A life insurance claim is a beneficiary's request to collect the death benefit after the policyholder dies. To file one, you'll need the policy number, a certified death certificate and a completed claim form from the insurer. Most insurers pay approved claims within 14 to 60 days of receiving complete paperwork.
Updated: July 18, 2026
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Beneficiaries usually learn about a policy through family, an employer's benefits department or the insurer itself, not through automatic notification.
Most insurers set no fixed deadline for filing, but delays can push an unclaimed death benefit into the state's unclaimed property office after several years.
You can choose a lump sum payout for immediate needs or an annuity option that provides regular income over time based on your financial situation.
Claims get denied most often for lapsed policies, application misrepresentation, the contestability period or exclusions such as death linked to drug or alcohol use.
A life insurance claim is a request to receive the death benefit after the policyholder's death. The death benefit can help cover funeral costs, pay off debt or replace lost income for surviving family members.
Beneficiaries, the people or entities named on the policy to receive the payout, submit a certified death certificate and completed claim forms to the insurer. The insurer then reviews the documentation and verifies the claim before releasing the death benefit.
Insurers don't always notify beneficiaries automatically. You'd usually find out through family members, the deceased's employer or the insurance company itself. Employer-sponsored group life insurance surfaces fastest because the employer's benefits department contacts named beneficiaries once it learns of an employee's death.
If you suspect you're a beneficiary but haven't been contacted, you can start the search yourself instead of waiting.
You can file a life insurance claim in five steps: find the policy, get certified death certificates, contact the insurer, complete the claim forms and choose a payout method. MoneyGeek analyzed the claims processes from major insurers to identify best practices that help you get funds quickly.
Before you start, gather what you already have on hand: the policyholder's full name, date of birth and date of death, plus a photo ID for yourself. You don't need the policy number or a death certificate yet. Both come later in the process.
Locate the life insurance policy of the deceased. Policy documents contain the insurer's contact information and coverage details you need to start the claim. Look in safe deposit boxes, file cabinets, digital records and estate planning documents for the policy paperwork.
If you can't find the policy, contact the deceased's financial advisor, estate attorney or insurance agent for help. Employer-sponsored coverage records are available through the HR department for group life insurance benefits. Use the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Life Insurance Policy Locator to search for unknown policies. Check state unclaimed property databases for benefits you didn't know existed.
Insurers need certified death certificates that show the cause and manner of death before processing claims. Get multiple copies because each insurer, bank and financial institution needs an original certified copy. Order three to five death certificates from the funeral director, local vital records office or county health department in the state where death occurred. Most states charge a fee per copy.
Call the insurer's claims department as soon as you have the policy information. Most major insurers let you file online, by phone or by mail. The insurance company will assign you a claims specialist who manages your paperwork and can tell you what documents to submit.
Have the policy number, insured's full name, date of birth and date of death ready before you call. Tell the claims representative your relationship to the deceased. Ask about required documents, how long processing takes and what payout options the policy includes.
The beneficiary claim form asks for your full name, address, Social Security number, your relationship to the policyholder and the cause of death. Fill in every field. Partial forms are a leading cause of processing delays. Attach an original certified death certificate. Insurers require originals, not copies.
Some insurers also ask for proof of identity (a driver's license or passport works) and a marriage or birth certificate to establish your relationship to the deceased. Send all documents together to avoid delays.
Review all information before submitting. Errors can delay payment by weeks. Keep a copy of everything you send. If you don't hear back within two weeks, call the claims department directly and ask for a status update and estimated approval date.
Claims filed during the first two years of a policy go through a contestability review, where the insurer checks the original application for misrepresentation. This can add weeks to processing. Accidental death claims also require a police report or accident report. You'll need legal documents, such as letters testamentary, to prove your authority to file when a life insurance trust or estate is named as beneficiary.
Life insurance beneficiaries can choose from four payout options: lump sum, life income annuity, specific income annuity or a retained asset account. Think about whether you need money right away or a steady income.
Most insurers let you choose your payout method after claim approval. Ask your claims specialist when the selection deadline is. Consult a tax professional to know how each payout option affects your tax situation.
Match your payout choice to what matters most right now: immediate cash, flexibility while you decide or guaranteed income for life.
Lump sum | Choose this if you need cash right away for funeral costs, a mortgage payment or outstanding debt. |
Life income annuity | Go with this option if guaranteed income for the rest of your life matters more to you than a larger short-term payout. |
Specific income annuity | Take this option for larger payments spread over a set number of years, such as 10 or 20. |
Retained asset account | Pick this if you want quick access to funds but haven't decided how to use the money yet. |
The policyholder names beneficiaries on the policy and can update them at any time. Primary beneficiaries have the right to collect first. Contingent beneficiaries are backups and can only file if every primary beneficiary has died or formally declined the benefit. Review your policy's beneficiary page to confirm who is listed in each category.
