How to File a Life Insurance Claim [2023]

Quick Facts

You must present a copy of the insured’s death certificate to file a life insurance claim
Most companies pay out life insurance claims within a week or two of filing
Your life insurance claim might be denied if you aren’t a designated beneficiary or the insured died during the contestability period

If you’re daunted by the life insurance claim process, don’t be. This guide covers everything you need to know about how life insurance works and what you can do to collect life insurance as a beneficiary.

You need a copy of the death certificate to collect any life insurance benefits. You can’t file a life insurance claim without it. Companies require death certificates as proof of death to prevent fraud.

Keep reading to learn how to file a life insurance claim and what other documents you need to start the process. You can choose the fastest way to receive your life insurance claim payout, but your claim will be denied if you aren’t a designated beneficiary.

How to File a Life Insurance Claim

Financial security is one of the biggest benefits of buying life insurance. As long as the insured made regular life insurance payments, beneficiaries can use the money from the death benefit to cover funeral costs, debts, lost wages, and more after the insured passes.

Life insurance beneficiaries are designated in the policy, and you can only collect death benefits from a policy if you’re listed as a beneficiary. Primary beneficiaries are the first to receive death benefits, while secondary beneficiaries will receive the amount if the primary listed is already deceased. Learn how to choose a life insurance beneficiary.

How does a life insurance beneficiary file a claim? Follow the steps below to learn how to file a life insurance claim.

Collect Important Documents

It’s important to know that you cannot collect life insurance without a death certificate. Insurance companies will check public death records to verify that the insured is deceased, but you will not receive any death benefits without providing proof of death.

You can request a death certificate from the funeral home or medical examiner. If you don’t live nearby, request a copy from your city’s Office of Vital Records either in-person or online.

Other important documents required for life insurance claims are:

Life insurance policy: This lists the policy number, the name of the insured, their beneficiaries, and the death benefit amount.
Request for benefits form: Beneficiaries fill this out to include their name, relationship to the insured, and preferred payout method.

Request for benefits forms are provided by the insurance company and can usually be completed online. 

If you cannot find the life insurance paperwork or policy number, the company that issued the policy should be able to look up the account based on information in the death certificate and your personal information, as long as you’re a designated beneficiary on the policy.

Find the Life Insurance Company

Since insurance companies do not automatically pay out on death benefits, it’s up to the beneficiaries to contact a life insurance agent.

If you can’t find a life insurance policy, try the following places:

Bank accounts: Look for monthly or annual payments to a life insurance company.
Former employer: If they had employer-provided life insurance, you can contact the deceased’s employer and ask for the name of the insurance company.
State department of insurance: Your local department of insurance will have a database it can use to search for the information you need. 

Check personal records for any information pertaining to insurance coverage, including safety deposit boxes and investment portfolios.

Once you know the life insurance company’s name, call an agent to file the necessary paperwork.

File Life Insurance Claim Paperwork

Once you speak with an agent, you will be asked to fill out a request of benefits form to file your claim. You can often do this online and send it directly to the company for review.

Have the following ready to fill out the life insurance beneficiary form:

Name of the insured
Place and date of death
Cause of death
Your name and relationship to the insured 

Don’t forget that you need the death certificate to fill out this paperwork and file a life insurance claim.

Choose Your Life Insurance Payout

There are four different ways you can collect life insurance death benefits:

Lump sum: This is paid out all at once.
Specific income: This is paid out on a fixed schedule for a certain period of time.
Life income: This is paid out on a fixed schedule for the rest of your life, but the benefit amount depends on your age and gender.
Interest income: This is paid out as interest on the policy, leaving the death benefit intact for the secondary beneficiary after your death.

The best life insurance companies will pay death benefits within one or two weeks. You are at liberty to choose which type of payout method you prefer, although the death benefit amount may vary based on the type of life insurance policy. 

For example, investments in permanent life insurance may not have performed as anticipated, leaving behind a smaller cash value than expected. Alternatively, a loved one with a variable policy may have depleted some of the death benefits to cover monthly payments later in life. 

Understanding the different types of life insurance will give you an idea of what kind of death benefit to expect when filing a life insurance claim.

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How long do I have to file a life insurance claim?

There is no deadline to file a life insurance claim. Some families wait until after the funeral, while other beneficiaries may want to file right away to help cover bills and burial costs. 

