What to do when a Modern Woodmen account holder dies
Report the death to Modern Woodmen's Claim Department at 1-800-447-9811
Filing a death claim on a Modern Woodmen policy begins with notifying the Claim Department at 1-309-558-3088. 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
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Modern Woodmen:
Filing a claim
- Or contact the deceased member's Modern Woodmen financial representative
- One person can elect on the online form to distribute and manage the claim forms for all the other beneficiaries
- A certified death certificate with a colored or raised seal; a photocopy is not accepted
- The completed claimant statement and any additional items in the requirements letter
- To move faster, fax to 309-793-5514 or email claim.department@modern-woodmen.org
- Or upload through the "Submit document(s)" form at modernwoodmen.org/contact-us
- The certified death certificate must still be mailed to the Claim Department in every case
- Direct deposit requires the Request for Direct Deposit of Single Payment form, included in the claim packet
- To route part of the benefit to a funeral home, file the Assignment of Life Insurance Proceeds form, Form 335 (Rev. 11-18), naming the dollar amount
- The assignment is signed by the beneficiary or beneficiaries and must be sworn before a notary
- Whether the assignment is permitted depends on the state; confirm with the Service Center at 309-558-3077 or Service.Center@modern-woodmen.org
- Your first name, last name and email address are required; your phone number is optional
- The deceased person's first name, last name and date of birth are required; the date of death, certificate number and cause of death are optional
- Whether you are a beneficiary on the certificate (yes, no or unsure), whether you know who the beneficiary is, and whether there are other beneficiaries
- A required free-text field listing any beneficiary information you have: name, phone number, email address
- An optional election naming one person who will distribute and manage the claim forms for the other beneficiaries, with that person's name and mailing address
Required Documents
- Certified death certificateA certified (original) copy with a colored or raised seal; photocopies are not accepted. It must be mailed even if the rest of the package is faxed, emailed or uploaded.
- Completed claimant statementModern Woodmen mails it to the named beneficiary after the death is reported.
- Anything listed in the requirements letterModern Woodmen sends the requirements letter with the claim packet.
- The deceased member's name, date of birth and certificate number, the certificate number if knownThe paper certificate itself does not have to be returned, and the online notification form treats the certificate number as optional.
- Request for Direct Deposit of Single Payment form, if the beneficiary wants payment by direct deposit rather than check
- Assignment of Life Insurance Proceeds (Form 335, Rev. 11-18), notarized, if part of the benefit is to be paid straight to a funeral home, where the state permits the assignmentModern Woodmen also accepts the funeral home's own version of the form as long as it is notarized.
- Trust documents identifying the trustee, if a trust is the named beneficiaryThe trust must claim within 120 days of the date of death, or the final beneficiary named on Form 948 takes instead.
- Letters testamentary or letters of administration, if the executor, rather than an individual beneficiary, needs the full benefit figureModern Woodmen releases the entire benefit amount only to the executor of the estate.
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms Modern Woodmen issues3
- Claimant Statement
Completed by the named beneficiary. Sent by the institution on request.1
- Request for Direct Deposit of Single Payment
Completed by the beneficiary. Sent by the institution on request.1
- Assignment of Life Insurance Proceeds (Form 335, Rev. 11-18)
Completed by the beneficiary or beneficiaries. Available to download. Must be notarized.2
What happens to each kind of account1
- Life insurance policy
If a certificate loan is outstanding at death and the certificate is still in force, the beneficiary receives the death benefit minus the loan balance.1
State requirements Modern Woodmen statesCalifornia
- California
For a funeral-home assignment in California, a copy of the funeral bill is also required.1
Accounts handled elsewhere3
- Former Equitable Reserve Association certificate line
Former Equitable Reserve Association life insurance and annuity certificates1
Phone: 1-800-722-1574
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM CT
- MWA Financial Services Inc.
Mutual fund, brokerage and IRA accounts, which clear through Pershing, LLC1
Phone: 1-309-558-3100
- MWA Financial Services Inc. trades line
Trades in MWA Financial Services brokerage, mutual fund and IRA accounts1
Phone: 1-866-790-7092
What Modern Woodmen provides to the estate1
- Tax forms
Modern Woodmen mails Forms 1099-R and 1099-INT on or before January 31, and Form 5498 on or before May 31.1
Help Modern Woodmen offers survivors3
- Orphan Support Benefit
Pays a monthly allowance and an education grant to the guardian of a qualifying child. Modern Woodmen states the program is not part of the certificate contract and is subject to change.1
Who qualifies: A qualifying child who loses both parents, under the program's own eligibility requirements.
- Newborn Life Insurance Benefit
Offers support for a newborn's funeral or medical costs. Modern Woodmen states the program is not part of the certificate contract and is subject to change.1
Who qualifies: Under the program's own eligibility requirements.
- Terminal Illness Interest Relief
Covers up to $5,000 of the first year's lien interest on an accelerated death benefit advance. Modern Woodmen states the program is not part of the certificate contract and is subject to change.1
Who qualifies: Under the program's own eligibility requirements.
What Modern Woodmen's agreement and guidance say5
- Who can get account information
Modern Woodmen states it "cannot release information that may exist in our records about a deceased relative’s membership."1
Once a claim is on file, each beneficiary is told only about their own share. Modern Woodmen releases the entire benefit amount to the executor of the deceased person's estate.1
- How proceeds are paid
Modern Woodmen pays the claim by a single check, by direct deposit, or under another settlement option discussed with a representative.1
Interest is paid from the insured's date of death until the date the claim is paid.1
- What it says about taxes
Modern Woodmen states that the death proceeds themselves are not taxable but the interest paid on them is, and it reports that interest on Form 1099-INT once it exceeds $10.1
- Payment to a minor or incapacitated beneficiary
Proceeds payable to a minor are held by Modern Woodmen until the minor reaches legal age, unless a court-appointed guardian of the minor's estate requests payment sooner.1
- Accounts from a merged institution
Former Equitable Reserve Association certificates have their own phone line. They are not viewable in the member portal, so the phone is the only way to get certificate details.1
Sources2
Most claims process within 5-7 business days after all required documents are received, with payment shortly after. Some claims take longer.
Modern Woodmen's Claim Department can be reached by phone at 1-800-447-9811, email at claim.department@modern-woodmen.org, and fax at 1-309-793-5514 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Modern Woodmen primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Modern Woodmen death claims support
Claim Department
Phone
Toll-free
General Service Center
Former Equitable Reserve Association (ERA) Certificates
MWA Financial Services (brokerage, mutual fund, IRA)
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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