What to do when a American Equity account holder dies
Contact American Equity — 6-step process, 6 required documents, and 7-10 business days after all requirements are complete
Brand change
Acquired by Brookfield Reinsurance (now Brookfield Wealth Solutions Ltd.) in a transaction that closed May 2, 2024. Contracts continue to be issued and serviced under the American Equity / AEL brand; use the American Equity Beneficiary Support channels below. Effective May 2024.
The procedures below reflect American Equity's accounts. Account servicing may transfer as the change takes effect.
Customer Service
P.O. Box 10343, Des Moines, IA 50306-0343
Customer Service
P.O. Box 10343, Des Moines, IA 50306-0343
Beneficiary Support
P.O. Box 71216, Des Moines, IA 50325-9909
A death claim on a American Equity policy is filed through the Beneficiary Support (1-877-542-8847). Because insurance proceeds pass directly to named beneficiaries, this process is separate from probate. The required documentation and timeline vary by policy type.
American Equity offers an online claims portal that makes the initial filing process more straightforward. Survivors can also initiate claims by phone or by mailing documentation directly.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what American Equity requires:
Filing a claim
- Non-qualified contracts (deaths on or after 1/1/2020): Beneficiary Claim Form for Non-Qualified Contracts (018008-NQ) - https://www.american-equity.com/api/assets/resolve-by-key?key=4506118eb4e111f0bcf8a2ded5b57639
- Qualified contracts / IRAs (deaths on or after 1/1/2020): Beneficiary Claim Form for Qualified Contracts (018008-Q) - https://www.american-equity.com/api/assets/resolve-by-key?key=456df268b4e111f08eb2a2ded5b57639
- Companion Beneficiary Claim Guide (Non-Qualified): https://www.american-equity.com/api/assets/resolve-by-key?key=6af3ec1ad0af11f0a285d24946ac6779
- Companion Beneficiary Claim Guide (Qualified): https://www.american-equity.com/api/assets/resolve-by-key?key=6b0d60e6d0af11f0bc545a023d85e43c
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued ID for the beneficiary
- If a trust is the beneficiary: trust documents and trustee identification
- If filing as an estate representative: court-approved Letters of Testamentary or Letters of Administration
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued ID for beneficiary
- Completed Beneficiary Claim Form (018008-NQ for non-qualified contracts or 018008-Q for IRAs)
- Trust documents and trustee identification (if trust is beneficiary)
- Deceased's contract number and Social Security Number
- Letters of Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if filing as estate representative)
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
Contact Beneficiary Support at (877) 542-8847, fax (515) 457-1837, or email claims@american-equity.com. Two claim form types are available: 018008-NQ (rev. 01.01.23) for non-qualified contracts and 018008-Q for qualified contracts (IRAs); both apply to deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2020. On the claim form the beneficiary elects a payout option: a surviving spouse who is the sole primary beneficiary may choose SPOUSAL CONTINUATION and keep the contract in force in their own name (deferring the death benefit); other beneficiaries choose a lump sum, a specified-period income, or the 5-YEAR DEFERRAL option. The 5-year rule reflects IRC 72(s), which for a non-qualified deferred annuity requires the entire interest to be distributed within five years of the owner's death unless payments over the beneficiary's life (or a life expectancy period beginning within one year) are elected, or unless a surviving-spouse beneficiary continues the contract; the form notes the 5-year deferral election is irrevocable. Estate representatives must provide court-approved Letters of Testamentary or Letters of Administration. If there is no surviving primary or contingent beneficiary, the death benefit is paid to the owner's estate. American Equity adheres to state unclaimed property guidelines for claim deadlines. Mail completed documents to P.O. Box 71216, Des Moines, IA 50325-9909 or overnight to 6000 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50266.
Prepare your letter of instruction to American Equity
American Equity provides its own letter-of-instruction form. Answer a few questions and we complete that official form for you to print and sign.
Build your letter of instructionExpected timelines at American Equity: 7-10 business days after all requirements are complete. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Documentation required by American Equity includes Certified death certificate, Government-issued ID for beneficiary, and Completed Beneficiary Claim Form (018008-NQ for non-qualified contracts or 018008-Q for IRAs), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
American Equity currently offers three fixed index annuity product families: IncomeShield (guaranteed lifetime income with index-linked crediting; IncomeShield 7, IncomeShield 9 California-only, IncomeShield 10, and IncomeShield Bonus 10 with a 14% premium bonus), AssetShield (index-linked growth; AssetShield 5, 7, 9 California-only, and 10, plus AssetShield BONUS 5, BONUS 9 California-only, and BONUS 10 versions with first-year premium bonuses), and EstateShield (legacy planning with enhanced death benefit; EstateShield BONUS 10 nationwide and EstateShield 9 California-only). They also offer GuaranteeShield, a fixed annuity with guaranteed interest rates in 3-year and 5-year terms, and an Immediate Annuity for income beginning within 12 months.
The American Equity EstateShield Fixed Index Annuity combines retirement security with legacy planning. It protects principal from market loss while offering potential for guaranteed lifetime income and an enhanced death benefit. The enhanced death benefit uses the Benefits Account Value (BAV), which grows through a BAV Bonus credited at contract issue and an annual BAV Multiplier that expands the BAV by 150% of prior-year contract value increases. Beneficiaries can elect a lump sum or multiple-payment payout. Available as EstateShield BONUS 10 (nationwide) and EstateShield 9 (California only).
If there are no surviving primary or contingent beneficiaries, the death benefit is paid to the contract owner's estate. It is recommended to keep beneficiary designations current and to name both primary and contingent beneficiaries.
Contact American Equity Beneficiary Support at (877) 542-8847 or visit https://www.american-equity.com/beneficiary-support to download the appropriate claim form. There are separate forms for non-qualified contracts (018008-NQ) and qualified contracts / IRAs (018008-Q). On the form the beneficiary elects how the death benefit is paid: a surviving spouse who is the sole primary beneficiary can elect spousal continuation and keep the contract; other beneficiaries can take a lump sum, a specified-period income, or the 5-year deferral (which is irrevocable once elected). Complete the form, include a certified death certificate, and mail to P.O. Box 71216, Des Moines, IA 50325-9909, fax to (515) 457-1837, or send overnight to 6000 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50266. Claims are typically paid within 7-10 business days after all requirements are complete.
When a trust owns an American Equity annuity contract, the death benefit is triggered when the first annuitant passes away. If there are joint annuitants, the payout depends on the specific contract terms: some contracts pay the death benefit to the surviving annuitant, while others pay to the named beneficiary. If the trust has multiple trustees, the terms of the trust determine whether each trustee may act alone, a majority must act together, or all trustees must act together. A Certification of Trust Agreement (Form 014260) must be on file.
American Equity's Beneficiary Support can be reached by phone at 1-877-542-8847, email at claims@american-equity.com, and fax at 1-515-457-1837 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple American Equity policies may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Beneficiary Support to confirm what applies.
Sources
Data sourced from American Equity primary sources (17 pages reviewed). How we research.
Customer Service
P.O. Box 10343, Des Moines, IA 50306-0343
Customer Service
P.O. Box 10343, Des Moines, IA 50306-0343
Beneficiary Support
P.O. Box 71216, Des Moines, IA 50325-9909
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