What to do when a MetLife account holder dies
Report the death to MetLife's U.S. Life Insurance Claims at 1-800-638-5000
When an insured person dies, the beneficiary or executor should contact MetLife's U.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 claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what MetLife requires:
Filing a claim
- Brighthouse Financial spun off from MetLife on August 4, 2017. MetLife says requests for Brighthouse information go to Brighthouse, because MetLife no longer has access to it.
- Brighthouse routes calls by the product type and policy number on the most recent statement. It sends Promise Whole Life policies ending in UT to MetLife at 1-800-638-5000.
- Coverage through an employer is group life: the employer completes an employer statement for the claim. Call 1-800-638-6420, then press 2.
- If the policy number is unknown, use the MetLife policy finder.
- Individual beneficiary claim kit: the beneficiary is a named person.
- Trust/entity claim kit: you are claiming for an estate, a trust or a company.
- The form asks for your and the insured's full name, address, date of birth and Social Security number, your relationship to the insured, and the policy numbers.
- The trust/entity form also asks for the entity's name and tax identification number, the date of a trust, and the trustee, executor or officer.
- Each beneficiary completes a separate claim form and is paid separately. MetLife does not require all beneficiaries to claim before it pays one, and the forms can be sent together or separately.
- Only one death certificate is needed for the claim; one beneficiary can send it.
- Life and variable life claims: MetLife, PO Box 14239, Lexington, KY 40512. Overnight or certified mail: MetLife IB, 2025 Leestown Rd, Suite J, Lexington, KY 40511.
- Below $100,000, the individual form may also be emailed to INDlifeclaims@metlife.com or faxed to 1-908-655-9586, and the trust/entity form faxed to 1-908-655-9586.
- Group life: MetLife Group Life Claims, P.O. Box 6100, Scranton, PA 18505-6100, Lifeclaimsubmit@metlife.com, or fax 1-570-558-8645, sending both sides of the signed form.
- The claim form (ANN-DC-TCA) is on the annuity forms page. Return the entire form, including any blank pages.
- Mail it to MetLife, P.O. Box 10342, Des Moines, IA 50306-0342 (express mail: 4700 Westown Parkway, Suite 200, West Des Moines, IA 50266), email requests@metlife.com, or fax 877-547-9669.
- Annuities: 800-882-1292
- Group annuities: 833-208-3018
- Life policies ending US or FM: 833-208-3017
- Met/Tower and GenAm policies: 877-638-0411
- A copy of the death certificate; a certified copy (raised or colored seal) if the claim is for more than $100,000
- For an estate: a copy of the appointment papers issued by the court
- For a trust: a statement that the trust is still in effect and the trustee may act, and the page naming any successor trustee
- For an accidental death benefit claim: police reports and other proof of the accident
- A copy of any funeral-home assignment authorizing payment to the funeral home
- Under a power of attorney: the appointment papers naming the attorney-in-fact for the beneficiary
Required Documents
- Completed life insurance claim form, one per beneficiary; the trust/entity form when a trust, estate or other organization is the beneficiaryEach beneficiary submitting a claim must complete and submit a separate claim form.
- Death certificate, for a life insurance claimA copy; a certified copy, with a raised or colored seal, if the claim is for more than $100,000. Only one is needed for the claim.
- Policy numbersIf a policy number is unknown, search for it with the MetLife policy finder.
- Court-issued appointment papers naming you as the estate representative, when claiming for an estateMetLife states the will of the insured is not enough and cannot be sent in place of the court papers.
- Trustee statement that the trust is still in effect, when a trustee claims for a trustThe statement says you are authorized to act under the trust. A successor trustee adds a copy of the page naming them.
- Power of attorney appointment papers, when an attorney-in-fact claims for the beneficiary
- Police reports and other proof of the accident, for an accidental death benefit claim
- Copy of any funeral-home assignment, if you signed one authorizing MetLife to pay the funeral home directly
- Employer/benefit administrator statement and enclosures, for group life through an employerThe employer sends the enrollment form with the last two years of coverage, the beneficiary designation, any assignment papers, and the death certificate of any beneficiary who has died.
