Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service (BFCS)

What you get

Free financial counseling and an online will tool for people paid from an SGLI, FSGLI (spouse claims), VGLI, or TSGLI claim. It is open for 2 years from the date the claim is paid and includes 40 hours of personal counseling.

Who BFCS is for

1. 1A paid claim from a covered policyThe payment came from SGLI, FSGLI, VGLI, or TSGLI. VA.gov says that if you have not received a claim payment yet, you cannot get counseling through BFCS.
2. 2Within 2 years of the paymentThe service runs for 2 years from the date the claim is paid. That includes 40 hours of personal counseling over the 2 years.

Source: VA.gov: financial counseling and online will preparation (opens in new tab); VA Life Insurance: Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service (opens in new tab)

Which payment did you receive?

• A beneficiary paid from SGLI, FSGLI, or VGLI

  BFCS is free financial counseling and online will preparation for people paid from an SGLI, FSGLI, or VGLI claim. FinancialPoint, an independent company VA pays, provides it. It is open for 2 years from the date the claim is paid and includes 40 hours of personal counseling, plus online resources. If no claim payment has been made yet, VA.gov says BFCS is not available and points to Military OneSource instead.

  Source: VA.gov: financial counseling and online will preparation (opens in new tab); VA Life Insurance: Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service (opens in new tab); VA Life Insurance: BFCS brochure for SGLI, FSGLI, and VGLI beneficiaries (opens in new tab)

• Paid from TSGLI for your own injury

  Service members who received a TSGLI payment for a traumatic injury can use the same counseling and will service, through a separate FinancialPoint phone line. A service member who has not received a TSGLI payment can contact a Command Financial Specialist or Financial Readiness Counselor, or Military OneSource.

  1. 1A TSGLI paymentThe benefits.va.gov page says the service is for SGLI, VGLI, and FSGLI beneficiaries and for service members who have received TSGLI benefits.

  Source: VA Life Insurance: Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service (opens in new tab); VA.gov: financial counseling and online will preparation (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI) (opens in new tab)

What to gather, and what it shows VA

You use these with FinancialPoint, online or by phone. BeneVets does not ask for them.

Steps, in order

1. Free help with VA survivor benefits

   BFCS is not a claim; you sign up with FinancialPoint yourself. VA pays for it and FinancialPoint provides it. A VA survivor benefit, such as DIC, is a claim. Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at Find an accredited VSO near you.

   Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab); VA.gov: financial counseling and online will preparation (opens in new tab); VA.gov: DIC for spouses, children, and parents (opens in new tab)

2. Find your policy or claim number

   Have your 8-digit policy or claim number ready. If you do not have it, call the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance at 800-419-1473.

   Source: VA.gov: financial counseling and online will preparation (opens in new tab); VA Life Insurance: Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service (opens in new tab)

3. Register on the FinancialPoint website

   From the VA.gov BFCS page, go to the FinancialPoint Plus website, register as a first time user, and enter BFCSVA as the Organization Web ID.

   Source: VA.gov: financial counseling and online will preparation (opens in new tab); VA Life Insurance: Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service (opens in new tab)

4. Ask for a plan, or make a will

   Select FinancialPoint to send your information; a financial professional builds a plan from it. Select EstateGuidance to create and print a will.

   Source: VA.gov: financial counseling and online will preparation (opens in new tab); VA Life Insurance: Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service (opens in new tab)

5. Call or email a counselor

   Call FinancialPoint at 888-243-7351 (SGLI, FSGLI, and VGLI beneficiaries) or 800-428-3416 (TSGLI recipients), or email fcs@FinancialPoint.com. Financial professionals are available 24/7, and you can ask for an in-person meeting.

   Source: VA.gov: financial counseling and online will preparation (opens in new tab); VA Life Insurance: Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service (opens in new tab)

6. No payment yet? Use Military OneSource

   Until a claim payment is made, BFCS is not open. VA.gov points to Military OneSource for free financial counseling, 24/7, at 800-342-9647. Military OneSource has its own rules on who it serves; check them on its site.

   Source: VA.gov: financial counseling and online will preparation (opens in new tab); Military OneSource: financial counseling (opens in new tab)

Good to know