American Equity
Subsidiary of American National Group Inc. (a subsidiary of Brookfield Wealth Solutions Ltd.)
american-equity.comWhat to do when an American Equity account holder dies
Report the death to American Equity's Beneficiary Support at 1-877-542-8847
American Equity has changed ownershipAcquired, effective May 2024
American Equity Investment Life Holding Company was acquired by Brookfield Wealth Solutions Ltd. (then Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd.) on May 2, 2024 and, on reincorporating in Delaware days later, was renamed American National Group Inc. Contracts are still issued and serviced under the American Equity brand, and the insurer remains separately rated. Use the American Equity Beneficiary Support channels below — not American National's.
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.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what American Equity requires:
Filing a claim
- Claim form 018008-NQ for non-qualified contracts
- Instructions 01G8008-NQ for non-qualified contracts
- Claim form 018008-Q for qualified contracts, such as IRAs
- Instructions 01G8008-Q for qualified contracts
- EstateShield, non-qualified: instructions 01G8008-ESNQ, with claim form 018008-NQ
- EstateShield, qualified: instructions 01G8008-ESQ, with claim form 018008-Q
Required Documents
- Beneficiary Claim FormEach beneficiary must submit a claim form, completed in black ink. Forms can be returned by fax, mail or email.
- Copy of a certified death certificateEach copy must be complete, with no part cut off, altered or amended; legible; and carry a visible official seal.
- Details of the deceased personLegal name, birth and death dates, Social Security number and American Equity contract number.
- Court-approved letters testamentary or letters of administration, if you are acting on behalf of the estateThey must identify you as the representative of the estate.
- Estate tax ID number and court-certified executor's appointment, if the estate is the beneficiaryA unique tax ID number from the IRS; the deceased person's Social Security number cannot be used. A court-certified executor's appointment or letters testamentary is required.
- Trust tax ID number and pages of the trust, if a trust is the beneficiaryA unique tax ID number, not the deceased person's Social Security number, and a copy of the title page, signature page and pages naming the current trustees, including any amendments.
- Trustee Certification for Beneficiaries (IRAs), if a trust on a qualified contract is intended to qualify for look-through treatment
- Current copy of the power of attorney, if an attorney-in-fact is acting for the beneficiaryThe claim form is signed in that capacity, for example "John Smith as Attorney-in-Fact for Jane Smith".
- Minor's Social Security number, certified birth certificate and/or letters, if a minor child is the beneficiary or a conservator has been appointedA certified copy of the child's birth certificate and/or court-certified letters of guardianship or conservatorship.
- Corporate resolution, if a corporation or charity is the beneficiaryShowing who is authorized to sign for the entity.
- Legal proof of a name change, if the beneficiary's name has changedSuch as a marriage certificate, dissolution decree or court order.
- Federal Form W-8BEN, if the beneficiary is not a US citizen
Forms American Equity issues4
- Beneficiary Claim Form for Non-Qualified Contracts (018008-NQ)
Completed by each beneficiary. Available to download.1
- Beneficiary Claim Form for Qualified Contracts (018008-Q)
Completed by each beneficiary. Available to download.2
- Beneficiary Claim Form for Supplemental Contracts (018008-SC)
Available to download.3
- Beneficiary Disclaimer (014042)
Completed by the named beneficiary or their legally authorized representative. Available to download. Must be notarized.4
What happens to each kind of account1
- Annuity
If no primary beneficiary survives, contingent beneficiaries receive the death benefit. If no contingent beneficiary is living, American Equity pays the benefit to the owner's estate.5
On a non-qualified contract, an individual beneficiary may choose an inherited stretch, settlement option, 5-year deferral or lump sum; a spouse who is sole primary beneficiary may also choose spousal continuation. An estate, charity, entity or trust may choose a settlement option, 5-year deferral or lump sum.1
On a qualified contract, an eligible designated beneficiary (a spouse; an individual older than, or not more than 10 years younger than, the owner; a disabled or chronically ill individual; or the owner's minor child) may choose an inherited stretch, settlement option, 10-year deferral or lump sum.2
On a qualified contract, any other individual beneficiary may choose a settlement option, a 10-year deferral or a lump sum. An estate, charity, entity or trust other than a look-through trust may choose a settlement option, a 5-year deferral or a lump sum.2
Spousal continuation is open to a spouse who is the sole primary beneficiary. The spouse steps in as the contract owner, the contract provisions continue, surrender charges are waived for most products, and the spouse may name new beneficiaries.6
What American Equity's agreement and guidance say4
- How proceeds are paid
The settlement option is irrevocable once payments begin. An estate, charity, entity or trust may elect it only for a 5-year period; an individual beneficiary's period is at least 5 years.1
A beneficiary who is not a US citizen, or a US citizen living abroad, may take only a lump sum. US citizens abroad in the military (AE/APO addresses), or living in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Canada or Mexico, are not limited to a lump sum.6
On a qualified contract, the settlement option must be elected within 60 days of the date of death, and for a look-through trust the period cannot exceed 10 years.7
For an estate, charity, entity or trust on a traditional IRA, the qualified claim form says of the settlement option and the 5-year deferral: "If the decedent was over age 70 ½ (prior to Jan. 1, 2020), or age 72 (after Dec. 31, 2019), at the time of their death this option is not available."2
- Refusing an inheritance
A disclaimer on the Beneficiary Disclaimer form is irrevocable. Once American Equity accepts it, American Equity pays the death benefit under the terms of the annuity contract, and the disclaimant may not direct where it is paid.4
- What it says about taxes
The claim form carries a tax withholding election. American Equity says that without an election "we will withhold 10% federal income tax and will not withhold any state income tax, unless a different amount is required by your state."1
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
Asked how long a beneficiary has to claim a death benefit, American Equity says it "is required to adhere to state unclaimed property guidelines."8
Sources8
- 1.Beneficiary Claim Form for Non-Qualified Contracts (018008-NQ), 08.2026
- 2.Beneficiary Claim Form for Qualified Contracts (018008-Q), 08.2026
- 3.Beneficiary Claim Form for Supplemental Contracts (018008-SC), 08.2026
- 4.Beneficiary Disclaimer (014042), 09.2026
- 5.Change of Beneficiary Form (014036), 09.2026
- 6.Beneficiary Claim Instructions for Non-Qualified Contracts (01G8008-NQ), 09.2026
- 7.Beneficiary Claim Instructions for Qualified Contracts (01G8008-Q), 09.2026
- 8.Make a beneficiary claim (Beneficiary Support)
American Equity pays the claim when all requirements are complete, which typically takes 7-10 days.
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.
Sources
Data sourced from American Equity primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
American Equity death claims support
Beneficiary Support
Phone
Overnight mail
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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