- Survivor Income Benefit claim form and plan administrator's statement, for group life, if the deceased qualified for Survivor Income Benefits
- Death certificate, for an annuity claimA copy or an original certified copy, one per decedent. An original certified copy is mailed if the death benefit across all contracts is over $300,000, or if the death occurred outside the United States.
- Court-certified executor's appointment or letters testamentary, when an estate is the annuity beneficiaryThe estate needs its own tax ID number; the decedent's Social Security number cannot be used. Sign with your title.
- Power of attorney document and MetLife certification of attorney-in-fact form, when an annuity claim form is signed under a power of attorney
- Proof of identity, on an annuity claim when total death benefits for the deceased are over $300,000A photocopy of a valid government-issued photo ID, a Medallion Signature Guarantee, or a notarized signature.
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms MetLife issues4
- Individual beneficiary claim kit
Completed by each beneficiary who is a named person. Available to download.1
- Trust/entity claim kit
Completed by the representative of an estate, trust or company that is the beneficiary. Available to download.1
- Annuity beneficiary claim (ANN-DC-TCA)
Completed by each annuity beneficiary. Available to download.2
- Group life insurance claim package
Completed by the employer or benefit administrator, and each claimant. Available to download.3
What happens to each kind of account1
- Annuity
A surviving spouse who is the sole primary beneficiary may continue the contract as its new owner; the form says this is "Not available for 403(b) contracts." For a civil union or domestic partner, spousal continuation is available only on a non-qualified annuity.2
State requirements MetLife statesIllinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania
- Illinois
For Illinois residents and policies issued in Illinois, MetLife's claim form says: "By law, we're required to process and pay your life claim within 31 days of the receipt of the insured's death certificate."4
- Michigan
On an annuity claim, a beneficiary who lives in Michigan sends the Michigan withholding form MI W-4P.2
- Indiana
On an annuity claim, a State Notice and Consent form may be required in Indiana for deaths before 1/1/2013.2
- Ohio
On an annuity claim, a State Notice and Consent form may be required in Ohio for deaths before 1/1/2013.2
- Pennsylvania
On an annuity claim, a spouse of a Pennsylvania resident checks a box on the claim form if a divorce was pending at the time of death.2
Accounts handled elsewhere11
- Brighthouse Financial
Annuities; life policies ending BI, BLT, BLV, BLW, BNW, NI, USU, USV, UT, FMU, MT or MLU; former Travelers policies5
Phone: 1-800-882-1292
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-6:30 PM ET
- Brighthouse Financial
Life policies ending US or FM; former New England Financial policies beginning 55, 27, 28, 38, 2U, 0Y or 0Z5
Phone: 1-833-208-3017
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-6:30 PM ET
- Brighthouse Financial
Met/Tower and GenAm policies5
Phone: 1-877-638-0411
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-6:30 PM ET
- Brighthouse Financial
Group annuity products5
Phone: 1-833-208-3018
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-6:30 PM ET
- Brighthouse Financial
Former New England Financial policies beginning 1Y5
Phone: 1-800-458-2654
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-6:30 PM ET
- Brighthouse Financial
Former New England Financial policies beginning 3Y5
Phone: 1-800-388-4000
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-6:30 PM ET
- Brighthouse Financial
Former New England Financial policies beginning 3U, 4U, 5U or 1Z5
Phone: 1-800-943-4377
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-6:30 PM ET
- Brighthouse Financial
Former General American policies beginning 72 or 735
Phone: 1-800-638-9294
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-6:30 PM ET
- MetLife Group Life Claims
Group life coverage through an employer3
Phone: 1-800-638-6420 (press 2)
Email: Lifeclaimsubmit@metlife.com
Fax: 1-570-558-8645
Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-8:00 PM ET; Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM ET
Mailing address: MetLife Group Life Claims, P.O. Box 6100, Scranton, PA 18505-6100
- MetLife annuity claims
Individual annuities6
Phone: 1-800-638-7732
Email: requests@metlife.com
Fax: 1-877-547-9669
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-6:30 PM ET
- Farmers Insurance Group
MetLife Auto & Home policies7
Help MetLife offers survivors3
- Beneficiary Assistance
MetLife's Beneficiary Assistance page offers a downloadable Beneficiary Checklist, a form for notifying a credit bureau of the death, and a template for reporting the death to other financial institutions.8
- Services through employer coverage with MetLife
If the survivor's or the deceased's employer has coverage with MetLife, services such as grief counseling and funeral assistance and discounts may be available. An executor is told to ask either employer about estate resolution services.8
Who qualifies: Where the survivor's or the deceased's employer has coverage with MetLife.
