What to do when a Empower account holder dies
Contact Empower — 8-step process, 7 required documents, and approximately one month from initial notification through document gathering, submission, review, and processing
Phone1-855-756-4738
Workplace Plans
Individual IRAs (Investor Services, Mon-Fri 6 AM - 6 PM MT)
Government/Taft-Hartley/Healthcare/Education/Faith Plans
Personal Cash (Mon-Fri 8 AM - 8 PM ET)
Empower Brokerage
Prospective Plan Sponsors (Core Markets)
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-855-756-4738
Workplace Plans
Individual IRAs (Investor Services, Mon-Fri 6 AM - 6 PM MT)
Government/Taft-Hartley/Healthcare/Education/Faith Plans
Personal Cash (Mon-Fri 8 AM - 8 PM ET)
Empower Brokerage
Prospective Plan Sponsors (Core Markets)
WebsiteLearn more→
Beneficiary Support Services
Phone1-866-442-3888
Toll-Free1-866-442-3888
Fax1-866-633-5212
Mailing Address
Empower, P.O. Box 173764, Denver, CO 80217-3764. Express mail: Empower, 8515 E. Orchard Rd., Greenwood Village, CO 80111.
IRA Claims (Mon-Fri 6 AM - 6 PM MT)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
What happens to Empower retirement accounts after the account holder dies depends on how each account was titled. Beneficiary-designated and trust-owned accounts transfer directly. Accounts in the deceased's name alone go through the estate, and the executor or administrator works with Empower's Beneficiary Support Services (1-866-442-3888) to claim the funds.
Death claims at Empower can be started through an online portal, which streamlines the initial notification and document upload. Phone and mail options are also available.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Empower:
Filing a claim
1
Submit the Empower Death Notification Template form (download at https://docs.empower.com/EE/Empower/docs/Death-Notification-Template-Empower.pdf):
- Mail to: Empower, P.O. Box 173764, Denver, CO 80217-3764
- Express mail to: Empower, 8515 E. Orchard Rd., Greenwood Village, CO 80111
- Fax to: 866-633-5212
2
Account access is restricted for security upon notification
3
Contact Empower with required documents:
- Beneficiary Support Services: 866-442-3888 (Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM MT)
- For IRA accounts: 866-317-6586 (Monday-Friday, 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM MT)
4
Provide the required information and documentation:
- Deceased participant's name, Social Security number, and account information
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Trust or estate documents if applicable
5
Empower reviews the claim and confirms the designated beneficiary
6
Beneficiary selects a distribution option:
- Open an IRA with Empower
- Request installment payments
- Open a new account
- Transfer to an existing account
- Receive a check
7
Complete required claim forms and tax documentation
8
Empower processes the distribution (approximately one month from initial notification to completion)
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Deceased participant's Social Security number
- Government-issued ID for the beneficiary
- Completed Death Benefit Claim Request form (provided by Empower after notification)
- Trust documents (if a trust is the designated beneficiary)
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if estate is beneficiary)
- Tax withholding forms as requested
For IRA-specific claims, call 866-317-6586 (Monday-Friday, 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM MT). Express mail can be sent to: Empower, 8515 E. Orchard Rd., Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Plan administrators may download the Death Benefit Claim Request form from the Plan Service Center. When faxing documents, photocopy them first to verify readability.
Processing timelines at Empower: Approximately one month from initial notification through document gathering, submission, review, and processing. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Empower requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy of the death certificate, Deceased participant's Social Security number, and Government-issued ID for the beneficiary, and additional documentation depending on the account type. Certified copies are typically needed—photocopies are generally not accepted for death certificates or court documents.
Frequently asked questions
Confirmed beneficiaries can: (1) Open an IRA with Empower, (2) Request installment payments, (3) Open a new account, (4) Transfer funds to an existing account, or (5) Receive a lump-sum check. Distribution rules depend on the beneficiary's relationship to the deceased, the account type, and the applicable SECURE Act provisions.
Taxable brokerage accounts at Empower Personal Wealth (formerly Personal Capital) can be retitled into a revocable living trust. Contact Empower at 866-317-6586 to request the trust retitling forms, then submit the completed forms along with a copy of your trust document or Certificate of Trust, the trust EIN, and government-issued ID for all trustees. Mail the package to Empower, P.O. Box 173764, Denver, CO 80217-3764, or send via express mail to 8515 E. Orchard Rd., Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Brokerage accounts also support Transfer on Death (TOD) beneficiary designations as a simpler alternative.
On average, the Empower death claim process takes approximately one month from the initial notification through document gathering, submission, review, and processing. Begin by submitting the Death Notification Template form by mail (P.O. Box 173764, Denver, CO 80217-3764), express mail (8515 E. Orchard Rd., Greenwood Village, CO 80111), or fax (866-633-5212). Account access is restricted for security upon notification. Then call Beneficiary Support Services at 866-442-3888 (Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM MT) or, for IRA-specific claims, 866-317-6586 (Monday-Friday, 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM MT) with the certified death certificate and the deceased's Social Security number.
Empower's Beneficiary Support Services can be reached by phone at 1-866-442-3888 and fax at 1-866-633-5212 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple Empower retirement accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Beneficiary Support Services can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Phone1-855-756-4738
Workplace Plans
Individual IRAs (Investor Services, Mon-Fri 6 AM - 6 PM MT)
Government/Taft-Hartley/Healthcare/Education/Faith Plans
Personal Cash (Mon-Fri 8 AM - 8 PM ET)
Empower Brokerage
Prospective Plan Sponsors (Core Markets)
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-855-756-4738
Workplace Plans
Individual IRAs (Investor Services, Mon-Fri 6 AM - 6 PM MT)
Government/Taft-Hartley/Healthcare/Education/Faith Plans
Personal Cash (Mon-Fri 8 AM - 8 PM ET)
Empower Brokerage
Prospective Plan Sponsors (Core Markets)
WebsiteLearn more→
Beneficiary Support Services
Phone1-866-442-3888
Toll-Free1-866-442-3888
Fax1-866-633-5212
Mailing Address
Empower, P.O. Box 173764, Denver, CO 80217-3764. Express mail: Empower, 8515 E. Orchard Rd., Greenwood Village, CO 80111.
IRA Claims (Mon-Fri 6 AM - 6 PM MT)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
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