VA Form 29-336 Designation of Beneficiary - Government Life Insurance

OMB Control No. 2900-0020
Respondent Burden: 10 minutes
Expiration Date: XX/XX/XXXX

DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY - GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE
NOTE: Before completing the form, please note we highly recommend updating your beneficiary designation directly online at
https://www.insurance.va.gov/home. It is safe, secure and instant.

SECTION I - VETERAN'S IDENTIFYING INFORMATION (All information requested in this section is required)
NOTE: You may either complete the form online or by hand. If completed by hand, print the information requested in ink, neatly, and legibly and using
capital letters to expedite processing of the form.
1. FIRST NAME - MIDDLE INITIAL - LAST NAME OF VETERAN

3. DATE OF BIRTH (MM/DD/YYYY)

2. SOCIAL SECURITY NO.

Month

Day

Year

4. VETERAN'S MAILING ADDRESS (Number and Street or Rural Route, P.O. Box, City, State, ZIP Code and Country)
No. &
Street
Apt./Unit Number

City

State/Province

Country

ZIP Code/Postal Code

5. EMAIL ADDRESS

6. DAYTIME TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Area Code)

7. CHECK BOX IF YOUR ADDRESS HAS CHANGED ►
IMPORTANT - IF YOU DO NOT NAME A SPECIFIC BENEFICIARY, YOUR INSURANCE WILL BE PAID AS NOTED UNDER SECTION V BELOW. THIS DESIGNATION
WILL APPLY TO ALL POLICIES.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THIS FORM
Use this form to designate or make changes to the beneficiary(ies) of your Government Life insurance death proceeds. The information on this form will replace any
prior beneficiary designation. You may name anyone or any entity as your beneficiary without anyone knowing or consenting to it. You may change your beneficiary
at any time by completing a new Government Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation form. This form cannot be used to reinstate your coverage if your insurance is
not in force due to failure to pay timely premiums.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR DESIGNATING A PRINCIPAL OR CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY (Section II)
• You may name more than one principal and more than one contingent beneficiary. This form allows you to name up to three principal
and three contingent beneficiaries. Please use VA Form 29-336a, Supplemental Designation of Beneficiary to list additional beneficiaries.
• You have the right to change your beneficiary at any time without the knowledge or consent of the prior beneficiary. A state court or
divorce decree cannot restrict this right and is not binding on you.
• You may name as beneficiary any person, firm, corporation or other legal entity, including your estate. If you would like to have your
insurance proceeds paid to a funeral home, simply state"Funeral Home" as your named beneficiary. The funeral home will only
receive an amount of the death proceeds equal to your funeral expense. Any remaining proceeds will go to another principal or a
contingent beneficiary, heir or to be paid to your estate.
• Federal regulations pertaining to designating beneficiaries of Government life insurance require that the designation be valid. If any part
of the designation in either the principal or contingent beneficiary section is unclear, ambiguous, or not legally acceptable, then the
previous beneficiary designation will remain effective, or the insurance will be paid based on the order of precedence listed in Section V
if no previous, valid designation exists.
PRIVACY ACT NOTICE: VA will not disclose information collected on this form to any source other than what has been authorized under the Privacy Act of 1974 or Title 38, Code of
Federal Regulations 1.576 for routine uses as identified in the VA system of records, 36VA29, Veterans and Uniformed Services Personnel Programs of U.S. Government Life Insurance - VA,
published in the Federal Register. Your obligation to respond is voluntary. VA uses your Social Security number (SSN) to identify your insurance file. Providing your SSN will help ensure that
your records are properly associated with your insurance file. Giving us your SSN account information is voluntary. Refusal to provide your SSN by itself will not result in the denial of
benefits. The VA will not deny an individual benefits for refusing to provide his or her SSN unless the disclosure of the SSN is required by a Federal Statute of law in effect prior to January 1,
1975, and still in effect.
RESPONDENT BURDEN: We need this information to determine your eligibility for Insurance benefits (38 U.S.C. 1922). Title 38, United States Code, allows us to ask for this information.
We estimate that you will need an average of 10 minutes to review the instructions, find the information, and complete this form. VA cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information
unless a valid OMB control number is displayed. You are not required to respond to a collection of information if this number is not displayed. Valid OMB control numbers can be located on
the OMB Internet Page at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. If desired, you can call 1-800-827-1000 to get information on where to send comments or suggestions about this form.
VA FORM
XXX XXXX

29-336

SUPERSEDES VA FORM 29-336, OCT 2020,
WHICH WILL NOT BE USED.

