Now is a great time to draft or review your federal benefits and personal legal documents if you have not already.
Federal Benefits and Qualifying Life Events
Take a few minutes to confirm your beneficiary forms are accurate or make changes to your benefit elections if you have a qualifying life event:
- Visit the Qualifying Life Events (OPM) website to review your options for changing or updating your benefits based on a change in family status (e.g., birth, adoption, marriage, divorce, etc.).
- If you want to update your TSP beneficiary, send your updated Thrift Savings Plan (TSP-3) designation directly to TSP.
- Submit all other beneficiary designations to your Component Benefits Office:
If you have any questions about federal beneficiary forms or qualifying life events, please contact your Component Benefits Office.
Legal Documents
Drafting or reviewing legal documents while you are healthy will help your loved ones honor your health and property decisions, know they are carrying out your wishes, and minimize lengthy legal processes. At a minimum, legal experts recommend that each of us have the following:
- Will: Having a will ensures that you determine who inherits your property and raises your children if you pass away.
- Living Will: A living will gives you the ability to state what kind of care you do or do not want in the event you are incapacitated.
- Health Care Proxy: A health care proxy, often called a medical power of attorney, names individuals who are empowered to speak on your behalf and ensure that the terms of your living will are carried out.
Your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) includes a legal assistance benefit that provides you with advice on a wide array of legal issues, including, but not limited to:
- Family law matters, including divorce, custody, child support, and adoption;
- Bankruptcy and credit issues;
- Landlord and tenant issues, including eviction and lease questions;
- Real estate and foreclosure;
- Civil actions and small claims court;
- Wills and living wills;
- Trusts;
- Contracts; and
- Probate.
Your EAP is available to assist you and your family members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact your Component EAP for more information on their legal support services. All services can be accessed without leaving your home. For more information please contact worklife@hq.dhs.gov.