What to do when an Equitable account holder dies
Report the death to Equitable's Life Insurance Claims at 1-800-777-6510
A death claim on a Equitable policy is filed through the Life Insurance Claims (1-800-777-6510). 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
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Equitable requires:
Filing a claim
- Life insurance: (800) 777-6510, Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM ET, Friday 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM ET
- Annuities (Retirement Cornerstone, Investment Edge, Structured Capital Strategies, Accumulator, Guaranteed Growth): (800) 789-7771
- EQUI-VEST, the 403(b)/TSA and IRA annuity family: (800) 628-6673, Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET
- SPDA: (800) 628-7789, Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET
- Death after retirement, group pension or annuity benefits, where the deceased person was already receiving payments: (800) 245-1230, Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET
- Employee benefits: (866) 274-9887
- Or start online at Start a claim
- Attach the death certificate, the original policy and any election form for the payment option chosen
- Equitable applies "Express Processing with no additional forms required if filing a claim for $10,000 or less."
- If the estate is not being probated, request the Affidavit for Payment without Administration by phone on (800) 777-6510
- A certified death certificate showing cause and manner of death
- A W-9 completed by the beneficiary
- Exactly one claim election form
- For a trust beneficiary, the Equitable Certification of Trust
- Attach a copy of the death certificate, plus a W-9 for an estate, trust or other non-natural entity beneficiary
- A special beneficiary (a minor, trust, estate, partnership, corporation or non-U.S. citizen) calls (800) 628-6673 for the additional forms
- Life: Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company, Life Operations, PO Box 1047, Charlotte, NC 28201-1047 (express: 8501 IBM Dr., Suite 150, Charlotte, NC 28262-4333); fax, forms only: (855) 268-6373
- Annuities: Equitable, Retirement Service Solutions, PO Box 1016, Charlotte, NC 28201-1424 (express: 8501 IBM Dr., Suite 150-IR, Charlotte, NC 28262-4333); fax (816) 701-8039
- The Certification of Trust form prints "P.O. Box 1424, Charlotte, NC 28201-1424" for the same annuity unit. Call (800) 789-7771 to confirm, or use the express address
- EQUI-VEST: Equitable, EQUI-VEST Processing Office, PO Box 1430, Charlotte, NC 28201-1430 (express: 8501 IBM Dr., Suite 150-GR, Charlotte, NC 28262-4333); fax (816) 701-4967
- EQUI-VEST claim PDFs can be emailed to EquivestDeathClaims@equitable.com, a send-only box not monitored for replies
- How to return forms lists a different EQUI-VEST address, PO Box 4956 MD 32-88, Syracuse, NY 13221. Call (800) 628-6673 to confirm which applies, or use the Charlotte express address
- SPDA: Equitable SPDA Division, PO Box 4700 MD 34-7, Syracuse, NY 13202; fax (315) 477-3810
- Death after retirement: Equitable Benefit Payment Service Group, PO Box 4993 MD 34-7, Syracuse, NY 13202; fax (315) 477-3810
- Annuities: Accumulator, Guaranteed Growth Annuity, Investment Edge, Retirement Cornerstone, Structured Capital Strategies, Structured Capital Strategies Income
- Also Equitable Life Insurance, EQUI-VEST Annuity, SPDA, and Death After Retirement/Income Pay
- Life: PO Box 1047, Charlotte, NC 28201-1047
- Annuity: Retirement Service Solutions, PO Box 1016, Charlotte, NC 28201-1424
- EQUI-VEST: PO Box 1430, Charlotte, NC 28201-1430
- SPDA: PO Box 4700 MD 34-7, Syracuse, NY 13202
- Death after retirement: PO Box 4993 MD 34-7, Syracuse, NY 13202
Required Documents
- Original certified copy of the death certificate, the current annuity series requires one showing cause and manner of death; the EQUI-VEST unit asks for a copyOne is enough for the whole claim, whatever the number of products or beneficiaries. Where there are several Equitable contracts, send a copy with a statement naming the department that holds the original.
- Original death certificate and the State Department Death of a US Citizen Abroad form, for a death outside the United StatesWith a translation if the certificate is not in English. Equitable says a death abroad needs special handling and can extend the processing time.
- Completed claim form for the productEvery beneficiary named on the policy or contract files their own. On annuity claims all forms must be originals.
