What to do when an American General account holder dies
Report the death to American General's Life Claims Department at 1-844-452-3832
A death claim on a American General policy is filed through the Life Claims Department (1-844-452-3832). 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
Follow these steps to file a death claim with American General:
Filing a claim
- Enter the policy number on the claims page to be directed to the service center for the policy.
- 844-452-3832 (fax 855-601-1834)
- 800-633-6259 (fax 855-851-5407)
- 800-888-2452 (fax 844-930-0370)
- $15,000 or less: the claim may be eligible for expedited processing. A claims team member contacts the beneficiary within 24 hours to authenticate their identity.
- On an expedited claim, payment by check is sent within 5 business days after Corebridge receives proof of death.
- Greater than $15,000: a claims packet is sent to all beneficiaries within 5 business days of the first notification, by mail or email.
- A Claimant's Statement (AGLC180A) from each beneficiary
- The proof of death the packet indicates. One proof of death covers the deceased person across all claimants and policies.
- A death certificate whose cause of death is "pending" is not accepted.
- The original or a copy of the policy, if available
- The HIPAA Authorization in the packet, signed by the deceased person's personal representative
- For an estate, trust or minor beneficiary, the documents listed for that beneficiary below
- A beneficiary whose name changed, who is now divorced from the insured, or who has died
- A charity, corporation, partnership or other entity as beneficiary
- A policy collaterally assigned, or benefits assigned to a funeral home
- A contestable policy: the Medical History section of the Claimant's Statement, a Contestable Beneficiary Questionnaire, and for a suicide a Suicide Contestable Questionnaire.
- A death in a foreign country (Canada and U.S. territories are not foreign): a translated certified death certificate, a Foreign Death Questionnaire and the Report of Death Abroad.
- A homicide: the Homicide section of the Claimant's Statement.
- An accidental death on a policy with an Accidental Death Benefit rider, or on a Guaranteed Issue Whole Life policy within 2 years of issue or reinstatement: the Accidental Death section.
- The life insurance policy number, if you have it
- Your role in the claim: beneficiary, agent, family member, attorney, funeral home or other
- Your name, mailing address, email and phone, and how you prefer to be contacted
- Names and contact information for any other parties or beneficiaries you know of
- The deceased person's name, date of birth, date of death and manner of death
- The funeral home, and whether the death benefit is assigned to it
- An estate: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, or below the small estate amount with no probate, a Proof of Heirship Affidavit or a Small Estate Affidavit
- A minor whose amount due is above the allowable amount for the minor's state: Letters of Guardianship for the Estate of the minor
- A minor whose amount due is below it: an Affidavit Concerning Custody of a Minor, with the Claimant's Statement signed by the custodian
Required Documents
- Claimant's Statement (AGLC180A), from each beneficiaryRequired for most claims; not required for expedited processing. Provided in the claims packet.
- Proof of death: any one of five documents, total benefit of $15,000 or less, natural death 2 or more years after issue or reinstatement, in the U.S., Canada or a U.S. territoryAn obituary, funeral service program, funeral home bill, Proof of Death form or copy of the death certificate. One proof of death covers all claimants and policies.
- Proof of Death form or a copy of the death certificate, total benefit of $15,001 to $50,000, on the same facts
- Copy of the death certificate, total benefit of $50,000 to $100,000, natural death or suicide 2 years after issue or reinstatement, in the U.S., Canada or a U.S. territory
- Certified copy of the death certificate, over $100,000, a homicide, a death within 2 years of issue or reinstatement, a foreign death, or an accidental death benefit rider claimThe death certificate cannot be returned. For a foreign death, a certified certificate from the country of death, translated into English.
- Certified death certificate indicating cause or manner of death, listed for every claim on the cover sheet of the Claimant's StatementThe forms page instead sets the proof of death by benefit amount and says the claims packet indicates the form of proof required.
- Original or copy of the policy, if availableIf the policy is not available, note this at the top of the Claimant's Statement.
- HIPAA Authorization, enclosed with the Claimant's StatementSigned by the deceased person's personal representative: an executor, administrator or other person with authority to act for the deceased or the estate.
- Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Non-Citizen National Abroad, for a death in a foreign countryProvided to the next of kin or legal representative by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country of death.