- Empathy
The individual claim kit offers a complimentary Empathy bereavement benefit with a dedicated care manager, a personalized care plan, grief support, probate and estate guidance, and custom funeral assistance. Empathy is not a MetLife affiliate.4
Who qualifies: Up to five family members who are US residents, of a beneficiary paid on a policy issued by Metropolitan Life or Met Tower Life.
What MetLife's agreement and guidance say1
- How proceeds are paid
On approval a life claim is paid into an interest-bearing, no-fee MetLife Total Control Account or by check, mailed within 5 business days of MetLife receiving the claim requirements.9
On the individual claim form, MetLife pays by check if the payment is under $50,000, the beneficiary is not a U.S. citizen or resident for tax purposes, or the policy offers no Total Control Account. With no choice made, a check is sent; after a check, no Total Control Account.4
A Total Control Account is a draft account, not a bank account. Its assets are held in MetLife's general account and are subject to MetLife's creditors, and The Bank of New York Mellon handles draft clearing and recordkeeping.4
On the trust/entity claim form, a claimant who chooses no payment option receives a Total Control Account unless state law, rule or regulation requires a check. A payment under $50,000 is made by check.10
On group life the Total Control Account is MetLife's standard payment method. A beneficiary who wants a check writes "check" beneath their signature on the claim form.3
An annuity lump sum is paid by check, by electronic transfer to a bank account with a voided check attached, or into a Total Control Account, which is available only if the amount payable is $50,000 or more. With no payee option selected, a check is mailed.2
Estates, guardians, conservators, trusts, powers of attorney and minors generally cannot get the Total Control Account debit card.11
Sources11
- 1.Life Insurance Claims Process and Requirements
- 2.Annuities: Annuity beneficiary claim, ANN-DC-TCA (12/25)
- 3.U.S. Life Insurance Claims: Employer/benefit administrator instructions for life insurance claims, GR-ER-CLAIM-INS-TCA (10/18); CS-GL-FORM-A (09/20); GR-TCA-A-NEW (09/20)
- 4.U.S. Life Insurance Claims: Life insurance claim form (individual beneficiary claim kit), ECLM-96-15 (08/26); IND-CLAIM-GUIDE (03/25); RLA-TCA (04/25)
- 5.Contact Us | Brighthouse Financial
- 6.Annuity Claims Process and Requirements
- 7.NEWS: MetLife Auto & Home is now part of the Farmers Insurance Group
- 8.Beneficiary Assistance
- 9.Frequently Asked Questions (life insurance claims)
- 10.U.S. Life Insurance Claims: Life insurance claim form (trust/entity claim kit), ETRCLM-97-15 (03/25)
- 11.What Is a MetLife Total Control Account?
Review within 5 business days of receiving the claim, and a response within 10 business days if MetLife needs more information.
MetLife's U.S. Life Insurance Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-638-5000, email at INDlifeclaims@metlife.com, and fax at 1-908-655-9586 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from MetLife primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
MetLife death claims support
U.S. Life Insurance Claims
Phone
Brighthouse (annuities, life policies ending BI, BLT, BLV, BLW, BNW, NI, USU, USV, UT, FMU, MT or MLU, and former Travelers policies)
Brighthouse (policies ending US or FM, and former NEF policies beginning 55, 27, 28, 38, 2U, 0Y or 0Z)
Brighthouse (Met/Tower and GenAm policies)
Brighthouse (former General American policies beginning 72 or 73)
Brighthouse (group annuity products)
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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