- Original policy or annuity contract, if availableOn the life claim form, check the "lost" box if the policy cannot be found.
- Payment-option election formLump Sum, Special Payment Plan, Spousal Continuation, Beneficiary Continuation Option, Periodic Payment Plan, Successor Owner/Annuitant, or Spousal Rollover.
- IRS Form W-9, from each annuity beneficiary, and for any estate, trust or other non-natural entity beneficiaryEquitable says: "If requested Tax Withholding is more than 10%, we will also require an IRS Form W4."
- Trust documents and the trust's taxpayer identification number, when a trust is the beneficiaryFor an annuity, the Equitable Certification of Trust form. For life insurance, the trust's title, appointment and signature pages plus any amendment naming the successor trustee.
- Trustee Certification form, when a trust beneficiary elects the Beneficiary Continuation OptionOn the current annuity series, also the EQ Certification of Trust form and a "Sample Attorney's Letter (or similar letter on attorney's letterhead)."
- Copy of the certificate of appointment (Letters), if you claim as executor, administrator or guardianFor life insurance, only where the estate is the named beneficiary. For an annuity payable to the estate, the executor completes the forms with the estate's taxpayer identification number.
- Affidavit for Payment without Administration, for life insurance, when the estate is not being probatedRequest it on (800) 777-6510; Equitable's published link to it is broken.
- Government-issued ID, as requested by the claims unit
- Probated copy of the Last Will and Testament, for an annuity beneficiary designated under a will; a testamentary trust may also be asked for it
- Notarized Affidavit of Children, for unidentified children of the annuitantCompleted by someone knowledgeable about the deceased person's family.
- Board resolution or by-laws conferring signing authority, for a charitable organization beneficiary of an annuity
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms Equitable issues15
- Claim to Life Insurance Benefits
Completed by each beneficiary named on the policy. Available to download.1
- Special Payment Plan (for an interest, installment or life income settlement instead of a lump sum)
Available to download.2
- Family Status Statement (when the policy covered more than the deceased person, such as a children's term rider)
Available to download.2
- Release of Interest in Claims Proceeds by Beneficiary (to disclaim; proceeds then pass under the policy provisions)
Completed by a beneficiary who disclaims. Available to download.2
- Statement of Surviving Children (children of the insured not named in the beneficiary provision)
Available to download.2
- Affidavit for Payment without Administration (life insurance, when the estate is not being probated)
Sent by the institution on request.2
- Authorization to Release Information (when the death occurs within two years of policy issue)
Available to download.2
- W-8BEN (for a foreign-national beneficiary)
Available to download.2
- Annuity election form: Lump Sum Distribution, Spousal Continuation, Beneficiary Continuation Option or Spousal Rollover
Completed by the beneficiary, choosing exactly one. Available to download.2
- Equitable Certification of Trust (identifies the trustee, the beneficiary and the trust TIN)
Completed by the trustee of a trust beneficiary. Available to download.3
- Beneficiary Continuation Option Trustee Certification (for the annuity series)
Completed by the trustee of a trust electing the Beneficiary Continuation Option. Available to download.2
- EQUI-VEST Claim to Annuity Benefits
Completed by each beneficiary named on the contract. Available to download.4
- EQUI-VEST option forms: Lump Sum, Periodic Payment Plan, BCO, Successor Owner/Annuitant, Trustee Certification
Available to download.2
- SPDA Claim to Annuity Benefits
Completed by each named beneficiary. Sent by the institution on request.2
- Claimants Statement Form (death after retirement or group pension)
Sent by the institution on request.2
What happens to each kind of account2
- Annuity
On a non-qualified contract the Beneficiary Continuation Option is available only on the death of the owner, or of an owner who was also the annuitant, and the election must reach the Processing Office within 9 months of that death.5
On an IRA contract, "Beneficiary has until 9/30 of the year following the death of the original owner to elect this payment method." A trust can elect the option only on IRA contracts, and the oldest trust beneficiary becomes the annuitant on the resulting contract.5
On EQUI-VEST, the Beneficiary Continuation Option "is only available for beneficiaries of these contract types: Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP, SIMPLE IRA, TSA, TSA Vantage and EQUI-VEST Strategies." It is not available on EQUI-VEST Series 100 and 200 EDC contracts.4
On EQUI-VEST, a trust beneficiary can elect the option only on "Traditional IRA, QP IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Roth IRA, TSA and TSA Vantage" contracts.4
