What to do when a Prudential account holder dies
Report the death to Prudential's Claims Center / Beneficiary Services at 1-855-277-8061
A death claim on a Prudential policy is filed through the Claims Center / Beneficiary Services (1-855-277-8061). Because insurance proceeds pass directly to named beneficiaries, this process is separate from probate. The required documentation and timeline vary by policy type.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Prudential:
Filing a claim
- Individual life, annuities and pensions: online at the claim portal. Prudential estimates five to seven minutes.
- Employer-sponsored group life: notify the insured's employer or association, then send the Group Life Insurance Claim Form for Beneficiaries (GL.2020.009) to Beneficiary Services
- Group life by mail: P.O. Box 70182, Philadelphia, PA 19176; by email: grouplifeclaims@prudential.com; by fax: 844-625-7807
- Individual annuities: the Annuity Beneficiary Claim Form (ORD 310229) to the Annuities Service Center, or call 1-888-778-2888
- SGLI: a beneficiary files the Claim for Death Benefits (SGLV 8283). OSGLI handles SGLI and FSGLI claims and VGLI questions at 1-800-419-1473
- Individual life policy or death-claim questions: 1-800-778-2255 (policies not beginning with FE, weekdays 8am-8pm ET) or 1-833-626-1865 (policies beginning with FE, weekdays 8am-6pm ET)
- Claims center / Beneficiary Services: 1-855-277-8061
- Employer-sponsored group life: 1-800-524-0542 (weekdays 8am-8pm ET)
- Group universal life and group variable universal life: 1-800-562-9874 (weekdays 8am-8pm ET)
- Individual annuities: 1-888-778-2888
- Pensions paid by Prudential under a group annuity contract: 1-800-621-1089 (weekdays 8am-6pm ET)
- 800-496-1035, the Customer Service Center listed in Prudential's help center (weekdays 8am-8pm ET)
- The claims center at 1-855-277-8061, listed on Prudential's losing-a-loved-one page (weekdays 8am-8pm ET). Have your claim number with you
- Group life: 800-524-0542, or 215-784-2823 from outside the United States (weekdays 8am-8pm ET)
- This applies to a named beneficiary, the executor of a probated estate, or the trustee of a simple living trust
- Download the form, or call 800-524-0542 to receive it through DocuSign
- Complete all sections, sign and date Section 5, and choose a payment option in Part 3: Alliance Account, single lump-sum check, or bank transfer (EFT, with a voided check)
- Include a copy of the death certificate. A certified copy is required for claims over $1,000,000 and must be submitted by mail. Only one beneficiary needs to provide it
- Send it by mail to The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Beneficiary Services, P.O. Box 70182, Philadelphia, PA 19176, by email to grouplifeclaims@prudential.com, or by fax to 844-625-7807
- Include the claim number on all documents
- The benefit amount is not provided until the claim process is completed
- Each beneficiary completes a separate claim form; one form can cover several contracts
- Include an original certified death certificate with a raised state seal; one is needed per contract holder
- Fax to (800) 576-1217, or mail to Annuities Service Center, P.O. Box 7960, Philadelphia, PA 19176 (overnight: Prudential Annuities Service Center, 1600 Malone Street, Millville, NJ 08332)
- Once the form is received in good order, Prudential asks you to allow up to 10 business days for processing and mailing of the funds
Required Documents
- Death certificate, for group lifeA copy is accepted. A certified copy, sent by mail, is required for claims over $1,000,000. Only one beneficiary needs to provide it.
- Original certified death certificate with a raised state seal, for individual annuitiesOne is needed per contract holder, and it can serve several beneficiaries.
- Death certificate, obituary link, or funeral home information, for a claim filed onlinePrudential lists these as information that can help get the claim processed faster.
- Beneficiary's Taxpayer Identification Number, for group lifeAn SSN for an individual, or an EIN for a trust, estate, corporation, partnership, or tax-exempt organization.
- A complete copy of the trust, when a trust is the group life beneficiary
- Letters of Administration, when an estate is the group life beneficiaryA copy of the Letters of Administration issued by the court designating an administrator or personal representative.
- Certified copy of the court appointment, or a small estate affidavit if eligible, when an estate is the individual annuity beneficiaryThe executor or administrator completes the claim form.
