What to do when a MetLife account holder dies
Contact MetLife's Life Insurance Claims — 6-step process, 9 required documents, and review within 5 business days of receiving complete documentation. response within 10 business days if additional information is needed. total control account funds available upon approval for benefits of $50,000 or more. checks mailed via usps within 5 business days of approval.
Individual Life Insurance Customer Service
Phone1-800-638-5000
Toll-Free1-800-638-5000
Fax(908) 655-9586
Mailing Address
MetLife, PO Box 10356, Des Moines, IA 50306-0356
Other Individual Life Policies
Individual Annuity Contracts
Group Annuity Contracts
Group Life Claims (Mon-Thu 8am-8pm ET, Fri 8am-5pm ET)
Group Benefits General
General Inquiries (1-800-METLIFE)
Life Insurance Claims
Phone1-800-638-5000
Fax(908) 655-9586
Mailing Address
MetLife, PO Box 10356, Des Moines, IA 50306-0356. Claims mailing: MetLife Group Life Claims, P.O. Box 6100, Scranton, PA 18505-6100
Other Individual Life Policies
Individual Annuity Contracts
Group Annuity Contracts
Group Life Claims (Mon-Thu 8am-8pm ET, Fri 8am-5pm ET)
Group Benefits General
General Inquiries (1-800-METLIFE)
WebsiteLearn more→
Individual Life Insurance Claims
Phone1-800-638-5000
Fax(908) 655-9586
Mailing Address
MetLife Group Life Claims, P.O. Box 6100, Scranton, PA 18505-6100
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
When an insured person dies, the beneficiary or executor should contact MetLife's Life Insurance Claims at 1-800-638-5000 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 claims at MetLife can be started through an online portal, which streamlines the initial notification and document upload. Phone and mail options are also available.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what MetLife requires:
Filing a claim
1
Gather preliminary information:
- Locate the MetLife policy documents and note the policy number; if unknown, use MetLife's Policy Finder tool at metlife.com/policyfinder/
- Obtain certified copies of the death certificate from the local vital records office (certified copy required for policies over $100,000; copy acceptable for policies $100,000 and under)
2
Obtain the appropriate claim kit:
- Call MetLife at 1-800-638-5000 (Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm ET) to report the death and request the claim kit
- Or download the claim kit online at metlife.quadientcloud.com/app/eforms/
- Individual Beneficiary Claim Kit for named individuals
- Trust/Entity Claim Kit for estates, trusts, or companies
3
Complete the claim form with required details:
- Policy number, deceased information, and beneficiary details
- For individual claims: full name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship to deceased
- For trust/entity claims: entity name, your role (executor, trustee), entity establishment date, tax identification number, and documentation proving authorized representation
4
Submit the completed claim form:
- By mail to the address provided in the claim kit
- By email to INDlifeclaims@metlife.com
- By fax to 1-908-655-9586
- Or online through MetLife's portal
- For policies over $100,000 without a death certificate already on file, include a certified death certificate
5
Claim review and payout:
- MetLife reviews the claim within 5 business days of receiving all documentation
- If additional information is needed, MetLife responds within 10 business days
- Upon approval, select payout method: Total Control Account (interest-bearing, no-fee account with Visa debit card for benefits of $50,000 or more) or check via USPS within 5 business days
6
Each beneficiary submits their own claim kit and receives separate payment; only one death certificate is needed among all beneficiaries
Required Documents
- Completed claim form from the appropriate claim kit (individual or trust/entity)
- Certified death certificate (copy acceptable for policies $100,000 and under)
- Government-issued ID for the beneficiary
- Policy number (use MetLife Policy Finder at metlife.com/policyfinder/ if unknown)
- Trust documents, trustee ID, and tax identification number (if trust is the beneficiary; use Trust/Entity Claim Kit)
- Court-issued appointment papers (for estate representative claims)
- Power of Attorney documentation (if applicable)
- Funeral home authorization document (if applicable)
- Accident documentation (for accidental death benefit claims)
Claims can be submitted online, by email, fax, or mail. The claim kit is available for download at metlife.quadientcloud.com/app/eforms/. For group life insurance claims, call 1-800-638-6420 (Prompt 2). For annuity death claims, call 1-800-638-7732 (Monday-Friday 8:30am-6:30pm ET), email requests@metlife.com, or fax 1-877-547-9669. Group annuity claims: call 1-800-560-5001. Death certificate requirements for annuity claims vary by contract value: not required for $15,000 or less, photocopy acceptable for $15,000.01-$300,000, and original certified copy required for over $300,000. Beneficiaries can request claim status updates via email or text. The MetLife Policy Finder tool at metlife.com/policyfinder/ can help locate policies if the policy number is unknown.
