What to do when an Athene account holder dies
Report the death to Athene's Annuity Customer Contact Center at 1-888-266-8489
When an insured person dies, the beneficiary or executor should contact Athene's Annuity Customer Contact Center at 1-888-266-8489 to start the claims process. Insurance proceeds are paid directly to the named beneficiary and do not go through probate. How quickly the claim is processed depends on the policy type, documentation, and cause of death.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Athene:
Filing a claim
- The deceased person: name, date of birth, address and date of death
- For faster processing, the last four digits of the deceased person's Social Security number and any contract numbers
- You: name, phone, email and address
- Your relationship to the deceased person. The list includes Executor of the Estate, Trustee, Power of Attorney and Custodial Company Plan Administrator as well as family relationships
- Put the contract owner's name or contract number in the subject line
- Attach only one file per email, as a PDF, TIF, DOC, XLS or JPG/JPEG
- HTML links, GIF and PNG files are not accepted, including smartphone photos embedded in the body of the email
- Do not include text in the body of the email. Encrypted email is accepted; password-protected email is not
Required Documents
- Claim form for the beneficiary typeForm 22306 for an estate, 22217 for a trust, 20773 for an entity, 10034 or 22256 for an individual. A separate form for each beneficiary, sent with a copy of the certified death certificate.
- Copy of the death certificateIt must state the cause and manner of death. An original is not required unless Athene asks for one. Where a state issues a long and a short form, Athene requires the long form.
- Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration or Letters of Appointment, if the estate is the beneficiaryAppointing the person who can act for the estate. Where the estate does not require probate, a small estate affidavit. A last will and testament is not accepted as proof of authority.
- Court paperwork appointing a conservator or guardian, for a minor beneficiary, or when a conservator or guardian claims for the beneficiaryFor a minor, the appointment of a conservator or guardian of the minor's estate, required even if a parent. If the beneficiary qualifies under UTMA, a notarized affidavit showing custodianship may be submitted.
- Copy of the power of attorney document, when an attorney-in-fact claims for the beneficiary
- Trust details on the claim form, if a trust is the beneficiaryThe trust's tax identification number, original and amended trust dates, governing state law and the names of all current trustees, certified by the trustees. Athene may ask for a copy of the trust documents.
- Certification of beneficial owners, if a trust or entity is the beneficiaryFor each individual who controls or owns 25% or more of the trust or entity. Athene may also require a copy of each one's unexpired government identification.
- IRS Form W-8BEN, for a foreign beneficiaryWithout it, Athene settles the claim once every other document is received and withholds 30% of the benefit.
- Consular Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad, if the death occurred outside the U.S.From the Bureau of Consular Affairs.
- Death certificate of a beneficiary who has died, if a beneficiary has diedIf the deceased beneficiary was designated per stirpes, an Affidavit of Heirship (18376) is also required.
- Affidavit for Payment to Surviving Children (80568), if the designation names all childrenIt must list all children and be notarized. One affidavit covers multiple children.
- Proof of a name change, or the divorce papers, if the beneficiary's name has changed, or a former spouse is the beneficiaryFor a name change, a marriage certificate, divorce decree or other court document. For a former spouse, a copy of the divorce decree and the marital settlement agreement.
- Transfer paperwork, if the funds are transferred to another companyWith a medallion signature guarantee, a letter of acceptance or a corporate resolution.
- Funeral home assignment instructions, if part of the benefit is assigned to a funeral homeSigned and dated by the claimant, with the dollar amount assigned and the payee and address for the check. The claimant is still responsible for taxes on the amount assigned.
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms Athene issues7
- Estate Beneficiary Claims Form Kit (form 22306)
Completed by the executor, administrator or personal representative. Available to download.1
- Trust Beneficiary Claims Form Kit (form 22217)
Completed by the trustee. Available to download.1
- Individual Beneficiary Qualified Claims Form Kit (form 10034)
Completed by each individual beneficiary of a qualified contract. Available to download.1
- Individual Beneficiary Non-Qualified Claims Form Kit (form 22256)
Completed by each individual beneficiary of a non-qualified contract. Available to download.1
- Entity Beneficiary Claims Form Kit (form 20773)
Completed by an authorized representative of the entity. Available to download.1
- Annuity Claim Form Statement of Beneficiary (form 16303)
Completed by each beneficiary of a contract in a payout or settlement status. Available to download.1
- Life Claim Form (form 17962)
Completed by the beneficiary of an American Investors Life policy. Available to download.1
State requirements Athene statesFlorida
- Florida
A death certificate issued in Florida must be the long form showing the cause and manner of death.2
What Athene's agreement and guidance say5
- Who can get account information
A named beneficiary may ask for the value of their death benefit, the options to claim it, whether the deceased person met their required minimum distribution obligations, and information on their own portion, excluding percentages.3
Athene will not disclose the number of beneficiaries on the contract, the names of other beneficiaries, the contract history or performance, or the percentage allocated.3
Claim information is released only to the beneficiary or the beneficiary's authorized representative.2
- How proceeds are paid
Payout options include lump sum, periodic payments, spousal continuation and internal or external transfer of funds. The claim packet shows which options are available.4
The estate claim form offers a lump sum payment. A check cannot be mailed in care of a corporate or commercial institution.2
The trust claim form offers a lump sum, a trustee-to-trustee transfer for a qualified contract, periodic payments, or the benefit base rider death benefit where the contract has one.5
Once a claim has been processed the payment option cannot be changed. For a claim to be processed by December 31, every requirement must be received in good order by December 1.6
Spousal continuation keeps the contract going in the surviving spouse's name. It is available only if the deceased is your spouse and you are the sole beneficiary, and not on an inherited IRA contract.6
- Payments after the death
If systematic withdrawals were paid after the date of death, signing the claim form agrees to leave those funds as distributed. Anyone who does not agree contacts Athene.2
- Fees
Sending the payment by overnight mail costs $25.00, deducted from the payment amount. Overnight delivery is not available to a P.O. box.2
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
If a death benefit is not claimed, Athene follows state unclaimed property guidelines.4
Sources6
- 1.Service Forms
- 2.Deferred Annuity Claim Form for Estate Beneficiary (form 22306), ver. 04/25
- 3.Beneficiary Toolkit (form 24241), 01/02/25
- 4.Frequently Asked Questions
- 5.Deferred Annuity Claim Form for Trust Beneficiary (form 22217), ver. 05/26
- 6.Deferred Annuity Claim Form for Individual Beneficiary - Qualified Contract (form 10034), ver. 05/26
Athene verifies a claim within 5-7 business days and pays within 8-10 business days of receiving all requirements in good order.
Athene's Annuity Customer Contact Center can be reached by phone at 1-888-266-8489, email at Documents@athene.com, and fax at 1-866-709-3922 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Athene primary sources (17 pages reviewed). How we research.
Athene death claims support
Annuity Customer Contact Center
Phone
General questions
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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