What to do when a Jackson account holder dies
Contact Jackson's Claims Department — 7-step process, 5 required documents, and online claim initiation takes 5-10 minutes; full settlement timeline varies based on documentation completeness
Service Center
Phone1-800-644-4565
General Information
Automated Values, Contract Information, and Account Security
Service Center for Financial Professionals
Jackson National Life of New York
Claims Department
Phone1-800-644-4565
Fax1-800-701-0125
Mailing Address
Jackson, P.O. Box 24068, Lansing, MI 48909-4068
WebsiteLearn more→
Claims Department
Phone1-800-644-4565
Fax1-800-701-0125
Mailing Address
Jackson, P.O. Box 24068, Lansing, MI 48909-4068
General Information
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
A death claim on a Jackson policy is filed through the Claims Department (1-800-644-4565). Because insurance proceeds pass directly to named beneficiaries, this process is separate from probate. The required documentation and timeline vary by policy type.
Jackson provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone or by mailing the required documents.
Death claim process
The death claim process at Jackson works as follows:
Filing a claim
1
Initiate the claim:
- Start claim online at jackson.com/transactional-forms/claims/claims-initial-notice.html
- Or contact Jackson at 1-800-644-4565 or 1-517-381-5500
2
Provide deceased information:
- Provide deceased name, SSN, date of birth, date of death, and contract number (if known)
- Indicate manner of passing and claimant relationship to deceased
3
Jackson reviews and checks for all contracts/policies associated with the deceased
4
Jackson mails a claim form packet to the designated contact
5
Complete and return the claim packet:
- Beneficiary completes and returns the claim form packet with required documentation
- Submit certified death certificate and government-issued ID for beneficiary
6
Jackson reviews claim and processes settlement
7
Base death benefit: greater of contract value or total premiums minus withdrawals
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued ID for beneficiary
- Completed claim forms (provided by Jackson)
- Trust documents (if trust is beneficiary)
- Certification of Trust (if trust is beneficiary)
Owner-driven annuities: passing of owner triggers death claim to beneficiaries. Jackson checks for all contracts/policies associated with the deceased to ensure all are included in the claim. Claims paperwork automatically routes to entity custodians or policy owners when applicable. Foreign addresses require special handling and cannot be processed online.
Expected timelines at Jackson: Online claim initiation takes 5-10 minutes; full settlement timeline varies based on documentation completeness. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Jackson requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate, Government-issued ID for beneficiary, and Completed claim forms (provided by Jackson), 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
Jackson annuities use an owner-driven structure, meaning the death of the owner — not the annuitant — triggers the death claim and distribution to beneficiaries. If a non-spouse is named as annuitant and the owner dies first, beneficiaries receive the death benefit (at least the greater of contract value or premiums minus withdrawals). This differs from annuitant-driven structures used by some other insurers. Estate planners naming a trust or minor as owner should be aware that the trust or guardian's death could trigger an unintended claim event.
Pass-in-kind titling allows trustees to extend tax deferral across generations without triggering a taxable event at the time of the original owner's death. Upon the original trust owner's death, the trustee can retitle the annuity from the trust as owner to the individual beneficiaries (e.g., the children) as new contract owners — without triggering gain recognition — if the trust document permits this. Each beneficiary then owns a separate annuity, can add a spouse as joint owner, and designate their own beneficiaries, continuing the chain of deferral. For this strategy, Jackson recommends opening a separate annuity contract for each intended beneficiary at the outset. See Jackson's 'Benefits of Trust-Owned Annuities for Trustees' guide (form cmv26316).
Jackson's nonqualified stretch option allows a non-spouse individual beneficiary of a nonqualified annuity to receive distributions over a period not exceeding their life expectancy, rather than taking a lump sum. If that beneficiary dies with stretch payments remaining, their successor beneficiary can continue payments for the remainder of the original benefit period. This option is available only to individual (natural person) beneficiaries. When a trust is named as beneficiary, the stretch option is generally not available unless the trust qualifies as a pass-through for natural person beneficiaries under applicable IRS guidance. Naming individuals as beneficiaries — or using a specially drafted see-through trust — preserves access to the stretch.
Jackson's Claims Department can be reached by phone at 1-800-644-4565 and fax at 1-800-701-0125 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple Jackson policies may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Claims Department to confirm what applies.
Service Center
Phone1-800-644-4565
General Information
Automated Values, Contract Information, and Account Security
Service Center for Financial Professionals
Jackson National Life of New York
Claims Department
Phone1-800-644-4565
Fax1-800-701-0125
Mailing Address
Jackson, P.O. Box 24068, Lansing, MI 48909-4068
WebsiteLearn more→
Claims Department
Phone1-800-644-4565
Fax1-800-701-0125
Mailing Address
Jackson, P.O. Box 24068, Lansing, MI 48909-4068
General Information
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
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