Insurers won't pay death benefits directly to a minor child. Instead, a court-appointed guardian or trustee manages the funds until the child turns 18 (or 21 in some states). Name an adult trustee in your policy to help your children skip probate court.
If the policyholder named their estate as beneficiary or died without naming anyone, the estate executor files the claim. The life insurance benefit goes through probate court before anyone receives payment, which can take months. Creditors can also make claims against the death benefit during probate.
When a policy has multiple beneficiaries, each one files a separate claim for their percentage of the death benefit. If a primary beneficiary dies before the policyholder, their share passes to the remaining primary beneficiaries, unless the policy states otherwise. Check the policy language or ask the insurer directly.
Most insurers don't set a deadline for filing a death benefit claim, but file as soon as possible after the policyholder's death. Waiting can delay your payout, and in rare cases, an unclaimed death benefit gets turned over to the state's unclaimed property office after several years.
File within the first few months when you can to avoid extra paperwork or delays.
Life insurance claims take 14 to 60 days from filing to payment, though processing times vary by insurer and claim complexity. State regulations also affect the timeline.
Simple claims with complete paperwork and a natural cause of death process faster. Accidental deaths and claims filed during the two-year contestability period take longer because insurers conduct additional review. Electronic submissions process faster than mail. Some insurers confirm receipt within 24 hours online versus one to two weeks by mail.
Check your claim status every one to two weeks. Most insurers have online portals where you can track progress without calling. If your claim passes 60 days without a decision, call the claims department directly and ask for an estimated approval date in writing. You may also be entitled to interest on delayed payments under your state's regulations.
The denial letter lists the policy provision the insurer cited and the reason they rejected your claim. Read it carefully before taking any action.
Insurers deny life insurance claims for four main reasons: a lapsed policy from missed premiums, misrepresentation on the original application, death during the two-year contestability period or a policy exclusion. Common exclusions include deaths linked to drug or alcohol use, high-risk activities such as skydiving or racing and death by suicide within the policy's first two years. Review your policy's exclusions section to confirm what's covered before you assume a denial is final.
Call the claims department the same day you receive the denial letter and ask the representative to walk you through each cited provision. Collect supporting evidence, such as premium payment records and medical records, plus copies of any written communication with the insurer. Your appeal should attach a copy of the denial letter and directly rebut each reason with proof. Confirm the appeal deadline on your first call.
File a complaint with your state insurance department for regulatory oversight if the insurer won't reconsider. Consult a life insurance attorney if your appeal is unsuccessful and you believe the denial is wrong.
Submit a complete, accurate claim packet online in one batch. Incomplete paperwork is the top reason claims stall, and getting every document right the first time is the biggest factor you control over payout speed. Insurers usually confirm online submissions within a day. Mailed forms can take one to two weeks just to arrive.
Before you send anything, confirm you have the certified death certificate, completed claim form, proof of identity and any relationship documents the insurer requires. Submit everything together. Chasing down one missing document afterward adds days or weeks you don't need to lose.
Most insurers set no fixed deadline, but delaying can slow your payout and risk having the death benefit sent to the state's unclaimed property office. File within the first few months of the policyholder's death when you can.
Beneficiaries don't pay federal income tax on life insurance death benefits. Interest earned on delayed payments or retained asset accounts is taxable income.
Your policy lapses if you miss life insurance premium payments, and the grace period expires. Lapsed policies pay no death benefits unless the policyholder reinstates coverage before death.
Yes. Many policies exclude deaths linked to drug or alcohol use, especially during the two-year contestability period, and some insurers deny claims outright if the death certificate cites intoxication as a contributing cause. Read your policy's exclusions section or ask the insurer directly, since coverage varies by carrier and state.
Yes, if the death qualifies under both policies. Life insurance pays a death benefit for any covered cause of death. AD&D, or accidental death and dismemberment coverage, pays only when death results from a covered accident such as a car crash or fall.
Beneficiaries can file separate claims with each insurer, and MoneyGeek's guide comparing AD&D and life insurance explains when the two policies overlap.
Family members, the deceased's employer or the insurance company itself usually notify you. If you suspect you're a beneficiary but don't have confirmation, contact the deceased's financial advisor or insurance agent, or search the NAIC's Life Insurance Policy Locator for policies in their name.
A claim deadline is how long you have to file after the policyholder's death, and most insurers don't set one. Claim processing time is how long the insurer takes to review and pay an approved claim, usually 14 to 60 days. Filing quickly shortens the processing window and lowers the odds of lost or incomplete paperwork.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.
Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.
Mark holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.A. in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. He started his career in financial risk management at State Street and is also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.
