What to do when an Erie Insurance account holder dies
Report the death to Erie Insurance's Erie Family Life Death Claims at 1-800-458-0811
When an insured person dies, the beneficiary or executor should contact Erie Insurance's Erie Family Life Death Claims at 1-800-458-0811 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
The death claim process at Erie Insurance works as follows:
Filing a claim
- The policyowner's local ERIE agent
- Erie Family Life claims at 800-458-0811, option 2 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM ET)
- Erie's online Start a Life Insurance Death Claim form, which covers a life policy or an annuity contract
- Complete the claimant statement with the policy and deceased person's information
- Add a certified copy of the death certificate
- Have your signature notarized, or include a clear copy of your driver's license or state-issued ID
- If a trust is the beneficiary, include the trust documents and trustee identification
- Mail to Erie Family Life Insurance Company, 100 Erie Insurance Place, Erie, PA 16530
- Or fax to 814-461-1238
- This is not the Erie Family Life Service Center in Lincoln, NE, which handles beneficiary and ownership changes on in-force policies
Required Documents
- Completed claimant statementErie issues it after the claim is started.
- Death certificateA certified copy.
- Notarized signature on the claimant statement, or a copy of the claimant's photo IDErie accepts a clear copy of the claimant's driver's license or state-issued ID for signature certification in place of notarization.
- The insured's full name, state of residence, date of birth and date of death
- Policy or contract number and policy issue date
- Trust documents and trustee identification, if a trust is the beneficiary
- Letters of administration or court appointment, if the claim is made by an estate representative
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms Erie Insurance issues2
- Start a Life Insurance Death Claim
Completed by a beneficiary or someone legally acting for one. Completed online.1
- Erie Family Life claimant statement
Completed by each beneficiary. Sent by the institution on request.2
What happens to each kind of account3
- Life insurance policy
If the policy carried the Long-Term Care Accelerated Death Benefit Rider and the insured drew on it, the residual death benefit is paid: the lesser of $25,000 or 10 percent of the face amount. An outstanding policy loan or withdrawal also reduces what is paid.2
- Annuity
Erie Family Life annuity contracts are claimed the same way as its life insurance: through the local ERIE agent, the life claims line or the online death claim form.1, 2
- Auto, home or renters policy
ERIE auto, home, renters and business policies are written by the Erie Insurance Exchange and its insurance subsidiaries, not Erie Family Life. They carry no beneficiary and no death benefit, so there is no death claim to file.3
Coverage changes and cancellations go through the deceased person's local ERIE agent, who asks for a cancellation date and may ask for the request in writing. Erie charges no auto cancellation fee, and any unused-premium refund belongs to the estate.3
State requirements Erie Insurance statesNew York
- New York
Erie Family Life is not licensed in New York and its products, including the annuities, are not sold there. An ERIE policy in a New York estate is a property/casualty policy, written by Erie Insurance Company of New York or an affiliate.2
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- Erie Insurance Exchange property/casualty claims
Losses on ERIE auto, home, renters and business policies: option 4 for a new claim, option 5 for one already reported3
Phone: 1-800-367-3743
What Erie Insurance's agreement and guidance say1
- Telling the institution
The online form states: "This web form is not part of the documentation required to file a claim. Upon review, Erie Family Life Insurance may provide you with the documents required to file a claim."1
It also states: "By furnishing forms and investigating the claim, the Company does not admit that there is any insurance in force and does not waive any of its rights or defenses."1
Not in Erie Insurance's published guidance2
- How long a claim takes
- A claim form
Insurance Products
2 products- The agent is named on the declarations page, or use Find an Agent
- Option 4 to start a new claim
- Option 5 to reach a representative about a claim already reported
- Option 1 for windshield or auto glass, option 2 for roadside assistance
- Option 3 for workers' compensation, option 6 for Customer Care (billing, payments and policy information)
Required Documents
- Death certificate, for the agent to change or cancel the policyA certified copy.
- Policy number from the auto declarations page
- Letters testamentary or letters of administration, if the estate is being named as the insured
- Vehicle title or registration showing who now holds the car
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-800-367-3743
What happens to each kind of account1
- Auto, home or renters policy
An ERIE auto policy has no beneficiary and no death benefit, so there is no death claim to file. Erie Family Life's claims line handles only life insurance and annuity contracts.1
ERIE charges no cancellation fee on an auto policy. Refunds of unused premium are most common when the annual premium was paid up front, a smaller refund can still be due on monthly installments, and any refund is an asset of the estate.1
Sources1
Applies To
- The agent is named on the declarations page, or use Find an Agent
- See the home claims page
Required Documents
- Death certificateA certified copy.
- Policy number from the homeowners or renters declarations page
- Letters testamentary or letters of administration, if the estate is named as the insured
- Deed or trust certification, if title has moved to a trust or to an heir
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-800-367-3743
What happens to each kind of account1
- Auto, home or renters policy
An ERIE homeowners or renters policy has no beneficiary and no death benefit, so there is no death claim to file and it does not go to Erie Family Life. Any unused-premium refund at cancellation belongs to the estate.1
Sources1
Applies To
Erie Insurance's Erie Family Life Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-458-0811, email at Use the online death claim form at https://www.erieinsurance.com/contact-erie/death-claim, and fax at 1-814-461-1238 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Erie Insurance primary sources (20 pages reviewed). How we research.
Erie Insurance death claims support
Erie Family Life Death Claims (life insurance AND annuity contracts)
Phone
Toll-free
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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