How to Fill Out Standard Form 95 (SF-95) Box by Box

To complete Standard Form 95, fill out every box, state a dollar sum certain for each kind of loss, and sign it. Then deliver it to the federal agency whose employee caused your harm within two years after the claim accrues. Leaving the damages boxes blank, listing an open-ended amount, or writing "to be determined" can make the claim invalid and can cause a federal court to dismiss a later lawsuit.

Standard Form 95 (SF-95) is the primary document used to present an administrative claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), 28 U.S.C. §§ 1346(b) and 2671-2680. Completing it accurately protects your right to recover damages for personal injury, property loss, or wrongful death caused by federal personnel.

How to Fill Out SF-95, Box by Box

Each numbered section on the official form requires specific information about your accident, damages, and identity. You can download the current edition directly from the General Services Administration (GSA). Review the entire form before writing to avoid conflicting entries.

If you are learning how to sue the government, this administrative submission is step one.

The Sum Certain Rule

Box 12d requires a specific, liquidated dollar figure known as a sum certain. Under 28 C.F.R. § 14.2(a), an administrative claim must state a definite dollar amount to be legally valid. Writing "unknown," "in excess of $10,000," or leaving the box blank can mean your claim was never validly presented.

Your sum certain serves as a hard statutory cap if you later file a lawsuit. Under 28 U.S.C. § 2675(b), you cannot demand more money in federal court than you requested on your SF-95. The only exceptions are newly discovered evidence that could not reasonably have been known at the time of filing, or intervening facts relating to the amount of the claim.

Calculate your sum certain by compiling all past medical expenses, lost wages, and property repair bills. Work with your doctors to project future treatment costs, rehabilitation expenses, and reduced earning capacity before writing the final figure. Once submitted, increasing that dollar figure is difficult.

Documents to Attach to Your Claim

Submitting supporting documentation with your form helps the agency review your damages promptly. Federal claims examiners require verifiable records before they can authorize any payment from government funds.

• Medical evidence: Itemized hospital bills, medical records, diagnostic imaging reports, and doctor statements showing treatment prognosis.
• Future care estimates: Written statements from your treating doctors detailing anticipated surgeries, therapies, or ongoing prescriptions.
• Lost earnings verification: Pay stubs, tax returns, and a written statement from your employer confirming missed work time and wage rates.
• Property damage estimates: Itemized repair estimates from reputable shops, purchase receipts, or photographs of the damage. Obtaining two estimates is a sound practice.
• Incident reports: Official police accident reports, emergency response logs, or witness statements taken after the event.
• Wrongful death records: A certified death certificate, appointment papers showing estate representation, and itemized funeral expenses.

Keep the original copies of every document you submit. Send legible photocopies or certified copies to the federal agency, and organize them with clear labels that correspond to the boxes on your form.

Where to Send SF-95

Send your completed claim to the specific federal agency whose employee or property caused your damages. For a crash involving a mail truck, submit the claim to the United States Postal Service. For an injury on military property, send it to the appropriate branch of the armed forces.

Under 28 C.F.R. § 14.2(b)(1), if you send a claim to the wrong federal agency, that agency must transfer it to the correct agency once identified. You should not rely on an agency transfer to meet your deadline. A lost or delayed transfer can cause you to miss the two-year filing period, which almost always ends the claim.

Always use certified mail with a return receipt requested, or an approved delivery carrier that provides date-stamped tracking. The legal date of presentment is the date the agency actually receives your claim, not the date you dropped it in the mail. If you need help identifying the right department, read our guide on filing against a federal agency.

What Happens After You File

Once the agency receives your claim, it begins an internal administrative investigation. Under 28 U.S.C. § 2675(a), the agency has up to six months to investigate the facts, evaluate liability, and make a decision.

The agency may resolve your claim in one of three ways:

• Settlement offer: The agency agrees to pay full or partial damages. Accepting a settlement requires signing a release barring further claims against the United States.
• Written denial: The agency rejects the claim by sending a formal denial letter via certified or registered mail.
• No response: If the agency does not decide within six months, you may treat that silence as a final denial.