- Court order appointing a guardian of the minor's estate, when a minor is the group life beneficiaryRequired even if you are the minor's parent.
- Certified copy of the court appointment, when a minor is the individual annuity beneficiary and the state requires a guardian or custodianThe guardian or custodian of the minor's estate completes the claim form.
- Power of attorney document, when an attorney-in-fact completes the individual annuity claim formThe signature must carry an "Attorney-in-Fact," "Power of Attorney," or "POA" designation.
- Notarized affidavit from each beneficiary, when an annuity beneficiary designation reads "children" or similarIt gives the name, address, date of birth, relationship to the deceased, and the names of all other siblings.
- Funeral home assignment and an itemized bill, if group life benefits are directed to a funeral homeThe assignment, the itemized bill and the completed claim form must reach Prudential before benefits are paid. An assignment completed by a minor beneficiary cannot be honored.
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms Prudential issues2
- Group Life Insurance Claim Form for Beneficiaries (GL.2020.009, Rev 03/2024)
Available to download.1
- Annuity Beneficiary Claim Form (ORD 310229, Ed. 2/2023)
Completed by each beneficiary; for an estate, the executor or administrator. Available to download.2
State requirements Prudential statesArkansas, Illinois
- Arkansas
Prudential's payment options page says: "If payment is made after 30 days from the day we receive proof of death of the insured, life insurance death benefits payable under policies issued in Arkansas will include interest at the rate of 8% per year."3
- Illinois
Prudential's payment options page says that for Illinois claimants interest accrues "from the date of death, at a rate of 10% annually" unless "payment is made within thirty-one (31) days from the date of receipt by the company of due proof of loss and sufficient information to determine the appropriate payee."3
The group life claim form says accidental death and dismemberment payments made "after 31 days from the day we receive proof of accidental death or dismemberment of the Insured, under the policies issued in Illinois, will include interest at the rate of 10% per year."1
Accounts handled elsewhere3
- Fortitude Re (FLIAC)
Fortitude Re (FLIAC) annuity contracts, serviced by Prudential as a third-party administrator4
Phone: 1-800-879-7012
Fax: 1-800-207-7806
- OSGLI
SGLI and FSGLI claims, and VGLI5
- Prudential Alliance Account Services
The Alliance Account6
Phone: 1-877-255-4262
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-7:00 PM ET
Mailing address: Prudential Alliance Account Services, P.O. Box 535486, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-5486
Help Prudential offers survivors3
- Empathy
Through Prudential's collaboration with Empathy, a beneficiary has a dedicated Care Manager by live chat, email and phone, digital tools to share tasks and paperwork, and grief resources, at no cost.7
- ComPsych grief support
Unlimited toll-free access to clinicians for 24/7 support, and up to three face-to-face or telephonic counseling sessions with a local provider.7
- GreenPath credit and debt counseling
Professional credit counseling and debt management services at no cost, through the national nonprofit GreenPath.7
What Prudential's agreement and guidance say1
- How proceeds are paid
Group life proceeds are paid by Alliance Account, single lump-sum check, or EFT, as chosen in Part 3 of the claim form (GL.2020.009).1
For group life, without a payment election by the 14th day after the date on the claim package, payment goes to an Alliance Account in most states, unless state law requires a check.1
Prudential's life insurance payment options are Proceeds Held at Interest, Lump Sum Check, Life Income, Life Income with a Certain Period, Fixed Period, and Fixed Amount.3
Sources7
- 1.Group Life Insurance Claim Form for Beneficiaries (GL.2020.009), Rev 03/2024
- 2.Annuity Beneficiary Claim Form (ORD 310229), Ed. 2/2023
- 3.How to Receive Your Funds, Ed. 03/2023
- 4.Contact Us
- 5.Contact Us - Life Insurance
- 6.Your Alliance Account Settlement Option
- 7.Support and resources in your moment of need
Group life: approved claims paid within approximately 10 calendar days.
Prudential's Claims Center / Beneficiary Services can be reached by phone at 1-855-277-8061 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Prudential primary sources (28 pages reviewed). How we research.
Prudential death claims support
Claims Center / Beneficiary Services
Phone
Individual life policy or death-claim questions
Individual life policies beginning with FE
Claim status and settlement-option questions
Alliance Account customer service
Alliance Account Services mailing address
Hours
Website
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