- Certification of Trustee section of the Claimant's Statement, with the trust's TIN, when a trust is the beneficiaryA copy of the trust is not required. Multiple trustees each sign unless the trust lets one act alone; then send the trust pages that prove that authority.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, estate, when the claim is more than "the Small Estate amount allowable by the state where the policy is issued" or there is probateIssued by the court of jurisdiction. The Claimant's Statement is completed by the administrator or executor.
- Proof of Heirship Affidavit (AGLC5081) or a Small Estate Affidavit, estate beneficiary, when the claim is less than "the Small Estate amount allowable by the beneficiary's state" and there is no probateThe Proof of Heirship Affidavit is in the claims packet; the Small Estate Affidavit is the state's form.
- Letters of Guardianship for the Estate of the minor, minor, when the amount due is more than "the allowable amount for that minor's state of residence under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act"The guardian appointed by the state signs the Claimant's Statement.
- Affidavit Concerning Custody of a Minor (AGLC108938), minor beneficiary, when the amount due is less than that amountCompleted in place of Letters of Guardianship; the custodian of the minor signs the Claimant's Statement.
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms American General issues7
- Claimant's Statement (AGLC180A)
Completed by each beneficiary. Available to download.1
- Proof of Death (AGLC3607-5)
Completed by a licensed practicing physician, coroner or funeral director, for natural death benefits of $50,000 or less on incontestable policies. Available to download.2
- Proof of Heirship Affidavit (AGLC5081)
Completed by a person who knew the decedent, where the decedent left no will; a will that is or will be probated takes Letters Testamentary instead. Available to download. Must be notarized.3
- Affidavit Concerning Custody of a Minor (AGLC108938)
Completed by the person who has custody of the minor. Available to download. Must be notarized.4
- Contestable Beneficiary Questionnaire
Completed by the beneficiary, on a contestable policy. Sent by the institution on request.5
- Suicide Contestable Questionnaire
Completed by the beneficiary, on a contestable policy where the death was by suicide. Sent by the institution on request.5
- Foreign Death Questionnaire
Completed by the beneficiary, for a death in a foreign country. Sent by the institution on request.5
State requirements American General statesFlorida
- Florida
For a death in Florida, the death certificate must be the long version that includes the cause of death.6
What American General's agreement and guidance say5
- How proceeds are paid
Payment is made according to the beneficiary's instructions. Allow 3 to 5 days' mailing time for a check.7
The Claimant's Statement offers a lump sum, proceeds left at interest, monthly payments, or for a benefit of $50,000 or more an Instant Access Account (not in every state). With no option selected, proceeds are paid by company check.1
- Contestability of a recent policy
Corebridge treats a claim as contestable when the date of death is within the 2 years after the policy issue or reinstatement date, and investigates it.5
- Who can get account information
Corebridge communicates about a claim only with the beneficiaries, a beneficiary's attorney, the servicing agent, or the funeral home where benefits are assigned to it.7
- Powers of attorney
An attorney-in-fact completes and signs the Claimant's Statement for the beneficiary, and sends an affidavit affirming the power of attorney and a notarized copy of the power of attorney agreement.8
- What it says about taxes
The Claimant's Statement carries a withholding election and a substitute Form W-9; without the certification Corebridge "will withhold 24% of the interest portion, if applicable, on the death benefit payment(s) as a default."1
Sources8
- 1.Life Insurance Policy Claim / Proof of Death Claimant's Statement (AGLC180A-Generic), Rev0426
- 2.Proof of Death (AGLC3607-5), Rev1122
- 3.Proof of Heirship Affidavit (AGLC5081), Rev1122
- 4.Affidavit Concerning Custody of a Minor (AGLC108938), Rev1122
- 5.Claims requiring an investigation
- 6.Forms and documents needed to process a claim
- 7.File a life insurance claim
- 8.Common beneficiary situations (estate, trust, etc.) and requirements
Most claims are reviewed and processed within 5 business days once all requirements are received in good order. Claims that need an investigation take longer.
American General's Life Claims Department can be reached by phone at 1-844-452-3832 and fax at 1-855-601-1834 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
- corebridgefinancial.com
- adminplus.fgsfulfillment.com
- corebridgedirect.com
- investors.corebridgefinancial.com
- lifeportal.corebridgefinancial.com
Data sourced from American General primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
American General death claims support
Life Claims Department
Phone
Life claims (Cleveland)
Life claims (Dallas)
Annuity Customer Service
Annuity service center (Direct Traditional Fixed, SPIA/DIA)
General line (bill pay, account support, claims)
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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