USDA - APHIS

Human Resources Division (HRD) - Benefits - Foster Child/Grandchild Requirements

Printable Version

For employees of USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs and
the Merit Systems Protection Board

Eligibility for Coverage for a Grandchild or Foster Child
A Note About Life Insurance Coverage
A Note About Designations of Beneficiaries
Certification Form for Foster Child

Eligibility for Coverage for a Grandchild or Foster Child

Do you have a grandchild or foster child who lives with you and for whom you are financially responsible? If so, read this for information about the eligibility for coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program and the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program.

A grandchild or foster child may be covered under an employee's FEHB enrollment if the child meets the following requirements:

The child must be financially dependent on the employee;
must be living with the employee in a regular parent-child relationship; and
the employee must expect to raise the child to adulthood.

The following examples may be proof of financial dependency:

Evidence of eligibility as a dependent child under other State or Federal programs;
Proof of inclusion of the child as a dependent on the employee's tax returns for previous years, or a signed statement that the child will be claimed as a dependent on the employee s tax returns in the current year;
Canceled checks, money orders, or receipts for periodic payments received from the employee for or on behalf of the child;
Evidence of goods or services which show regular or substantial contributions; or
Any other sufficient proof of support such as a court order or other judicial determination of support.

A parent-child relationship means that you are exercising parental authority, responsibility, and control over the child. You are caring for, supporting, disciplining, and guiding the child. You are the one making decisions about the child's education and health care. There is no prohibition against the child's biological parent living in your home and contributing to the child s support. However, the child must be living with you, and the parent-child relationship must be with you, not with the biological parent. A child placed in your home by a welfare or social service agency under an agreement where the agency retains control of the child or pays you for maintenance does not qualify as a foster child.

The following documents are required in order for us to determine whether the child meets the definition of foster child for FEHB purposes:

A completed SF-2809, Health Benefits Registration Form, listing all eligible family members according to the instructions;
A completed Certification Form for Foster Child (PDF; 12Kb); and
Proof of financial dependency, as shown above.

Please forward these documents to your servicing Benefits Specialist for review and determination of eligibility. The date that the child becomes an eligible family member is prospective and is deemed to be the first day of the pay period in which the servicing personnel office receives all properly completed documents necessary to establish eligibility of the child as a foster child. For newborns whose birth is covered under the employee's FEHB plan as a birth expense of the natural mother, the effective date may be, at the employee s discretion, the first day of the pay period in which the child is born.

Coverage will continue until the foster child marries, reaches age 22, or is no longer living with or financially dependent on the employee. If the child later leaves the employee's home to live with a natural parent, the child may not again be covered as a foster child unless the natural parent subsequently becomes unable to care for the child (for example, through death, incapacitation, or incarceration, but not solely for the reason of unemployment); or the employee obtains a court order for custody that takes parental responsibility from the natural parent and gives it to the employee.

A Note About Life Insurance Coverage

Once you have completed the certification for your foster child for health benefits purposes, the child is considered an eligible family member under the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program. If you are already covered by FEGLI, Option C Family, you do not need to submit a new Life Insurance Election. However, if you do not carry Option C Family coverage, you may elect Option C within 60 days of submitting your foster child certification form to this office. You may elect one Option C multiple for each eligible child, however, acquiring a foster child does not count as a life event for electing additional Option B coverage. The FEGLI Option C coverage will be effective the date your SF-2817 Life Insurance Election form is received in your servicing personnel office.

A Note About Designation of Beneficiaries

While foster children are eligible for coverage under Option C Family FEGLI, they are not included under the order of precedence to receive benefits upon your death. If you want your foster child to receive benefits if you die, you must complete the appropriate designation of beneficiary forms, which may be requested from your Benefits Specialist if they are not available in your administrative office.

Link to more information on Designations of Beneficiary forms.