Securing Benefits for Domestic Partners
Although federal employees who are in non-traditional committed relationships, including LGBT federal employees, are, by law, not allowed to enroll their domestic partners in the Federal Health Benefits Program or in the Long Term Health Care Program (though we continue to push for inclusion), there are steps that can be taken to provide long-term partners with financial security. And if you are not in a relationship, this is still for you--your benefits need to go where you want them to go.

Federal GLOBE is starting a yearly program to have all of our members use this day to examine their papers, forms, and plans to make sure that what benefits you can direct, will be directed as you want.

You are able to designate who will be eligible for your life insurance proceeds, unpaid compensation, and money that you have contributed to your retirement fund or thrift savings plan. But your intended will only get it IF they are listed as your designated beneficiary on the official forms found in your Official Personnel Folders.

A WILL DOES NOT ENSURE DISTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL BENEFITS TO A DOMESTIC PARTNER OR INTENDED BENEFICIARY.

If you have not completed a designation of beneficiary form, your benefits will be distributed according to the government's automatic right of assignment process. This means that distribution would be made in the following order: widow, or widower; children; parents; brothers/sisters; executor/administrator of your will.

If you do not want your benefits distributed according to the standard process, you must complete the following forms:

1. Life Insurance -Designation of Beneficiary Form SF-2823 (4/2001)
2. Unpaid Compensation - Designation of Beneficiary Form SF-1152 (11/91)
3. Thrift Savings Plan - Designation of Beneficiary Form TSP-3 (10/96)
Retirement Funds
4a. CSRS Designation of Beneficiary Form SF-2808 (2/99)
or
4b. FERS Designation of Beneficiary Form SF-3102 (6/2000)

These forms should also all be available in your servicing Human Resource Office, or on line at: http://www.lifelinks.faa.gov/life/misc/forms.cfm.