What to do when an American Fidelity account holder dies
Report the death to American Fidelity's Life Benefits Department at 1-800-662-1113
Filing a death claim on a American Fidelity policy begins with notifying the Life Benefits Department at 1-800-662-1113. Life insurance claims are separate from probate—proceeds transfer directly to named beneficiaries regardless of whether the estate goes through court. The timeline and documentation requirements depend on the policy type and cause of death.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at American Fidelity:
Filing a claim
- Mail: P.O. Box 25160, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0160
- Fax: 800-818-3453
- Email: afa-life-claims@americanfidelity.com
- Life insurance claims cannot be filed online or through AFmobile; American Fidelity's support page says they "must be mailed or faxed"
- Insured identification: full name, date of birth, date of death, cause of death, Social Security number, policy number and last known address
- Claimant identification, with the capacity claimed in checked: Beneficiary/Heir, Executor/Administrator, Trustee, Guardian or Power of Attorney
- The accident section only if the loss resulted from accidental injury
- Each beneficiary completes and signs a separate Statement of Claimant
- Mail: American Fidelity Assurance Company, Life Benefits Department, P.O. Box 25160, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0160
- The mailing-address directory lists the same box as "Attn: Life & Annuity - Worksite"
- Fax: 800-818-3453
- Email: afa-life-claims@americanfidelity.com, the address printed on the BN-151 form header
Required Documents
- Statement of Claimant / Life Insurance Claim Form (BN-151)One per beneficiary. A four-page packet: filing instructions, the Statement of Claimant, the M-3698 authorization and state fraud statements, which must not be removed.
- Certified death certificate of the insuredMust show the cause and manner of death.
- IRS Form W-9, for each payee: beneficiary, assignee, trustee, estate administrator, guardian of a minor or heirRequired even when interest is under $600.
- Certified death certificate of a beneficiary who has also died, if a beneficiary predeceased and is also being claimed for
- Certified court appointment papers, if the estate is claimingThe executor, administrator or personal representative signs the claim. A last will and testament is not accepted as proof of authority.
- Copy of the trust certificate or memorandum of trust, if a trust is the beneficiaryThe trustee signs the Statement of Claimant and the trust's W-9.
- Court-appointed guardianship papers, if the beneficiary is a minor
- Copy of the power of attorney appointment, if an attorney-in-fact signs for a beneficiary
- Copy of the assignment and the assignee's W-9, if benefits were assigned, for example to a funeral homeSigned by each beneficiary, with the signatures notarized.
- Authorization to Obtain Information Including Protected Health Information (M-3698), if the policy is within two years of its effective or reinstatement datePage 3 of the BN-151 packet.
- Police report, coroner's report, toxicology report and newspaper clippings, for an accidental death benefit claimA detailed police report; newspaper clippings if applicable.
- Life insurance direct deposit form, with a voided check or a bank letter, for payment by direct depositThe bank letter confirms the account and routing numbers.
- Death Benefit Claim Form (BN-738), for an annuityThe claimant's signature must be notarized.
- Photo ID, W-9 and beneficiary change form, for an annuityA copy of a valid photo ID, plus the spouse's ID in AK, AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI and PR. The beneficiary change form for the inherited account is signed and witnessed.
Forms American Fidelity issues3
- Life Insurance Claim Form - Statement of Claimant (BN-151)
Completed by each beneficiary. Available to download.1
- Death Benefit Claim Form (BN-738), for annuities
Completed by the claimant. Available to download. Must be notarized.2
- Life insurance direct deposit form
Available to download.3
What happens to each kind of account1
- Annuity
Annuity death benefits run through Annuity Services on the Death Benefit Claim Form (BN-738), not BN-151. On the form the claimant chooses to leave the funds in the account, take a full withdrawal, roll over or 1035 exchange, or request scheduled payout figures, offered only on balances over $5,000.2
BN-738 requires an enclosed beneficiary change form for the inherited account. Without a new designation, the beneficiary defaults to the claimant's estate.2
What American Fidelity's agreement and guidance say6
- Telling the institution
American Fidelity tells beneficiaries not to delay reporting the death while gathering documents.4
- Who can get account information
American Fidelity releases benefit information and a copy of the policy only to a named beneficiary, and only after the insured has died.4
- How proceeds are paid
Claims are processed once the certified death certificate, the Statement of Claimant and every payee's W-9 are in hand; an incomplete packet or a death that needs investigation delays it. A death outside the United States does not itself affect payment of a payable claim.4
Where more than one beneficiary is named, each is paid as soon as their own requirements are met, without waiting on the others. If legal affidavits are needed to confirm the surviving heirs, every notarized affidavit must be returned before any payment is released.4
- Contestability of a recent policy
A policy within two years of its effective or reinstatement date is inside the contestability window. The claim then needs the M-3698 authorization and additional medical documentation, which can delay it.4, 1
- Payment to a minor or incapacitated beneficiary
For a minor beneficiary, a court-appointed legal guardian over the minor's property and estate signs the claim and attaches the guardianship papers.4, 1
- What it says about taxes
American Fidelity says the death benefit itself is not taxable but interest on it may be, which is why it requires a W-9 from every payee.4
American Fidelity's Life Benefits Department can be reached by phone at 1-800-662-1113, email at afa-life-claims@americanfidelity.com, and fax at 1-800-818-3453 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from American Fidelity primary sources (18 pages reviewed). How we research.
American Fidelity death claims support
Life Benefits Department (Life & Annuity - Worksite)
Phone
Annuity death benefit claims (Annuity Services)
Life Division claims and service
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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