A trust beneficiary's trustee completes the claim and payment option forms with the trust's taxpayer identification number, which "is not the Social Security Number of the deceased, trustee, or executor."6
- Life insurance policy
If the named beneficiary survived the insured but died before claiming, the proceeds may be payable to that beneficiary's own estate.2
If the beneficiary trust no longer exists, Equitable requires documentation of that fact and then looks to the contingent beneficiary or, failing one, the policy's default provisions.2
Accounts handled elsewhere2
- The Northern Trust Company
Banking services for an Equitable Access Account1
Phone: 1-866-494-4265
Mailing address: P.O. Box 92987, Chicago, IL 60675-2987
- Equitable Life Administration Center (Lynchburg, VA)
Legacy universal life policies numbered 24 000 000 - 24 999 9992
Phone: 1-800-342-4368
What Equitable provides to the estate1
- Tax forms
The Claim to Life Insurance Benefits form has a check box asking whether IRS Form 712 is needed for the estate tax return.1
Help Equitable offers survivors2
- Beneficiary Guide
Walks through the decisions that follow a death claim.7
- Beneficiary Guide Checklist
For the current annuity series, maps each beneficiary type (spouse, non-spouse, children, trust) to the forms required.5
What Equitable's agreement and guidance say4
- How proceeds are paid
Equitable pays a life claim after confirming that the claimant is the true beneficiary, the policy is in force, and the policy's conditions are met.2
On EQUI-VEST, "Your distribution election, and its tax consequences, cannot be changed once a payment has been made to you."2
Section 5 of the life claim form offers a lump sum, a settlement option (Special Payment Plan) or an Access Account. The Access Account is a retained asset account: Equitable sends a draft kit, and the balance stays with Equitable earning interest until drafts are written.1
No Access Account on policies of Equitable Financial Life and Annuity Company or its California company, under $10,000, without an SSN or tax ID, or for a minor, corporation, partnership, tax-exempt entity, estate, trust with more than two trustees, someone under a power of attorney or a non-U.S. resident.1
- Fees
An Access Account has no fees for drafts, draft clearing or monthly draft accounting, but a stop payment order costs $25. One draft can take the entire balance at any time, and the bank keeps cleared drafts for seven years.1
- What it says about taxes
Equitable says it may report interest paid on life insurance proceeds as taxable income.1
- Wills, probate and small estates
Equitable says Letters Testamentary "are only necessary where the Estate is the named beneficiary and the estate is due the life insurance proceeds." Where a named beneficiary other than the estate receives the proceeds, it does not require Letters.2
Not in Equitable's published guidance1
- How long a claim takes
Sources7
Retirement Accounts
1 productRequired Documents
- Completed Claimants Statement FormRequired from every beneficiary listed on the contract.
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Pension statement or annuity contractCall (800) 245-1230 for help locating it.
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-800-245-1230
Fax: 1-315-477-3810
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM ET
Mailing address: Equitable Benefit Payment Service Group, PO Box 4993, MD 34-7, Syracuse, NY 13202
Forms Equitable issues1
- Claimants Statement Form
Completed by every beneficiary listed on the contract. Sent by the institution on request.1
What happens to each kind of account1
- Pension
The pension statement or annuity contract establishes which payment option the retiree elected, and therefore whether a survivor benefit continues.1
Help Equitable offers survivors1
- Beneficiary Guide
Walks through the decisions that follow a death claim.2
Sources2
Applies To
Insurance Products
1 productRequired Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Completed claim package supplied by the Equitable Life Administration Center
- Original policy, if available
- Government-issued ID for each beneficiary
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-800-342-4368
Fax: 1-434-948-5716
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM ET
Mailing address: Equitable Life Administration Center, PO Box 6040, Lynchburg, VA 24505
Forms Equitable issues1
- Claim package from the Equitable Life Administration Center
Sent by the institution on request.1
Sources1
Applies To
Equitable's Life Insurance Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-777-6510 and fax at 1-855-268-6373 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Equitable primary sources (28 pages reviewed). How we research.
Equitable death claims support
Life Insurance Claims (Life Operations)
Phone
Toll-free
Annuity Claims
EQUI-VEST Claims
SPDA Claims (Syracuse)
Death After Retirement / Group Pension / Annuity Benefits
Employee Benefits Claims
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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