What to do when a Pekin Life account holder dies
Contact Pekin Life — 11-step process, 6 required documents, and pekin life typically provides claim forms within 1 business day of the request. once all required documentation is received, claims are generally processed within 30 to 60 days. delays may occur if documentation is incomplete or if the claim requires additional investigation.
Pekin Life
Subsidiary of Pekin Insurance (Farmers Automobile Insurance Association)
pekininsurance.com →
Phone1-800-322-0160
Mailing Address
Pekin Life Insurance Company, 2505 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61558-0001
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-800-322-0160
Mailing Address
Pekin Life Insurance Company, 2505 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61558-0001
WebsiteLearn more →
Life and Annuity Claims
Phone1-800-371-9622
Fax309-346-8265
Mailing Address
Pekin Life Insurance Company, Claims Department, 2505 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61558-0001
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Feb 2026
Filing a death claim on a Pekin Life policy begins with notifying the Life and Annuity Claims at 1-800-371-9622. 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.
Pekin Life provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone or by mailing the required documents.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Pekin Life:
Filing a claim
1Locate the Pekin Life policy documents and note the policy number
2Obtain multiple certified copies of the death certificate from the local vital records office
3Call Pekin Life claims at 800-371-9622 ext. 2023 to report the death and request claim forms
4Or start a claim online at pekininsurance.com/client-service/claim-center/file-a-claim/life-annuity-claims
5Pekin Life typically provides claim forms within 1 business day of the request
6Complete the Claimant Statement form with policy and deceased information
7Submit the certified death certificate with the claim form
8Include beneficiary identification (government-issued photo ID)
9If a trust is the beneficiary, include trust documents and trustee identification
10Mail completed forms to: Pekin Life Insurance Company, Claims Department, 2505 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61558-0001
11Or fax completed forms to 309-346-8265
Required Documents
- Completed Claimant Statement form
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary
- Policy number and deceased's information
- Trust documents and trustee ID (if a trust is the beneficiary)
- Letters of administration or testamentary (if the estate is the beneficiary)
You can initiate a claim online through the Pekin Insurance website or by calling the claims department. Claim forms are typically mailed within 1 business day. Your independent Pekin agent can also assist with the claims process and will receive a courtesy notification from Pekin Life when a claim is filed. For annuity death claims, the same claims department handles the process. Contact 800-371-9622 ext. 2023 for both life and annuity claims.
Processing timelines at Pekin Life: Pekin Life typically provides claim forms within 1 business day of the request. Once all required documentation is received, claims are generally processed within 30 to 60 days. Delays may occur if documentation is incomplete or if the claim requires additional investigation.. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Pekin Life requires several documents to process a claim, including Completed Claimant Statement form, Certified death certificate, and Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary, and additional documentation depending on the account type. Certified copies are typically needed—photocopies are generally not accepted for death certificates or court documents.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. An ILIT can own a Pekin Life insurance policy, removing the death benefit from the grantor's taxable estate. A new policy can be purchased by the ILIT, or an existing policy can be transferred to the ILIT via an assignment form, subject to a three-year lookback rule under IRC Section 2035. Once transferred, the grantor permanently relinquishes control. Pekin Life does not establish ILITs; work with an estate attorney to create one. Contact 800-322-0160 ext. 2718 for assignment forms.
Call the Pekin Life claims department at 800-371-9622 ext. 2023 (Monday-Friday, 7:45am-4:15pm CST) to report the death and request claim forms. You can also start a claim online at pekininsurance.com. Claim forms are typically provided within 1 business day. You will need the policy number, a certified death certificate, the completed Claimant Statement form, and beneficiary identification. Mail completed forms to Pekin Life Insurance Company, Claims Department, 2505 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61558-0001, or fax to 309-346-8265. Your independent Pekin agent will receive a courtesy notification and can assist with the process.
Yes. Beneficiary designations on Pekin Life insurance policies and annuities take precedence over instructions in a will. The named beneficiary on the policy receives the death benefit regardless of what the will states. Review and update beneficiary designations regularly, especially after major life events such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child.
Pekin Life offers seven individual life insurance products: Universal Life, Preferred Whole Life, Simplified Issue Whole Life (no exam), Single Premium Whole Life, Graded Death Benefit Whole Life (no exam), Transitional Life (term-to-permanent blend), and Term Life to 95. Additionally, Pekin Life offers Pathway Pre-Need Insurance for funeral preplanning. All permanent and term life policies include coverage enhancements at no additional charge, including an accelerated death benefit, identity fraud protection, and a long-term care rider on permanent policies. Not all products are available in all states.
Pekin Life includes several coverage enhancements at no additional charge with all life insurance policies: an accelerated death benefit (up to $250,000 or 50% of face value for terminal illness), identity fraud protection with access to a fraud specialist, accidental death benefit (before age 70), guaranteed insurability benefit (on permanent policies), waiver of premium benefit (during total disability before age 60), and children's term insurance rider. A long-term care rider is available on permanent policies, and a disability income rider is available on Universal Life.
Pekin Life's Life and Annuity Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-371-9622 and fax at 309-346-8265 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Pekin Life policies, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Life and Annuity Claims can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Pekin Life
Subsidiary of Pekin Insurance (Farmers Automobile Insurance Association)
pekininsurance.com →Phone1-800-322-0160
Mailing Address
Pekin Life Insurance Company, 2505 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61558-0001
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-800-322-0160
Mailing Address
Pekin Life Insurance Company, 2505 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61558-0001
WebsiteLearn more →
Life and Annuity Claims
Phone1-800-371-9622
Fax309-346-8265
Mailing Address
Pekin Life Insurance Company, Claims Department, 2505 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61558-0001
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Feb 2026
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