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SECTION II - BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION INFORMATION - PRINCIPAL
Principal Beneficiaries are the person(s) or entity(ies) you choose to receive your life insurance proceeds. Payment will be made in
equal shares unless otherwise specified. In the event that a designated principal beneficiary predeceases you, the proceeds will be
paid to the remaining principal beneficiaries in equal shares or all to the sole remaining principal beneficiary. For more information about
alternatives to the automatic survivorship clause or lump sum payment, please call our toll-free number 1-800-669-8477.
I HEREBY REVOKE ANY PREVIOUS DESIGNATION OF PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY(IES), IF ANY, AND IN THE EVENT OF MY
DEATH, DESIGNATE THE FOLLOWING:
IMPORTANT - The total for all principal beneficiaries must equal 100%. If the designated fractions do not add up to 100%, equal shares
will be paid.
FIRST PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
TYPE OF BENEFICIARY (Check one)
SPOUSE

PARENT

CHILD

SIBLING

OTHER

LEGAL ENTITY

FIRST NAME - MIDDLE INITIAL - LAST NAME OF PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY

PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY DATE OF BIRTH (MM,DD,YYYY)

PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

Month

Day

Year

PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY MAILING ADDRESS (Number and Street or Rural Route, P.O. Box, City, State, ZIP Code and Country)
No. &
Street
Apt./Unit Number

City

State/Province

Country

ZIP Code/Postal Code
PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY DAYTIME TELEPHONE NUMBER
(Include Area Code)

PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY EMAIL ADDRESS

INSURANCE PAYMENT DISTRIBUTION
LUMP SUM

OR

SHARE %

EQUAL SHARES (Check box if you want equal share distribution) ►

SECOND PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
TYPE OF BENEFICIARY (Check one)
SPOUSE

CHILD

PARENT

SIBLING

OTHER

LEGAL ENTITY

FIRST NAME - MIDDLE INITIAL - LAST NAME OF PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY

PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY DATE OF BIRTH (MM,DD,YYYY)

PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

Month

Day

Year

PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY MAILING ADDRESS (Number and Street or Rural Route, P.O. Box, City, State, ZIP Code and Country)
No. &
Street
Apt./Unit Number

City

State/Province

Country

ZIP Code/Postal Code

EMAIL ADDRESS

DAYTIME TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Area Code)

INSURANCE PAYMENT DISTRIBUTION
LUMP SUM

SHARE %

VA FORM 29-336, XXX XXXX

OR

EQUAL SHARES (Check box if you want equal share distribution) ►

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SECTION II - BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION INFORMATION - PRINCIPAL (Continued)
THIRD PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
TYPE OF BENEFICIARY (Check one)
SPOUSE

PARENT

CHILD

SIBLING

OTHER

LEGAL ENTITY

FIRST NAME - MIDDLE INITIAL - LAST NAME OF PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY

PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY DATE OF BIRTH (MM,DD,YYYY)
Month

Day

Year

PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY MAILING ADDRESS (Number and Street or Rural Route, P.O. Box, City, State, ZIP Code and Country)
No. &
Street
Apt./Unit Number

City

State/Province

Country

ZIP Code/Postal Code
PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARYHDAYTIME TELEPHONE NUMBER
(Include Area Code)

PRINCIPAL BENEFICIARY EMAIL ADDRESS

INSURANCE PAYMENT DISTRIBUTION
LUMP SUM

OR

SHARE %

EQUAL SHARES (Check box if you want equal share distribution) ►

SECTION III - BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION INFORMATION - CONTINGENT
Contingent Beneficiaries are the person(s) or entity(ies) you choose to receive your life insurance proceeds if the principal beneficiary
(ies) die or the entity dissolves before you die. Payment will be made in equal shares unless otherwise specified. In the event that
a designated contingent beneficiary predeceases you, the proceeds will be paid to the remaining contingent beneficiaries in equal
shares or all to the sole remaining contingent beneficiary.
IMPORTANT - The total for all contingent beneficiaries must equal 100%. If the designed fractions do not add up to 100%, equal
shares will be paid.
FIRST CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
TYPE OF BENEFICIARY (Check one)
SPOUSE

CHILD

PARENT

SIBLING

OTHER

LEGAL ENTITY

FIRST NAME - MIDDLE INITIAL - LAST NAME OF CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY

CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY DATE OF BIRTH (MM,DD,YYYY)

CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

Month

Day

Year

CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY MAILING ADDRESS (Number and Street or Rural Route, P.O. Box, City, State, ZIP Code and Country)
No. &
Street
Apt./Unit Number

City

State/Province

Country

ZIP Code/Postal Code

EMAIL ADDRESS

DAYTIME TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Area Code)

INSURANCE PAYMENT DISTRIBUTION
LUMP SUM

SHARE %

VA FORM 29-336, XXX XXXX

OR

EQUAL SHARES (Check box if you want equal share distribution) ►

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SECTION III - BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION INFORMATION - CONTINGENT (Continued)
SECOND CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
TYPE OF BENEFICIARY (Check one)
SPOUSE

PARENT

CHILD

SIBLING

OTHER

LEGAL ENTITY

FIRST NAME - MIDDLE INITIAL - LAST NAME OF CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY

CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY DATE OF BIRTH (MM,DD,YYYY)

CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

Month

Day

Year

CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY MAILING ADDRESS (Number and Street or Rural Route, P.O. Box, City, State, ZIP Code and Country)
No. &
Street
Apt./Unit Number

