What to do when a National Benefit Life account holder dies
Report the death to National Benefit Life's Claims Department at 1-800-222-2062
When an insured person dies, the beneficiary or executor should contact National Benefit Life's Claims Department at 1-800-222-2062 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 National Benefit Life requires:
Filing a claim
- Over 2 years old: the generic edition; a New York edition is also listed
- Under 2 years old: the generic edition; California and New York editions are also listed
- If death occurred within two years of issue or Accidental Death Benefits are claimed, the physician completes the Physician's Statement and the next of kin signs the page 6 authorization
- If there is more than one claimant, each beneficiary completes a separate form
- List every name the deceased was known by (full, maiden, hyphenated, nickname, derivative forms, any alias), the date, place and cause of death, and the residence at death
- The claimant (the beneficiary) signs at the bottom, and "the signature must be notarized"
- The FAQ says: "Anyone can witness the death claim form except a beneficiary."
- If the beneficiary is a minor, incapacitated or unable to sign, the person empowered to act signs and attaches the papers that give that authority
Required Documents
- DCL-10 Claimant's Statement, notarized, one per beneficiaryUse the edition for a policy more than 2 years old, or the edition for a policy less than 2 years old.
- Physician's Statement and the authorization signed by the next of kin, if death occurred within two years of issue, or Accidental Death Benefits are claimedBoth are part of the edition for a policy less than 2 years old. The deceased's physician completes the Physician's Statement.
- Certified death certificateIt must display "the colored emblem or raised seal of the issuing authority". The FAQ says all original documents, including a certified copy of the death certificate, are required.
- Original policy contract
- Certified death certificate of any primary beneficiary who died before the insured
- Certified Letters Testamentary or Letter of Administration, when an executor or administrator is the claimantThe estate's tax identification number is also required.
- Trust Document and the trust's tax identification number, when a trustee is the claimant
- Power of Attorney, Certified Letter of Guardianship, or Conservatorship appointment, when the beneficiary is a minor, incapacitated or unable to signThe Letter of Guardianship is of the beneficiary's estate. The beneficiary's Social Security number is also required.
Forms National Benefit Life issues5
- DCL-10 Claimant's Statement, for policies more than 2 years old
Completed by each beneficiary. Available to download. Must be notarized.1, 2
- DCL-10 Claimant's Statement, for policies less than 2 years old
Completed by each beneficiary. Available to download. Must be notarized.3, 2
- DCL-10 Claimant's Statement, for policies less than 2 years old, New York edition
Completed by each beneficiary. Available to download. Must be notarized.4, 2
- Change of Ownership form
Completed by the executor or administrator, when the new owner is an estate. Available to download.5, 6
What happens to each kind of account1
- Life insurance policy
If the person who died owned the policy but was not the insured, no death claim arises. The new owner is the one specified in the policy contract.6
When the new owner is an estate, the executor or administrator signs the Change of Ownership form. A copy of the owner's death certificate is attached, with letters testamentary if applicable or, if there is no estate, the Affidavit of Small Estate - Owner (ISACH08).6
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- Primerica Claims Department
Primerica term policies issued in New York by National Benefit Life (policy numbers beginning 347)8
Phone: 1-888-893-9858
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM ET
What National Benefit Life's agreement and guidance say2
- How proceeds are paid
The proceeds can be paid as one check for the entire amount. Payments under $2,500 are issued as a check; for $2,500 or more, one of the settlement options described in the policy may be chosen, unless the policy specifies a different amount.1, 3
The claim instructions say the policy may include settlement options with fixed interest rates ranging from 2% to 3.5%.1, 3
- Payment to a minor or incapacitated beneficiary
If the beneficiary is a minor, incapacitated or unable to sign, the person empowered to act signs the claim form and attaches the Power of Attorney, Certified Letter of Guardianship or Conservatorship appointment. The beneficiary's Social Security number is required.1, 3
Not in National Benefit Life's published guidance2
- How long a claim takes
- Death certificate count for several beneficiaries
Sources8
- 1.DCL-10 Claimant's Statement, for policies more than 2 years old, DCL10 01/20
- 2.Policy Forms
- 3.DCL-10 Claimant's Statement, for policies less than 2 years old, DCL10 01/20
- 4.DCL-10 Claimant's Statement, for policies less than 2 years old, New York edition, DCL10 01/20
- 5.Change of Ownership and Revocation of Beneficiary
- 6.FAQs
- 7.Affidavit of Small Estate - Owner (ISACH08)
- 8.How to start a claim (Primerica)
Insurance Products
2 productsRequired Documents
- Life insurance claim form (form 63991), one per beneficiary
- Certified copy of the insured's death certificate, showing the cause and manner of deathOnly one is required per claim. It must display the colored emblem or raised seal of the issuing authority.
- Copy of each beneficiary's state or federal issued identificationA driver's license or state issued ID; or a Military ID, birth certificate or passport.
- Certified copy of the Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration or Trust Documents, when an estate or trust is the beneficiaryThe executor, administrator or trustee completes the claim form. The estate's or trust's tax identification number is required.
- Letters of Guardianship, Conservatorship Appointment and/or Power of Attorney, when the beneficiary is a minor, incapacitated or unable to signA certified copy. The person empowered to act signs. The minor child's or incapacitated beneficiary's Social Security number is required.
- Copy of the death certificate of any primary beneficiary who died before the insured
- Foreign Death Questionnaire, if the death occurred outside the United States
Claims Contact
Phone: 1-888-893-9858
Fax: 1-470-564-7662
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM ET
Mailing address: National Benefit Life Insurance Company, Attn: Claims Department, Administrative Office: 1 Primerica Parkway, Duluth, GA 30099-0001
What National Benefit Life's agreement and guidance say2
- How proceeds are paid
The benefit can be paid as a check in one lump sum or into a Primerica Estate Account, a draft account.1
Payments under $10,000 are issued as a check. At $10,000 or more the beneficiary may choose one check, a settlement option described in the policy, or a Primerica Estate Account.2
After the claim form is submitted, a portion of the benefit can be assigned to a funeral home, which sends its request by fax to (470) 564-7662.3
- Contestability of a recent policy
If the policy was issued or reinstated less than two years before the death, the claim is contestable and more information may be needed, such as a beneficiary interview, a medical authorization signed by the next of kin, a tobacco use affidavit, or medical, driving or other records.3
Sources3
Applies To
National Benefit Life's Claims Department can be reached by phone at 1-800-222-2062, email at LifeClaims@NationalBenefitLife.com, and fax at 1-718-361-3656 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from National Benefit Life primary sources (19 pages reviewed). How we research.
National Benefit Life death claims support
Claims Department
Phone
Toll-free
Assistance line printed on the DCL-10 claim instructions
Primerica Claims Department
Fax
Mailing address
Website
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