirements, including being released from active duty on or after April 25, 1951, and having a service-related disability. Learn more about the eligibility requirements for S-DVI here.
VMLI is available to eligible service members and veterans. To be considered eligible you will need to meet several criteria, including having a severe disability caused or worsened by the service and having a title and mortgage in your name. Click here to learn more about the eligibility requirements for VMLI.
If you wish to apply for VGLI, you must do so within one year and 120 days from your discharge. You will not need to show evidence of being in good health if you apply within 240 days of separation.
To apply for VGLI or S-DVI you will need to complete the following three steps:
To apply online for VGLI, you can use the following websites:
To apply by mail, fill out the Application for fir Veterans’ Group Life Insurance here and send it to:
OSGLI
P.O. Box 41618
Philadelphia, PA 19176-9913
To apply by fax, fill out the Application for Veterans’ Group Life Insurance here send it to (800) 236-6142.
To apply online for S-DVI, complete the digital application here.
To apply by mail, fill out the Application for Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance here and send it to:
Department of Veterans Affairs
Regional Office and Insurance Center (RH)
P.O. Box 7208
Philadelphia, PA 19101
To apply by fax, fill out the Application for Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance here send it to (888) 748-5822.
If you are an eligible service member, you are automatically signed up for SGLI through your service branch. However, you can apply for a two-year extension of SGLI coverage if you are disabled when you separate from service. To apply for an SGLI Disability Extension, complete the application here and send it to the address listed on the form.
If you are a civilian spouse or a dependent child of an eligible service member, you are automatically signed up for FSGLI through your spouse’s service branch.
You are automatically signed up for TSGLI if you have full-time SGLI.
To apply for VMLI, you will need to apply for an SAH grant first. If you are approved, ask your loan guaranty agent and he or she will help you fill out the Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance Statement here.
If you need help with your application, call the following VA Life Insurance toll-free numbers Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM ET:
You can check your claim status online by logging into your account here. To check your status online, you will need to sign into one of the following existing accounts:
You can contact the VA regional office where you sent your application if you applied by mail. Find VA office location and contact information here.
You can also call the VA Life Insurance toll-free numbers Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM ET:
As a policyholder, you will need to pay your monthly premium to maintain your VA Life Insurance policy. If you have SGLI, TSGLI or your family members have FSGLI, premium payments will be automatically deducted from your wages.
If you have VGLI or S-DVI, you can set up automatic withdrawals from your bank account.
Check here for more about managing your policy and benefits.
You can access your VA Life Insurance policy to:
You can update your SGLI and FSGLI profile information online by submitting changes through the SGLI Online Enrollment System (SOES) here.
You can update your VGLI profile information:
OSGLI
P.O. Box 41618
Philadelphia, PA 19176-9913
You can update your VMLI coverage (such as selling the property) by mail when you send a notice of any changes to:
Department of Veterans Affairs
Regional Office and Insurance Center
P.O. Box 7208 (VMLI)
Philadelphia, PA 19101
If your benefits claim is denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You have the following three appeal options: file a supplemental claim, request a higher-level review or file a board appeal.
To file a supplemental claim and present new evidence that supports your case, or request a higher-level review from a senior officer, you can fill out the application here and submit it in person at a local VA office. Find the nearest VA health care facility location here.
To file either a supplemental claim or request a higher-level review, you can send the application by mail to:
Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
PO Box 4444
Janesville, WI 53547-4444
The higher-level review form can be found here. Higher-level reviews can also be requested by fax to (844) 531-7818.
Board appeals can be requested in three different ways:
Click here for more information about what to do after you request an appeal.
For TSGLI appeals, use the request form here and submit a completed copy to your service branch, which is listed on the first page.
Find VA locations and contact information here.
If you need help or have questions about VA Life Insurance, call the following numbers Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM ET:
You can also call your nearby VA office. Find VA office locations and contact information here.
To ask questions online, click here for the Inquiry Routing and Information System (IRIS).
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research U.S. Veteran Affairs programs and compiled a guide that we believe is simple to use and easy to understand. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing detailed information on the process.
Our free Veteran Affairs Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply for VA benefits, program eligibility and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