City

State/Province

Country

ZIP Code/Postal Code

EMAIL ADDRESS

DAYTIME TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Area Code)

INSURANCE PAYMENT DISTRIBUTION
LUMP SUM

OR

SHARE %

EQUAL SHARES (Check box if you want equal share distribution) ►

THIRD CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
TYPE OF BENEFICIARY (Check one)
SPOUSE

CHILD

PARENT

SIBLING

OTHER

LEGAL ENTITY

FIRST NAME - MIDDLE INITIAL - LAST NAME OF CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY

CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY DATE OF BIRTH (MM,DD,YYYY)

CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

Month

Day

Year

CONTINGENT BENEFICIARY MAILING ADDRESS (Number and Street or Rural Route, P.O. Box, City, State, ZIP Code and Country)
No. &
Street
Apt./Unit Number

City

State/Province

Country

ZIP Code/Postal Code

EMAIL ADDRESS

DAYTIME TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Area Code)

INSURANCE PAYMENT DISTRIBUTION
LUMP SUM

SHARE %

VA FORM 29-336, XXX XXXX

OR

EQUAL SHARES (Check box if you want equal share distribution) ►

Page 4

SECTION IV - ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS
NOTE: YOUR INSURANCE PROCEEDS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY PAID ACCORDING TO THE AUTOMATIC SURVIVORSHIP CLAUSE DETAILED IN SECTION V BELOW.
IF YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR INSURANCE PAID THIS WAY, PLEASE EXPLAIN BELOW HOW YOU WANT IT PAID.

SECTION V - CERTIFICATION AND SIGNATURE
I Certify that I am the policyholder and I understand that:
1. Unless otherwise noted in Section IV, Additional Instructions, my insurance will be paid according to the automatic survivorship
clause as follows:
• If one or more principal beneficiary dies before me, the insurances will be divided between any remaining principal
beneficiaries.
• If all principal beneficiaries die before me, the insurance will be paid to my contingent beneficiaries.
• If all principal and contingent beneficiaries die before me, the insurance will be paid based on the following order.
(1) My surviving spouse.
(2) My children and decedents of deceased children.
(3) My parents or their surviving children.
(4) The duly appointed executor or administrator of my estate.
(5) My other next of kin under laws of my domicile at time of my death.
2. This change cancels all prior beneficiary and option selections and applies to all Government Life Insurance policies.
3. For all programs other than VALife, by law, if a designated principal beneficiary does not file a claim for payment within one
year of the date of my death, then payment may be made to the beneficiary(ies) next entitled. If no claim for payment is received
from any designated beneficiary within two years of the date of my death, my insurance will be paid in accordance with 38 U.S.
C. 1917(f) or 38 U.S.C. 1952(c). If I do not designate a beneficiary, my insurance will be paid according to the order of
precedence listed in Item 1 of this section.
4. For VALife, by law, if the designated beneficiary does not file a claim for the payment within one year of the date of my death,
or if payment to the designated beneficiary within that period is prohibited by Federal statute or regulation, my insurance will be
paid based on the order of precedence listed in Item 1 of this section. Beneficiaries listed under the order of precedence may file
a claim for such payment during the one year period following the period as if the designated beneficiary had predeceased the
veteran.
5. Federal regulations pertaining to designating beneficiaries of Government life insurance require that the designation be valid. If
any part of the designation in either the principal or contingent beneficiary section is unclear, ambiguous, or not legally
acceptable, then the previous beneficiary designation will remain effective, or the insurance will be paid based on the order of
precedence listed in Item 1 of this section.
IMPORTANT - The veteran must sign and date the form. A person holding a Power of Attorney or Guardianship cannot
sign the form. Please call our toll-free number at 1-800-669-8477 if the veteran is unable to sign. The signature date must
be the date the veteran actually signed the form.
DATE SIGNED (MM/DD/YYYY

SIGNATURE OF VETERAN (Sign in ink)

NOTE: An "X" for a signature is acceptable when it is witnessed by two people not named on the designation.
PRINT NAME OF FIRST WITNESS (First-Middle Initial-Last)

PRINT NAME OF SECOND WITNESS (First-Middle Initial-Last)

MAILING ADDRESS (Number and street or rural route, P.O. Box, City, State, ZIP Code
and Country)

MAILING ADDRESS (Number and street or rural route, P.O. Box, City, State, ZIP Code
and Country)

TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Area Code)

TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Area Code)

SIGNATURE OF FIRST WITNESS (Sign in ink)

DATE SIGNED (MM/DD/YYYY) SIGNATURE OF SECOND WITNESS (Sign in ink)

DATE SIGNED (MM/DD/YYYY)

THIS COMPLETED FORM MAY BE SUBMITTED BY:
MAIL
ONLINE
VARO & IC (B&O)
P. O. Box 8638
Philadelphia, PA 19101
VA FORM 29-336, XXX XXXX

Upload the form using our
secure website at
www.insurance.va.gov
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