After a written denial, 28 U.S.C. § 2401(b) gives you exactly six months from the mailing date of the notice to file a lawsuit in federal district court. You can also file a written request for agency reconsideration within that same six-month window under 28 C.F.R. § 14.9(b). Missing the six-month deadline to file suit almost always ends the claim.

Under 28 U.S.C. § 2679, the United States is the only proper defendant in an FTCA court action. You cannot name the individual employee or the agency itself. FTCA cases are decided by a federal judge without a jury, as established in 28 U.S.C. § 2402. The court cannot award punitive damages or prejudgment interest under 28 U.S.C. § 2674.

If you were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987, see our Camp Lejeune Justice Act claims guide. For standard civil tort disputes, review the procedures for suing the federal government.

Pre-Filing Checklist

Run through these checks before mailing your packet:

• Did you identify the correct federal agency?
• Is the claim being submitted within two years after the claim accrues?
• Is Box 12d an exact dollar amount?
• Did the claimant or an authorized representative sign Box 13a?
• Are phone numbers and mailing addresses current and legible?
• Did you attach repair estimates, medical bills, and wage verification records?
• Did you make a complete photocopy of the signed form and all attachments for your records?
• Are you sending the packet by certified mail with a return receipt requested?

When to Get a Lawyer

Claims involving permanent bodily harm, extensive medical bills, or disputed fault are best handled by an experienced attorney. The procedural rules of the FTCA are rigid, and small errors in drafting your claim can limit your eventual financial recovery.

Under 28 U.S.C. § 2678, attorney fees in FTCA cases are strictly limited by federal law. A lawyer can charge no more than 20% of an administrative settlement reached before a lawsuit is filed. If suit is filed, fees are capped at 25% of any judgment or settlement.

Attorneys handling injury claims against the government commonly work on contingency, meaning no fee if you lose. Charging more than the statutory caps is a federal crime punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both. Learn more about working with a dedicated FTCA lawyer before your filing deadlines expire.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is standard form 95?

Standard Form 95 is the official federal form used to present an administrative property damage, personal injury, or wrongful death claim against the United States under the Federal Tort Claims Act. It provides federal agencies with the necessary facts and dollar figures to investigate and evaluate legal liability.

How do you file a claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act?

You file by completing an administrative claim containing a specific dollar sum certain and delivering it to the federal agency whose employee caused the damage within two years after the claim accrues. After the agency denies the claim in writing, or after six months pass without a decision, you may file a civil complaint in federal district court.

Do I have to use SF-95 to file an FTCA claim?

No, you are not strictly required to use the standard form. Under 28 C.F.R. § 14.2(a), any written notification of an incident accompanied by a claim for money damages in a sum certain is legally sufficient, though SF-95 is the usual form.

What is a sum certain on SF-95?

A sum certain is a specific, fixed dollar amount stating the total financial compensation you demand for your losses in Box 12d. Without a specific number, the claim may not be validly presented. The amount also caps what you can ask for in a later lawsuit, with narrow exceptions (28 U.S.C. § 2675(b)).

Where do I send my SF-95?

Send the form directly to the office or claims division of the federal agency that employs the person who caused your harm. If you are unsure which agency is responsible, send it to the agency most involved. Under 28 C.F.R. § 14.2(b)(1), an agency that gets a claim meant for another agency must transfer it.

How long does the agency have to respond?

The agency has six months from the date of receipt to review and make a written determination on your administrative claim. If the agency formally denies the claim sooner, or if six months elapse without an official decision, you are legally permitted to file a lawsuit in federal court.

What is a tort form?

A tort form is a written legal notice demanding financial compensation for injury, property damage, or wrongful death caused by someone else's wrongful or negligent conduct. When a federal employee causes the harm, Standard Form 95 serves as the primary administrative tort form filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act.