FAQs

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FBI Employee Benevolent Fund FAQs

[/vc_column_text][vc_toggle title=”1. What is the purpose of the Employee Benevolent Fund?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. The Employee Benevolent Fund (EBF) is designed to provide immediate money to your loved ones upon your death. The Fund promptly provides a death benefit to your designated beneficiary(ies), usually within 24 hours.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”2. Who is eligible to enroll in the Fund?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. Enrollment in the Fund is open to all permanent employees – full and part-time who are actively at work (not on official leave, active military duty, or leave without pay status). New permanent full-time and permanent part-time active employees must enroll within 60 days of their date of hire (entry on duty date). All other eligible employees can join only during an Open Enrollment period.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”3. If I am not eligible to enroll during the open enrollment period because I am not actively at work (either on military leave or on extended leave for other reasons), can I enroll when I do return to work?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. No. You must wait until the next open enrollment period. Only new employees or previous Fund members who lost membership due to active duty in the military are eligible for enrollment outside of the open enrollment period.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”4. When does my coverage become effective?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. Your coverage will become effective on the first day of the pay period that your allotment premium is deducted from your paycheck. Note: You must be actively at work in order for your coverage to be effective.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”5. What is the cost and how do I pay for the Fund?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. The cost is only $1.50 ($17,500) or $3.00 ($35,000) biweekly, deducted from your paycheck.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”6. Who administers the Fund?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. SAMBA administers the Fund. ReliaStar Life Insurance Company is the plan underwriter.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”7. Who is SAMBA?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. SAMBA is a not-for-profit association that offers health insurance and other group insurance plans to federal employees and retirees plus their dependents. Established in 1948, SAMBA works closely with top-rated insurance providers to create plans at affordable rates that meet the specific needs of our members and their families. The result is a suite of insurance and benefit programs that are among the best offered to any federal government employee or retiree.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”8. Who will receive the one-time death payment if I die?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. During the enrollment process, you will be asked to designate both primary and contingent beneficiary(ies). The primary beneficiary(ies) must be a person(s) at least 18 years of age or older. Minors, estates and trusts cannot be designated as the primary beneficiary(ies), but may be designated as contingent beneficiary(ies). Should the EBF member not be survived by his or her primary and contingent beneficiary(ies), payment shall be made in the following order: member’s spouse or registered domestic partner; member’s children; member’s parents; member’s siblings; member’s estate.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”9. How soon after my death will my beneficiary(ies) receive the death payment?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. Usually, the check(s) will be mailed via Overnight Delivery to your designated beneficiary(ies) within 24 hours of receipt of notification of death from your agency.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”10. In what cases would my beneficiary not receive the death payment?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. If you commit suicide and you have been enrolled in the Fund less than two years, or if your beneficiary is found to be responsible for your death (other than by accidental means), there is no death benefit paid to the beneficiary.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”11. Does the policy cover accidental deaths?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. Yes. Whether your death is due to an illness or accident, whether it occurs at home or on the job, your beneficiary will receive the death payment as long as you are enrolled in the Employee Benevolent Fund at the time of death.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”12. How do I change my beneficiary(ies)?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. You will need to log onto the SAMBA website, Member Services, and then follow the prompts to update your beneficiaries.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”13. Why does my primary beneficiary have to be 18 years old or older?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. The plan is designed to pay an immediate death payment within 24 hours of receipt of notification of death from your agency. When minor children and/or trusts are designated as primary beneficiaries, SAMBA cannot make immediate payments until certain requirements are fulfilled such as legal guardianship is established or settlement of the trust/estate.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”14. What happens if I go on Leave Without Pay (LWOP) due to illness, injury, or family medical leave?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. If you are on LWOP status for less than 365 days, you will remain a member of the Fund provided you make arrangements with SAMBA to pay your premium. However, LWOP for any reason for more than 365 consecutive days will result in termination of membership in the Fund at the end of the 365th day of LWOP. You may re-enroll within 60 days following your return to active employment.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”15. What happens if, due to military obligations, I am on LWOP for more than 30 calendar days?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. Any Fund member who enters on active military duty and is placed on LWOP, or resigns from the agency to perform active duty in the military will no longer be a member of the Employee Benevolent Fund. Employees must re-enroll in the Fund within 60 days following return to active work status with your agency to become a Fund member again.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”16. What happens if I am on Military Leave for periods of less than 30 days (typically for two weeks of active duty training while in the military reserves)?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. While on Military Leave for training purposes of less than 30 days, your coverage will be suspended. Upon return to active status with your agency, the Fund membership will be reinstated provided the premium is paid.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”17. Would death benefits be paid if I should die while serving in the military?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. No. Please note that a Fund member is no longer a member while serving in the military and no benefits can be paid if death occurred while serving on active military duty.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”18. How do I know my enrollment application was processed?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. All EBF members will receive a Statement of Coverage showing the coverage amount and the effective date of their enrollment.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”19. Can a Fund member cancel his or her enrollment?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. Yes. However, any EBF member who elects to cancel his/her EBF membership will not be eligible for re-enrollment until the next open enrollment period.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”20. Can I keep this policy, even after I resign from the agency?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. No. However you can convert the coverage to an individual policy. You must submit your application to ReliaStar Life Insurance Company within 31 days after you cease to be a member of the Fund. Contact SAMBA for the application.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”21. How often is there an Open Enrollment period?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. Open Enrollment periods are coordinated between SAMBA and the federal agencies and are held infrequently, not more than once every two years.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”22. Is there a document that explains the coverage and its provisions?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. Yes. On the SAMBA website you will find the Plan Description. You may print it for your records if you wish or you may contact SAMBA to mail you a copy. In addition, at the end of the Online Enrollment process, you will receive your Statement of Coverage sent to your email address on record which should be included as part of your Plan Description.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”23. The Plan Description includes a Disclosure Notice for residents of certain states. Does this mean that members of the Fund who live in those states may not be eligible for the death benefit?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. The Disclosure Notices printed in the Plan Description contain required language by the state that may not be applicable for all plans. In the event of the death of a Fund member living in any of those states, the Disclosure Notice does not apply; therefore, the EBF is an eligible benefit.[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”24. Are there any other exclusions or limitations that I should know about before I enroll?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]A. Two other exclusions exist and are listed below.

  • In the event that the death of a Fund member is by suicide, no payment shall be made unless the Fund member has been enrolled for a continuous period of two years prior to the date of death.
  • If the named beneficiary is responsible for the Fund member’s death (other than by accidental means), no payment shall be made to him or her.

[/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title=”25. What if I still have questions – who do I contact?” style=”default” color=”Default” size=”md” open=”false”]Contact SAMBA[/vc_toggle][/vc_column][/vc_row]