What to do when a VALIC account holder dies
Contact VALIC — 5-step process, 8 required documents, and 5 business days after all requirements received in good order
Brand change
AIG spun off its Life and Retirement business as Corebridge Financial, and the AIG Retirement Services / VALIC consumer brand now operates as Corebridge Financial; valic.com redirects to corebridgefinancial.com/rs. Corebridge's own name-change page confirms that The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company (VALIC) remains the legal entity that issues the annuities, alongside VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc. (VFA) and VALIC Retirement Services Company (VRSCO), all wholly owned subsidiaries of Corebridge Financial, Inc. Existing VALIC contracts, contract numbers, and the myaccount.valic.com login are unchanged; the contacts and procedures below reflect the Corebridge Retirement Services operation that services them.
VALIC is now part of Corebridge Financial. The procedures below reflect VALIC's accounts during the transition. View the Corebridge Financial estate planning page.
Corebridge Retirement Services
Corebridge Retirement Services, P.O. Box 15648, Amarillo, TX 79105-5648 (Overnight: 1050 N. Western St., Amarillo, TX 79106-7011)
Corebridge Retirement Services
Corebridge Retirement Services, P.O. Box 15648, Amarillo, TX 79105-5648 (Overnight: 1050 N. Western St., Amarillo, TX 79106-7011)
Death Claims
Corebridge Retirement Services, P.O. Box 15648, Amarillo, TX 79105-5648 (Overnight: 1050 N. Western St., Amarillo, TX 79106-7011)
When an insured person dies, the beneficiary or executor should contact VALIC's Death Claims at 1-800-448-2542 to start the claims process. Insurance proceeds are paid directly to the named beneficiary and do not go through probate. How quickly the claim is processed depends on the policy type, documentation, and cause of death.
VALIC provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone or by mailing the required documents.
Death claim process
The death claim process at VALIC works as follows:
Filing a claim
- Certified death certificate (original required if cumulative value exceeds $50,000; copy accepted for lesser values)
- Government-issued ID for each beneficiary
- Trust documents and trustee identification if a trust is the beneficiary
Required Documents
- Completed Death Claim Form (VL 995) for each beneficiary
- Proof of death (type depends on benefit amount; see notes for thresholds)
- Government-issued ID for each beneficiary
- Original or copy of policy (if available; note if unavailable on Claimant's Statement)
- Trust documents and trustee identification (if trust is beneficiary)
- Taxpayer Identification Number for trust (if applicable)
- Proof of Heirship Affidavit (AGLC5081) for estate beneficiaries
- Affidavit Concerning Custody of a Minor (if beneficiary is a minor)
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
The online death reporting form at corebridgefinancial.com is for Individual Life Insurance Policy Claims only; for annuity/retirement death claims, call 1-800-448-2542. If the total benefit amount is greater than $15,000, a claims packet is sent to all beneficiaries within 5 business days of notification. Each beneficiary must submit a separate claim form. Proof of death requirements vary by benefit amount: $15,000 or less (natural death, 2+ years post-issue) accepts an obituary, funeral program, funeral home bill, Proof of Death form, or death certificate copy; $15,001-$50,000 requires a Proof of Death form or death certificate copy; $50,001-$100,000 requires a death certificate copy; over $100,000 requires an original certified death certificate. Deaths within 2 years of policy issue, accidental deaths, homicides, and foreign deaths all require a certified death certificate regardless of amount. Florida requires long-form certificates listing cause of death. Foreign death certificates must be certified and translated to English. Estate beneficiaries must complete a Proof of Heirship Affidavit (AGLC5081). Minor beneficiaries require an Affidavit Concerning Custody of a Minor.
Prepare your letter of instruction to VALIC
VALIC asks for a letter of instruction alongside its claim form. We prepare a transmittal cover letter and the enclosure checklist VALIC requires.
Build your letter of instructionExpected timelines at VALIC: 5 business days after all requirements received in good order. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
VALIC requires several documents to process a claim, including Completed Death Claim Form (VL 995) for each beneficiary, Proof of death (type depends on benefit amount; see notes for thresholds), and Government-issued ID for each beneficiary, and additional documentation depending on the account type. Certified copies are typically needed—photocopies are generally not accepted for death certificates or court documents.
Frequently asked questions
Upon death of the contract holder, the beneficiary receives the greater of either the current account value or the Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit (GMDB). The specific GMDB calculation varies by product and contract terms.
VALIC pays claims only to a custodian or through an alternative guardianship arrangement for minor beneficiaries. When naming a minor, designate a custodian under your state Uniform Transfers (Gifts) To Minors Act using form VL 14945-2 (Additional Beneficiary Custodian for Minor Sheet).
VALIC's Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-448-2542 and fax at 1-877-202-0187 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple VALIC policies, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Death Claims can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Sources
Data sourced from VALIC primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Corebridge Retirement Services
Corebridge Retirement Services, P.O. Box 15648, Amarillo, TX 79105-5648 (Overnight: 1050 N. Western St., Amarillo, TX 79106-7011)
Corebridge Retirement Services
Corebridge Retirement Services, P.O. Box 15648, Amarillo, TX 79105-5648 (Overnight: 1050 N. Western St., Amarillo, TX 79106-7011)
Death Claims
Corebridge Retirement Services, P.O. Box 15648, Amarillo, TX 79105-5648 (Overnight: 1050 N. Western St., Amarillo, TX 79106-7011)
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your VALIC accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
More tools for handling this estate
Calculators and checklists for executors and trustees.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
What's Fair Trustee Compensation?
Find out what's fair compensation for serving as trustee. Compare family, professional, and corporate trustee rates based on your situation.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.
