What to do when a Mutual of America account holder dies
Report the death to Mutual of America's Life Claims at 1-877-302-9104
A death claim on a Mutual of America policy is filed through the Life Claims (1-877-302-9104). Because insurance proceeds pass directly to named beneficiaries, this process is separate from probate. The required documentation and timeline vary by policy type.
To start, call Mutual of America at 1-877-302-9104. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and the death certificate ready before you call.
Death claim process
The death claim process at Mutual of America works as follows:
Filing a claim
- P.O. Box 20011, New York, NY 10011 is the beneficiary-designation and name-change address (Forms 6475, 6463, 7314, 1305)
- P.O. Box 20208, New York, NY 10011 is the Withdrawal Processing Center address on Distribution Request Form 7126
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID, for each beneficiary or claimant
- Claim forms from the Life Claims representativeThe representative issues the forms for the specific account type and beneficiary situation.
- Trustee identification and trust documentation, if a trust is the beneficiaryThe trust documentation is what the representative asks for.
- Inherited-IRA election and distribution instructions, for IRA and annuity contracts
- The plan's Summary Plan Description, where the designation on file is void or missing and the order of succession in the plan's Summary Plan Description controlsThe employer supplies it without charge.
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms Mutual of America issues1
- Electronic Funds Transfer Agreement (Form 7314)
Available to download.1
What happens to each kind of account2
- Employer retirement plan
If the participant married after filing a designation, the retirement-plan designation is automatically voided and the Eligible Spouse is the beneficiary. A designation of alternative beneficiaries made with spousal consent before age 35 terminates at age 35 unless it is re-made.2
If no valid designation is on file, the account is paid in the order set out in the plan's Summary Plan Description, which the employer supplies without charge.2
If a trust is named but no trust exists, or the nominated trustee will not or cannot serve, the trust designation is void if payment to the trust cannot begin within one year of the date Mutual of America receives notice of death. The benefit is then paid as though the trust did not survive.3
- IRA
Mutual of America's Inherited IRA page states that the beneficiary or the estate executor sends the death certificate to start the inheritance process. The assets are then moved into a MoA Inherited IRA (contract Form INHER IRA-2010) in the beneficiary's own name.4
What Mutual of America's agreement and guidance say3
- Telling the institution
Mutual of America's FAQ: "To report the death of a loved one and submit a Life Insurance claim, the executor of their estate must call 877.302.9104 to speak to a Life Claims representative."2
- What it does when notified
No changes are made to the account until the Life Claims process is started.2
- How proceeds are paid
For individual contracts the death benefit is paid as a lump sum of the account value; under the Specified Payments Option, monthly payments of $100 or more that can be started, stopped or changed at any time while the account value stays invested; or as a guaranteed lifetime income annuity.2
Distribution Request Form 7126 lists the annuity forms: Non-Refund Life, Full Cash Refund, Modified Cash Refund Life, Period Certain and Continuous (36, 60, 100, 120 or 180 months), Joint and Survivor Life (50%, 66 2/3%, 75% or 100% survivorship), and Joint and Survivor with Period Certain and Continuous.5
Not in Mutual of America's published guidance2
- A claim form
- How long a claim takes
Mutual of America's Life Claims can be reached by phone at 1-877-302-9104 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Mutual of America primary sources (20 pages reviewed). How we research.
Mutual of America death claims support
Life Claims
Phone
Mailing address
Website
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