What to do when a Kemper account holder dies
Report the death to Kemper Life Insurance Services at 1-800-777-1195
Filing a death claim on a Kemper policy begins with notifying Kemper Life Insurance Services at 1-800-777-1195. Life insurance claims are separate from probate—proceeds transfer directly to named beneficiaries regardless of whether the estate goes through court. The timeline and documentation requirements depend on the policy type and cause of death.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Kemper requires:
Filing a claim
- The numbers of all the policies on which the claim is being filed.
- The insured's Social Security number, dates of birth and death, street address, and any other names they were known by (maiden name, nicknames, initials, common names).
- Cause of death, which the form marks "required prior to processing", and manner of death (natural causes, accidental, homicide or suicide).
- Any other states where the insured may have lived.
- Proof of identification for the claimant, and the claimant's Social Security number, phone, date of birth, mailing address and email.
- Section 5, if any policy is less than two years old or the death was by accidental means: every doctor, hospital or medical provider that treated the insured during the past five years.
- Section 6, a medical authorization the claimant signs, releasing medical and other records about the insured to the claims department of the Kemper Life company.
- Form C-0001 states that failure to provide the authorization may impede Kemper Life's ability to evaluate the claim.
- The affiant swears the decedent left no will and that no petition to appoint a personal representative is pending or has been granted.
- The affiant lists the funeral and last-illness expenses paid, any unpaid debts, and every surviving relative with age and residence.
- The minor version adds that the heir-at-law is a minor and that no petition for guardianship or custodianship is pending or has been granted.
- The affidavit is sworn before a notary public.
- By fax to 314-819-4391.
- By email to lifm28@kemper.com.
- By mail to Kemper Life Insurance Services, 1350 Timberlake Manor Parkway, Suite 200, Chesterfield, MO 63017.
- An acknowledgment letter arrives by postal mail soon after the claim is submitted.
- The adjuster reviews the initial documentation and sends a letter saying what, if any, additional documentation is required.
- For most life claims, Kemper states, benefits are verified within 24 hours.
- Kemper updates the claimant in writing approximately every three weeks on the status of the claim.
- United Insurance Company of America
- The Reliable Life Insurance Company
- Union National Life Insurance Company
- Mutual Savings Life Insurance Company
Required Documents
- Completed Claimant Statement (Form C-0001)
- Death certificate
- Proof of identification for the claimant
- Signed medical authorization (Section 6 of Form C-0001)
- Doctor and hospital list for the past five years (Section 5 of Form C-0001), if any policy is less than two years old or the death was by accidental means
- Notarized Small Estate Affidavit (adult or minor version), if the insured left no will and no petition to appoint a personal representative is pending or has been granted
- Other documents, if the policy is less than 2 years old, includes accidental death benefits, or the insured had been divorcedThe adjuster sends a letter saying what, if any, additional documentation is required.
- Life Claim Benefit Verification Request (Form C-0042), for funeral homes and funding companiesThe funeral home's email address is required and cannot be left blank.
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms Kemper issues4
- Death Claim - Claimant's Statement (Form C-0001, Rev. 01/25)
Completed by the beneficiary or claimant. Available to download.1
- Small Estate Affidavit (adult)
Available to download. Must be notarized.2
- Small Estate Affidavit (minor, where the heir-at-law is a minor)
Available to download. Must be notarized.3
- Life Claim Benefit Verification Request (Form C-0042)
Completed by the funeral home or funding company. Available to download.4
What happens to each kind of account1
- Life insurance policy
Kemper's policy change form states that if no named beneficiary is living at the insured's death, the beneficiary is the insured's estate.5
Where a funeral home is the named beneficiary, its death benefit is limited to the extent of services provided, and the rest goes to the contingent beneficiary, or the insured's estate if none is listed.5
What Kemper's agreement and guidance say2
- How proceeds are paid
Once the Home Office has all necessary documentation, a determination is rendered. Proceeds are issued "to the beneficiary(-ies) of record, the Estate of the Insured/beneficiary according to the terms of the policy and/or funeral home or funding company as directed by the beneficiary/claimant".4
Where there is more than one beneficiary, Kemper's policy change form says benefits are paid in equal shares to the surviving beneficiaries unless otherwise specified.5
Form C-0042 notes that "an assignment will not be recognized until a completed assignment form is received by the Company".6
- Indemnity a claimant may have to give
The person signing the Small Estate Affidavit agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the paying company from any costs, attorney fees, actions, loss or damage it may suffer by paying under the policy.2
Not in Kemper's published guidance2
- How long a claim takes
- Whether the death certificate must be certified
Kemper Life Insurance Services can be reached by phone at 1-800-777-1195, email at lifm28@kemper.com, and fax at 1-314-819-4391 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Kemper primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
Kemper death claims support
Kemper Life Insurance Services
Phone
General Questions / Start a New Claim
Accident and Health existing claims
Funeral Home Benefit Verification Fax (Form C-0042)
Funeral Home Benefit Verification Fax (alternate)
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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