{"id":500,"date":"2016-04-30T00:22:17","date_gmt":"2016-04-30T07:22:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/benefits\/?page_id=500"},"modified":"2025-12-30T11:58:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T19:58:06","slug":"beneficiary-changes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/hr.uw.edu\/benefits\/life-events\/beneficiary-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"Beneficiary changes"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s important to keep your beneficiary designations up to date because named beneficiaries on insurance policies and retirement plans usually supersede instructions in wills. By periodically reviewing your beneficiary designations for your UW benefit plans, personal insurance plans, and other financial accounts, you can rest assured that your assets will be distributed according to your wishes.<\/p>\n

Change a beneficiary<\/h4>\n

Generally, you can review and update your beneficiary designations by contacting the company or organization that provides your insurance or retirement plan. You can sometimes do this online. Otherwise, you\u2019ll have to complete, sign, and mail a paper form.<\/p>\n

Life insurance<\/h5>\n

Complete your beneficiary change directly with MetLife on their website<\/a>. If you have any questions regarding making a beneficiary change or if you prefer to complete a paper beneficiary change, please contact MetLife at 1-866-548-7139. You will need to identify yourself as a Washington PEBB subscriber when you call MetLife. This will ensure that you are transferred to the PEBB specialists at MetLife.<\/p>\n

UW retirement plans<\/h5>\n

For the UW Retirement Plan (UWRP) and the Voluntary Investment Program (VIP), change your beneficiary information online by logging into your account at TIAA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

State retirement plans<\/h5>\n

For state Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) retirement plans, such as PERS, TRS, PSERS, LEOFF, and the Washington State Deferred Compensation Program (WSDCP), update your beneficiary designation by:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Completing the Retirement – DRS Beneficiary Designation\u00a0(PDF)<\/a> form OR<\/li>\n
  2. Login to the DRS webpage<\/a> and update your beneficiaries online<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Make sure to keep a copy of the form for your records.<\/p>\n

    Health savings account<\/h5>\n

    For your health savings account (HSA), change your beneficiary information online by logging into your\u00a0HealthEquity account<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    What is a beneficiary?<\/h4>\n

    A beneficiary is a person or legal entity that is entitled to receive the proceeds from an estate, trust, retirement account, life insurance policy, or transfer on death accounts. A beneficiary can be one or more individuals or organizations, such as a trust or charity. You can designate two types of beneficiaries:<\/p>\n