Processing timelines at MetLife: Review within 5 business days of receiving complete documentation. Response within 10 business days if additional information is needed. Total Control Account funds available upon approval for benefits of $50,000 or more. Checks mailed via USPS within 5 business days of approval. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Documentation required by MetLife includes Completed claim form from the appropriate claim kit (individual or trust/entity), Certified death certificate (copy acceptable for policies $100,000 and under), and Government-issued ID for the beneficiary, along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. MetLife allows ownership transfer of individual life insurance policies to an ILIT using the Life Insurance Absolute Assignment form (Form 29499). The current owner completes and signs Sections I, II, and III, and the new owner (trustee of the ILIT) reviews and signs Section IV. MetLife must receive the completed form within 60 days of the owner signing it. Important: changing ownership revokes existing beneficiary designations, so the new owner must file a new beneficiary designation. A three-year lookback rule under IRC 2035 applies -- if the grantor dies within three years of the transfer, the death benefit is included in the taxable estate. MetLife does not establish ILITs; consult an estate attorney.
Call MetLife at 1-800-638-5000 (Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm ET) to report the death and request the appropriate claim kit, or download the claim kit online at metlife.quadientcloud.com/app/eforms/. MetLife provides two types: an Individual Beneficiary Claim Kit for named individuals, or a Trust/Entity Claim Kit for estates, trusts, or companies. Complete the claim form and submit it with a death certificate (certified copy required for policies over $100,000). Submit by mail, email to INDlifeclaims@metlife.com, fax to 1-908-655-9586, or online. If you do not know the policy number, use MetLife's Policy Finder tool at metlife.com/policyfinder/.
MetLife's Individual Life Insurance Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-638-5000, email at INDlifeclaims@metlife.com, and fax at (908) 655-9586 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple MetLife policies, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Life Insurance Claims can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Individual Life Insurance Customer Service
Phone1-800-638-5000
Toll-Free1-800-638-5000
Fax(908) 655-9586
Mailing Address
MetLife, PO Box 10356, Des Moines, IA 50306-0356
Other Individual Life Policies
Individual Annuity Contracts
Group Annuity Contracts
Group Life Claims (Mon-Thu 8am-8pm ET, Fri 8am-5pm ET)
Group Benefits General
General Inquiries (1-800-METLIFE)
Life Insurance Claims
Phone1-800-638-5000
Fax(908) 655-9586
Mailing Address
MetLife, PO Box 10356, Des Moines, IA 50306-0356. Claims mailing: MetLife Group Life Claims, P.O. Box 6100, Scranton, PA 18505-6100
Other Individual Life Policies
Individual Annuity Contracts
Group Annuity Contracts
Group Life Claims (Mon-Thu 8am-8pm ET, Fri 8am-5pm ET)
Group Benefits General
General Inquiries (1-800-METLIFE)
WebsiteLearn more→
Individual Life Insurance Claims
Phone1-800-638-5000
Fax(908) 655-9586
Mailing Address
MetLife Group Life Claims, P.O. Box 6100, Scranton, PA 18505-6100
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
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