Managing Your Policy / How to File a Claim

Filing a death benefit claim, with care

If you're reading this because your family has lost someone, we're truly sorry. This process asks more of your patience than your expertise — here are the general steps, laid out gently, so you know what to expect along the way.

1. Locate the policy

Look for the actual policy document, a declarations page, or a recent premium statement — these usually list the carrier's name and a policy number, which speeds everything along. If you can't find any of that, our guide to finding a lost policy walks through where else to gently look.

2. Reach out to the carrier

Call the insurance carrier's claims department directly and let them know your family needs to file a death benefit claim. Having the policy number ready helps, but most carriers can still look things up using your loved one's name and date of birth if you don't have it handy.

3. Complete the claim form fully

The carrier sends its specific claim form, by mail or as a download. It typically asks about the person who passed, the beneficiary's contact and identification details, and how you'd like the benefit paid out. Fill it out completely — an incomplete form is one of the most common reasons this takes longer than it needs to.

4. Provide a certified death certificate

Carriers generally need a certified copy — one with an official raised seal from the issuing office, not a photocopy. Funeral homes typically help order these, and it's worth requesting several certified copies up front, since other institutions (banks, other policies, the estate) will often want their own original too.

5. Submit, then let the review happen

Once everything's submitted, the carrier reviews the claim before paying it out. They may follow up with a few extra questions, especially if the policy is still within its contestability period or the cause of death needs clarifying. Responding promptly to anything they ask keeps things moving.