# 38 CFR § 9.4: Beneficiaries and options

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-9.4

## Section

- **Citation:** 38 CFR § 9.4
- **Heading:** Beneficiaries and options
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 38—Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief > CHAPTER I—DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS > PART 9—SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE AND VETERANS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE

## Text

Any designation of beneficiary or election of settlement options is subject to the provisions of 38 U.S.C. 1970 and 1977 and the following provisions:
(a) Any designation of beneficiary or settlement option election made by any member insured under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance for full-time coverage or part-time coverage will remain in effect until properly changed by the member or canceled automatically for any of the following reasons:
(1) The insurance terminates following separation or release from all duty in a uniformed service.
(2) The member enters on duty in another uniformed service.
(3) The member reenters on duty in the same uniformed service more than 1 calendar day after separation or release from all duty in that uniformed service.
(b) A change of beneficiary may be made at any time and without the knowledge or consent of the previous beneficiary.
(c) Until and unless otherwise changed, a beneficiary designation and settlement option election of record on the date a statutory increase in coverage takes effect shall be considered to be a beneficiary and optional settlement election for the increased amount as well, and any beneficiary named therein shall be entitled to the same percentage (%) share of the new total coverage amount as that beneficiary was entitled to prior to the statutory increase in coverage.
(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501)
[40 FR 4135, Jan. 28, 1975, as amended at 53 FR 17699, May 18, 1988. Redesignated and amended at 61 FR 20135, 20136, May 6, 1996]

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-38-9.4. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.