Fill Out SGLV 8283 Online
Claim for Death Benefits (SGLI/VGLI)
Department of Veterans Affairs (SGLI)
Claims Servicemembers' or Veterans' Group Life Insurance proceeds as a beneficiary after the death of the insured.
Reviewed July 2026
How it works
- 1
Open the form. The official PDF loads straight into the editor, no download needed first.
- 2
Fill it out in the editor. Click anywhere to type, add checkmarks and place your signature.
- 3
Download your PDF. Save the completed form, ready to print or submit.
SGLV 8283, the Claim for Death Benefits, is the form a beneficiary files to receive the proceeds of a Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) or Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) policy after the insured person dies. The claim is processed by the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI), the Prudential office that administers both programs.
You can complete SGLV 8283 in the Universal PDF editor, type the insured's and your own information into the form, and download the finished PDF to print, sign, and submit. During a difficult time, typing the form is one small way to avoid processing delays caused by hard-to-read handwriting.
What is SGLV 8283 used for
The form starts the payment of a death benefit under SGLI or VGLI. It identifies the insured, establishes who the claimant is and their relationship to the insured, and records how the claimant wants to receive payment.
Two versions of the form exist. The version linked on this page is for beneficiaries filing on their own. A separate version is completed with the help of a casualty assistance officer when a service member dies on active duty and the military is assisting the family.
Who files SGLV 8283
The named beneficiaries of the policy file the claim. If the insured named several beneficiaries, each one files their own claim for their share. When no valid beneficiary designation exists, the proceeds are paid according to the order of precedence in federal law, and the people in that order file the claim instead.
For a death in service, the member's unit or casualty assistance office typically contacts beneficiaries and helps start the process. For a VGLI policyholder or a recently separated member, beneficiaries usually initiate the claim themselves with OSGLI.
How to fill out SGLV 8283
Gather the basic facts about the insured before you start, then complete each section:
- Insured's information: name, Social Security number, date of birth, date of death, and branch of service or VGLI policy details
- Claimant's information: your name, address, contact details, and relationship to the insured
- Payment election: how you want to receive the proceeds, using the options described in the form's instructions
- Signature and date: sign the printed form; an unsigned claim will be returned
- Supporting documents: the instructions list what to include, typically proof of death such as a death certificate
Where to send it
Submit the completed claim to OSGLI using the mailing, fax, or electronic submission details printed in the current form's instructions. OSGLI reviews the claim, may request additional documentation, and pays valid claims according to the beneficiary designation on file.
If you are unsure whether you are a named beneficiary, you can still contact OSGLI. It can only discuss designation details with people entitled to the information, but it can confirm what it needs from you to evaluate a claim.
Frequently asked questions
The beneficiaries named on the insured's most recent valid designation file the claim. If there is no valid designation, federal law sets an order of precedence, generally starting with a surviving spouse, and those individuals file instead.
There is no short filing window, but filing promptly speeds payment and makes it easier to gather documents. Check the current form's instructions or contact OSGLI if a long time has passed since the death.
The form's instructions list the requirements, which typically include proof of death such as a certified death certificate. OSGLI will request anything additional it needs after reviewing the claim.
When a member dies on active duty, a casualty assistance officer helps the family complete a version of the claim designed for that situation. The version on this page is the one beneficiaries use when filing on their own.
Yes. Each named beneficiary files their own claim for their share of the proceeds, and OSGLI processes the claims individually.
Yes. Open the form in the Universal PDF editor, type the insured's and claimant's information, then download the completed PDF to print, sign, and send to OSGLI with the required documents.
Related forms
Universal PDF is an independent product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Forms are provided from official government sources; always confirm you have the current version before filing.