Ascensus
Subsidiary of Stone Point Capital / GIC (a new ownership structure co-led by Stone Point Capital and Genstar Capital was announced in 2026 and is pending close; GIC, an investor since 2019, remains invested)
ascensus.comWhat to do when an Ascensus account holder dies
Report the death to Ascensus' Beneficiary Claims at 1-888-652-8086
When an account holder at Ascensus passes away, the next step depends on how the retirement accounts were set up. Accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate. Accounts titled solely in the deceased's name require the estate's legal representative to work with Ascensus' Beneficiary Claims (1-888-652-8086) to access and distribute the funds.
Death claim process
The death claim process at Ascensus works as follows:
Filing a claim
- Employer plans: the next of kin or estate representative notifies the plan sponsor or employer, which notifies Ascensus and supplies the death certificate
- IRAs, HSAs and Coverdell ESAs: notify the bank or credit union that holds the account. It files an online Death Notice for the Ascensus claims team through IRAdirect
- Nonqualified deferred compensation (Newport) accounts: call 800-230-3950
- Qualified plans: Form 465, QRP Beneficiary Distribution Election (current version 10/2025; any prior version is obsolete)
- IRAs, death on or after 1/1/2020: Form 341, IRA Beneficiary Required Election
- IRAs, death before 1/1/2020: Form 321, IRA Beneficiary Required Election
- An inherited IRA is opened on its own Ascensus agreement: Forms 97-IH, 98-IH or 100-IH for a traditional IRA, and 6097-IH, 6098-IH or 6100-IH for a Roth IRA
- The beneficiary names their own successor beneficiary on Form 307
- 401(k), 403(b) and other qualified plan claims: 888-652-8086 (Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. ET)
- Ascensus Essentials 401(k) (formerly Ascensus CoPilot): 833-892-8878
- Individual(k) claims: 877-221-0248 or 833-688-0086
- SEP and SIMPLE IRA claims: 844-292-4701 or 833-889-9878
- Nonqualified deferred compensation claims (Newport, an Ascensus company): 800-230-3950
- Vanguard 403(b) Services claims: 800-569-4903
- IRA and HSA inquiries, and general inquiries: 800-346-3860
- Qualified plans: Form 465 (QRP Beneficiary Distribution Election)
- IRAs, death on or after 1/1/2020: Form 341
- IRAs, death before 1/1/2020: Form 321
- Deaths on or after 1/1/2020: Form 344-IH (Inherited IRA Payment Election)
- Deaths before 1/1/2020: Form 324-IH
- Form 314-IH (Inherited IRA Withdrawal Authorization) is used for withdrawals from an inherited IRA once it is open
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Beneficiary distribution election form (Form 465), for a qualified planForm 465 is the QRP Beneficiary Distribution Election.
- IRA Beneficiary Required Election (Form 341 or Form 321), for an IRAForm 341 for a death on or after 1/1/2020; Form 321 for a death before that date.
- Inherited IRA Payment Election (Form 344-IH or Form 324-IH)Form 344-IH for a death on or after 1/1/2020; Form 324-IH for a death before that date.
- Inherited IRA account agreement and Form 307, where assets are moved to an inherited IRAForms 97-IH, 98-IH or 100-IH for a traditional IRA, or 6097-IH, 6098-IH or 6100-IH for a Roth IRA, plus Form 307 to name the beneficiary's own successor beneficiary.
- Government-issued ID for the beneficiary
- Trust documents, if a trust is named as beneficiary
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, if the estate is the beneficiary
- Tax withholding election (Form 317 or Form 223)Form 317 (IRA Withholding Notice and Election) for an IRA; Form 223 (QRP Withholding Reminder Notice) for a qualified plan.
- IRA State Income Tax Withholding Election (Form 80024), where the state requires it
- Divorce decree or other court order, where an ex-spouse is still the named beneficiary
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms Ascensus issues3
- QRP Beneficiary Distribution Election (Form 465)
Completed by the beneficiary of a qualified plan. Sent by the institution on request.1
- IRA Beneficiary Required Election (Form 341, for a death on or after 1/1/2020)
Completed by the beneficiary of an IRA. Sent by the institution on request.1
- IRA Beneficiary Required Election (Form 321, for a death before 1/1/2020)
Completed by the beneficiary of an IRA. Sent by the institution on request.1
What Ascensus provides to the estate1
- Tax forms
Ascensus processes the distribution and handles the tax reporting on Form 1099-R.1
What Ascensus's agreement and guidance say1
- What it does when notified
Once the claim is filed, Ascensus determines who receives the death benefit and mails the proper forms to the beneficiaries. The financial organization's staff can review the completed forms before processing.1
For its fully-administered clients, Ascensus escalates claims its compliance review flags to its ERISA legal team: an ex-spouse still named after a divorce, a married owner in a community property state who did not name the spouse, or beneficiaries in several states or abroad. Such a claim takes longer.1
Sources1
Withdrawals take 5-10 business days to process.
Ascensus' Beneficiary Claims can be reached by phone at 1-888-652-8086 and email at customersupport@ascensus.com for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Ascensus primary sources (24 pages reviewed). How we research.
Ascensus death claims support
Beneficiary Claims
Phone
NQDC Claims (Newport, an Ascensus company)
SEP / SIMPLE IRA Claims
Individual(k) Claims
IRA / HSA and General Inquiries
Vanguard 403(b) Claims
Forms and Documents (eforms)
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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