What to do when an Aspida account holder dies
Report the death to Aspida Claims at 1-833-427-7432
A death claim on a Aspida policy is filed through Aspida Claims (1-833-427-7432). 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 Aspida:
Filing a claim
- Email Claims@aspida.com, the claims address Aspida lists under "For Current Annuity Clients" on its support page
- Or call 1 (833) 4-ASPIDA / (833) 427-7432 and press Option 1 for Client Support, Monday-Friday 9:00am-6:00pm ET
- Give the deceased person's full legal name, date of death and annuity contract number
- A surviving co-owner, or the authorized annuitant of a non-natural owner, already has a login
- Aspida says "PDF forms will require a wet signature and additional identity verification by our Client Support team once the PDF form is received"
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Death benefit claim form (claimant statement), one per beneficiaryProvided by Aspida on request. Signed in wet ink.
- Government-issued photo ID, for each beneficiary
- IRS Form W-9, for each beneficiary
- Certificate of Trust and trustee ID, if a trust is named as beneficiary
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, if no beneficiary is named and the proceeds go to the estate
Forms Aspida issues1
- Death benefit claim form (claimant statement)
Completed by each beneficiary. Sent by the institution on request.1
What happens to each kind of account1
- Annuity
On Synergy Choice Max and Synergy Choice Income, beneficiaries receive the full contract value plus prorated index credits, with no withdrawal charge or MVA. Synergy Choice Bonus pays the same plus any unvested premium bonus, which is paid in full at death.1
On the DreamPath RILA the benefit depends on issue age: "If you are between the ages of 18-80 when the contract issues, the benefit received will be the greater of the contract value or the initial premium amount minus withdrawals. If you are 81-85 at issue, the benefit received will be equal to the contract value."1
The Synergy Choice Bonus fact sheet says "Special rules apply if your spouse is co-owner."2
What Aspida provides to the estate1
- Tax forms
Aspida mails 1099-R forms by January 31 of the year after the payout, so a beneficiary paid in one calendar year receives the 1099-R the following January.1
What Aspida's agreement and guidance say3
- How proceeds are paid
A surviving spouse named as sole beneficiary may elect spousal continuation instead of a death benefit, becoming the new owner and keeping the contract in force.1
- Wills, probate and small estates
Annuity death benefits are paid directly to the named beneficiaries, outside probate.1
- What it says about taxes
Aspida's DreamPath brochure says "Annuity death benefit proceeds are generally taxed at the beneficiary's ordinary income tax rate."3
Not in Aspida's published guidance1
- How long a claim takes
Aspida Claims can be reached by phone at 1-833-427-7432 and email at Claims@aspida.com for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Aspida primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
Aspida death claims support
Aspida Claims
Phone
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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