We recommend filing a life insurance claim as soon as you have a copy of the death certificate. Insurance companies aren’t obligated to alert you of a policy. As a result, many death benefits go unclaimed when loved ones fail to tell family members and close friends that they have a policy or listed them as a beneficiary. 

In 2011, The National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) adopted the Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits Act to help beneficiaries know about unclaimed benefits. 

The act requires companies to check policyholders against the Social Security Administration (SSA) Master Death File. Once policyholders turn 120 and are confirmed deceased by the SSA, companies will begin to look for beneficiaries. 

However, this law is only enacted in 33 states. Depending on where you live, your insurance company may not be obligated to pay out death benefits until someone initiates a claim. So, the sooner you file a life insurance claim, the faster you’ll receive your benefits.

Why would my life insurance claim be denied?

Life insurance companies deny one in 10 life insurance claims every year. Some of the most common reasons why your life insurance claim is denied include:

You are not a listed beneficiary. Policyholders can designate anyone, including charities, as a beneficiary and may change beneficiaries without telling family or friends.
The insured stopped making payments. The insurance company would cancel coverage if the policyholder defaulted on their monthly life insurance payments.
The insured died during the contestability period. Most life insurance companies require policies to be active for at least two years before paying out any death benefit amount.
The insurance company lists exclusions. Some insurers list specific causes of death, such as suicidal death. However, many exclusions are void after the two-year contestability period.
The insured died during an illegal activity. Dying while committing a crime, including drunk driving, may result in a life insurance claim denial.

Likewise, life insurance claims may be denied if the insured engaged in risky hobbies or occupations without telling their life insurance company. Companies will also deny claims if policyholders are smokers without noting so on their applications, even if their death is unrelated to their smoking habits. 

What to Do When Your Life Insurance Company Denies a Claim

Fortunately, life insurance claim denials are not a dead end. If you disagree with the life insurance company, contact the following agencies:

Life insurance company: Contact the insurance agent you’ve been working with and request the denial in writing. You can contest any discrepancies and receive a payout.
State department of insurance: If the insurance company denies a valid policy, contact your local insurance authorities and file a complaint.
Insurance attorney: On rare occasions, you may need to hire an attorney to work with a particularly stubborn insurer.

As long as the insured was honest on their life insurance application and maintained regular policy payments, you should not have any problems receiving a life insurance payout. 

What You Need to Know About Filing a Life Insurance Claim

Only beneficiaries listed in the life insurance policy can file a claim. If you are certain you are a designated beneficiary, you can initiate the claims process by calling the life insurance company to report the death.

You need a copy of the death certificate to file a life insurance claim. You will also need the policy and a request of benefits form, but the life insurance company will typically provide these documents for you.

Be aware that the life insurance company will deny your claim if you are not a listed beneficiary. Your claim will also be denied if the insured failed to make life insurance payments or died while committing a crime.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I claim life insurance after death?

You must contact the company directly to file a life insurance claim. Many require beneficiaries to provide a death certificate and complete an online form to begin the process.

How quickly do companies pay out death claims in life insurance?

Most beneficiaries wait a week to receive death benefits. Some companies promise payouts within 24 hours, while others can take as long as 10-14 days. Speak with your insurer to find out how quickly you can receive benefits.

How long after death do I have to file a life insurance claim?

There is no time limit on filing life insurance claims, but the sooner you start the process, the better. Do not wait on the life insurance company to reach out to you.

Do I get cash value from life insurance when I make a claim?

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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about life insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything life insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by life insurance experts.

Rachael Brennan has been working in the insurance industry since 2006 when she began working as a licensed insurance representative for 21st Century Insurance, during which time she earned her Property and Casualty license in all 50 states.
After several years she expanded her insurance expertise, earning her license in Health and AD&D insurance as well. She has worked for small health in…

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Written by

Rachael Brennan
Licensed Insurance Agent

Benjamin Carr worked as a licensed insurance agent at State Farm and Tennant Special Risk. He sold various lines of coverage and informed his clients about their life, health, property/casualty insurance needs.
Assessing risks and helping people find the best coverage to suit their needs is a passion of his. He appreciates that insurance was designed to protect people, particularly during times…

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Reviewed by


Benjamin Carr


Former State Farm Insurance Agent