What to do when a Farm Bureau Financial account holder dies
Contact Farm Bureau Financial's Life and Annuity Customer Service — 7-step process, 7 required documents, and 30-60 days after all required documentation is received, though most states allow insurers 30 days to review a claim before paying, denying, or requesting additional information. straightforward claims with named beneficiaries are typically processed faster.
Customer Service
Mailing Address
Farm Bureau Financial Services, 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines, IA 50266-5997
Life & Annuity Policy Service
Main Office
WebsiteLearn more→
Life and Annuity Customer Service
Phone1-800-247-4170
Mailing Address
Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines, IA 50266-5997
WebsiteLearn more→
Life and Annuity Claims Center
Phone1-800-247-4170
Mailing Address
Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines, IA 50266-5997
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
When an insured person dies, the beneficiary or executor should contact Farm Bureau Financial's Life and Annuity Customer Service at 1-800-247-4170 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.
Farm Bureau Financial offers an online claims portal that makes the initial filing process more straightforward. Survivors can also initiate claims by phone or by mailing documentation directly.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Farm Bureau Financial:
Filing a claim
1
Notify Farm Bureau Financial Services of the policyholder's death by contacting the policyholder's local Farm Bureau agent or calling the Life and Annuity Claims Center at 1-800-247-4170 (Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM CST; Saturday, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM CST)
2
Gather required documentation:
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Policy or contract number(s) for all Farm Bureau life insurance and annuity policies held by the deceased
- The original life insurance policy if available
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary or executor)
3
Farm Bureau will provide a claim form (Claimant's Statement / Request for Benefits) to each beneficiary
4
Complete the Claimant's Statement with:
- Claimant's full legal name, address, Social Security number, and contact information
- Relationship to the deceased
- Preferred settlement option (lump sum payment, installments, annuity payout, or other available options)
5
Submit the completed Claimant's Statement along with a certified copy of the death certificate to your Farm Bureau agent or mail to Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines, IA 50266-5997
6
Farm Bureau will review the claim and verify coverage, beneficiary designation, and cause of death
7
Upon approval, the death benefit is paid to the beneficiary according to the selected settlement option
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Completed and signed Claimant's Statement / Request for Benefits form (provided by Farm Bureau)
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant
- Policy or contract number(s) for the deceased's Farm Bureau life insurance or annuity policies
- The original life insurance policy if available
- For trust beneficiaries: trust documentation including the trust agreement or Certification of Trust and trustee identification
- For estate claims (no named beneficiary): Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court
Life insurance death benefits are generally income tax-free to beneficiaries under IRC Section 101(a). The beneficiary can typically choose from several settlement options including a lump sum, installment payments over a fixed period (5 to 50 years), or a guaranteed income stream for life. If there is no named beneficiary or the named beneficiary is deceased, the death benefit is paid to the policyholder's estate and may be subject to probate. Contact your local Farm Bureau agent for the fastest claims processing, as the agent can help gather required documentation and submit the claim directly. The Life and Annuity Claims Center can be reached at 1-800-247-4170 (Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM CST; Saturday, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM CST).
How long the process takes at Farm Bureau Financial: 30-60 days after all required documentation is received, though most states allow insurers 30 days to review a claim before paying, denying, or requesting additional information. Straightforward claims with named beneficiaries are typically processed faster. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
Farm Bureau Financial requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy of the death certificate, Completed and signed Claimant's Statement / Request for Benefits form (provided by Farm Bureau), and Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant, 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
Contact the policyholder's local Farm Bureau agent or call the Life and Annuity Claims Center at 1-800-247-4170 (Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM CST; Saturday, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM CST) to report the death. Farm Bureau will provide a Claimant's Statement (Request for Benefits) form. Complete and return the form along with a certified copy of the death certificate and the original policy if available. You can also visit the claims center online at fbfs.com/claims-center/life-insurance for more information.
Yes. Policy ownership can be transferred to a trust, most commonly an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT), by completing an Assignment of Policy form. Contact your Farm Bureau agent to request the form. Both the current owner and the new owner (trustee) must sign the assignment. Transferring an existing policy to an ILIT triggers a three-year lookback period under IRC Section 2035; if the insured dies within three years, the death benefit is included in the taxable estate.
Beneficiaries can choose from several settlement options: a lump sum payment (the default), installment payments over a fixed period between five and 50 years, or a guaranteed income stream for life through an annuity payout. The lump sum option provides the entire death benefit in one payment, while installments and annuity payouts distribute proceeds with accumulated interest over time.
Life insurance death benefits paid to a named beneficiary are generally received income tax-free under IRC Section 101(a). If the death benefit is paid in installments or as an annuity payout, any interest credited to the unpaid balance is taxable to the beneficiary in the year it is received. Death benefits paid into a deceased policyholder's estate may be subject to estate tax, which is one reason policyholders use an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) to remove the death benefit from the taxable estate.
Farm Bureau Financial's Life and Annuity Claims Center can be reached by phone at 1-800-247-4170 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple Farm Bureau Financial policies, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Life and Annuity Customer Service can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Customer Service
Mailing Address
Farm Bureau Financial Services, 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines, IA 50266-5997
Life & Annuity Policy Service
Main Office
WebsiteLearn more→
Life and Annuity Customer Service
Phone1-800-247-4170
Mailing Address
Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines, IA 50266-5997
WebsiteLearn more→
Life and Annuity Claims Center
Phone1-800-247-4170
Mailing Address
Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines, IA 50266-5997
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
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