What to do when a Human Interest account holder dies
Contact Human Interest — 4-step process, 6 required documents, and varies by plan; contact human interest support for specific timeline
Customer Support
655 Montgomery Street, Suite 1800, San Francisco, CA 94111
Customer Support
655 Montgomery Street, Suite 1800, San Francisco, CA 94111
When an account holder at Human Interest passes away, the next step depends on how the retirement accounts were set up. Accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate. Accounts titled solely in the deceased's name require the estate's legal representative to work with Human Interest's Death Claims (1-855-622-7824) to access and distribute the funds.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting Human Interest. A certified death certificate is the primary document required to start any claim.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Human Interest:
Filing a claim
- Contact Human Interest at (855) 622-7824
- The employer/plan sponsor may also need to notify Human Interest through the employer dashboard
- Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
- Complete the beneficiary distribution claim form provided by Human Interest
- Provide identification and any additional documentation based on beneficiary type
- Death benefit distributions undergo 3(16) fiduciary review and approval per plan terms
- Distribution is processed according to the plan document and beneficiary designation on file
Required Documents
- Certified copy of death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for each beneficiary
- Completed beneficiary distribution claim form (provided by Human Interest)
- Trust documentation (if trust is the designated beneficiary)
- IRS Form W-9 for each beneficiary (or W-8BEN for non-US persons)
- Letters of administration or court appointment (if no beneficiary designated)
What to know at this institution
Death benefit distributions require 3(16) fiduciary review and approval per the Human Interest Terms of Service. The employer/plan sponsor may need to approve certain distribution requests. Specific claim procedures and forms are provided upon contacting support, as they are not publicly available on the website.
How long the process takes at Human Interest: Varies by plan; contact Human Interest support for specific timeline. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
Documentation required by Human Interest includes Certified copy of death certificate, Government-issued photo ID for each beneficiary, and Completed beneficiary distribution claim form (provided by Human Interest), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
The (k)ickstart program provides 3% cash back (minimum $100, maximum $250) on qualifying 401(k) or 403(b) contributions for eligible employees earning $60,000 or less in gross income over a 12-month qualifying period. Participants must defer at least 8% of pay for 12 consecutive months to qualify. Cash back is delivered as a Visa or Mastercard prepaid card. The claim form must be submitted within 6 months of completing the saving period. The program also includes a free 10-part (k)ickstart classroom educational series.
For most non-spouse beneficiaries who inherit a Human Interest 401(k), 403(b), or IRA after the participant's death in 2020 or later, the SECURE Act requires the entire account to be distributed within 10 years of the year of death. There is no requirement to take annual distributions during the 10-year window unless the participant had already begun required minimum distributions. Exceptions ("eligible designated beneficiaries") apply to surviving spouses, minor children of the participant, disabled or chronically ill beneficiaries, and beneficiaries not more than 10 years younger than the participant; these can stretch distributions over their life expectancy. Naming a trust as beneficiary preserves the 10-year rule for a see-through trust but can compress the timeline if the trust does not qualify.
The employer or plan sponsor should notify Human Interest by calling (855) 622-7824. The support team will provide claim forms and documentation requirements. A certified death certificate, completed beneficiary distribution claim form, government-issued photo ID for each beneficiary, and IRS Form W-9 (or W-8BEN for non-US persons) are typically required. Death benefit distributions undergo 3(16) fiduciary review and approval per the plan terms.
Human Interest's Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-855-622-7824 and email at support@humaninterest.com for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Human Interest retirement accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Death Claims can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Sources
Data sourced from Human Interest primary sources (16 pages reviewed). How we research.
Customer Support
655 Montgomery Street, Suite 1800, San Francisco, CA 94111
Customer Support
655 Montgomery Street, Suite 1800, San Francisco, CA 94111
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