What to do when a Reliance Standard account holder dies
Report the death to Reliance Standard's Life Insurance Claims at 1-800-351-7500
A death claim on a Reliance Standard policy is filed through the Life Insurance Claims (1-800-351-7500). 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
The death claim process at Reliance Standard works as follows:
Filing a claim
- Group life or AD&D through an employer: the Group Life and Accidental Death Claim Form (EF-1036), with an employer section (Part A) and a beneficiary section (Part B)
- Annuity, IRA or non-IRA, other than a SPIA: the Annuity Claims Packet (EF-3500)
- Single premium immediate annuity (SPIA): the Annuity Claimant Statement (EF-1496)
- Individually owned life policy: call Individual Life Insurance Policy Inquiries at 800-955-4304
- The employer or plan administrator completes Part A and sends the insured's enrollment or election form, any later changes to it, and the most recent beneficiary designation form
- Each beneficiary completes his or her own Part B and signs the Authorization for Use in Obtaining Information
- For an accidental death, the beneficiary may need to send police reports or an autopsy report
- Group life and AD&D (EF-1036): Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, Attn: Group Life Claims, P.O. Box 7307, Philadelphia, PA 19101-7307; fax 267-256-3518; email LifeClaimsScan@rsli.com
- Annuity (EF-3500, claim form pages 1-6): Retirement Services Operations - Inforce, Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, 1700 Market Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- Annuity claim forms can also go by email to inforceannuities@rsli.com or by fax to 267-256-4713
- SPIA (EF-1496): Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, Attn: Annuity Claims, 1700 Market Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- General information is needed to begin, and an Authorization to Obtain Information may also be needed
- An Authorization for Electronic Fund Transfer is needed for payment by direct deposit
- Group life and AD&D: Life Insurance Claims, 800-351-7500 (weekdays 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM ET; automated assistance around the clock)
- Annuity: Customer Care, 800-435-7775
- Individually owned life policy: Individual Life Insurance Policy Inquiries, 800-955-4304
- Group life or AD&D: EF-1036 in the benefit forms library, listed by the state of the employer's corporate headquarters
- Annuity: the Annuity Claims Packet (EF-3500)
- SPIA: the Annuity Claimant Statement (EF-1496)
- Group life or AD&D: Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, Attn: Group Life Claims, P.O. Box 7307, Philadelphia, PA 19101-7307 (fax 267-256-3518; email LifeClaimsScan@rsli.com)
- Annuity (EF-3500, claim form pages 1-6): Retirement Services Operations - Inforce, Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, 1700 Market Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- SPIA (EF-1496): Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, Attn: Annuity Claims, 1700 Market Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Required Documents
- Beneficiary Section (Part B) and Authorization for Use in Obtaining Information, for a group life claim, from each beneficiary
- Death certificate, for a group life claimA copy of a certified death certificate showing the cause and manner of death. Scanned copies are accepted if the state seal is visible and the copy is legible; an original with the raised state seal may be requested.
- Amended death certificate, for a group life claim, if the certificate gives the cause of death as pending
- Employer's Part A, with the enrollment and beneficiary records, for a group life claimThe employer or plan administrator sends the insured's initial enrollment or election form, any later changes to it, and the most recent beneficiary designation form.
- Court appointment and trust agreement, for a group life claim, if an estate or trust is the beneficiaryA copy of the certified letters testamentary or the court order appointing the executor, administrator or trustee, and a complete copy of the trust agreement; Part B asks for the estate or trust tax ID number.
- Police reports or an autopsy report, for an accidental death benefit, if needed
- Completed Annuity Claims Packet, one for each beneficiary, for an annuity claim
- Death certificate of the owner, for an annuity claim; the annuitant's, if a trust or corporation owned the contractThe Annuity Claims Packet asks for an original certified death certificate showing cause and manner of death.
- Original annuity contract or a Lost Policy Affidavit, for an annuity claim
- Certified letter of appointment of the executor or administrator, for an annuity claim, if the owner's estate is the beneficiary
- Trust Certification (EF-2989), for an annuity claim, if a trust is the beneficiary
- Death certificate of a beneficiary who died before the owner, for an annuity claimThe packet's instructions ask for a certified copy for each such beneficiary; its additional-documents list asks for a copy, and an Affidavit of Heirship if the designation was per stirpes.
- Annuity Claimant Statement, original certified death certificate and original contract, for a SPIA or group annuity claimA Lost Policy Affidavit may be sent in place of the original policy.
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms Reliance Standard issues4
- Group Life and Accidental Death Claim Form (EF-1036)
Completed by the employer or plan administrator (Part A) and each beneficiary (Part B). Available to download.1
- Annuity Claims Packet (EF-3500)
Completed by each beneficiary; for an estate, the executor or administrator; for a trust, the trustee. Available to download.2
- Annuity Claimant Statement (EF-1496)
Available to download.3
- Trust Certification (EF-2989)
Completed by the trustee. Available to download.2
What happens to each kind of account2
- Life insurance policy
A group life or AD&D claim involves the employer: the employer or plan administrator completes Part A of the claim form and sends the enrollment records and the insured's most recent beneficiary designation, and each beneficiary completes Part B.4
- Annuity
Reliance Standard pays annuity death proceeds per capita unless the designation was made per stirpes. The share of a beneficiary who died before the owner is divided equally among the surviving beneficiaries in the same class.2
The share of a beneficiary who died after the owner is paid to that beneficiary's estate. Certified letters testamentary or letters of administration are required, and the executor or administrator completes the claim form for the estate.2
Accounts handled elsewhere4
- Individual Life Insurance Policy Inquiries
Individually owned life insurance policies5
Phone: 1-800-955-4304
Mailing address: 1700 Market Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- Retirement Services Operations - Inforce
Annuity death claims on the Annuity Claims Packet (EF-3500)2
Email: inforceannuities@rsli.com
Fax: 1-267-256-4713
Mailing address: Retirement Services Operations - Inforce, Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, 1700 Market Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- Customer Care
Questions about an annuity death claim2
Phone: 1-800-435-7775
- Annuity Claims
SPIA and group annuity claims on the Annuity Claimant Statement (EF-1496)6
Phone: 1-800-435-7775
Mailing address: Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, Attn: Annuity Claims, 1700 Market Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA 19103
What Reliance Standard's agreement and guidance say7
- How proceeds are paid
The Annuity Claims Packet gives an estate beneficiary only a lump sum, and a trust a lump sum or a five-year or ten-year deferral. If the contract was annuitized before the owner's death, the only settlement option is continuation of the annuity payments.2
The Annuity Claims Packet says "A Lump Sum Payment to the beneficiary is mandatory if the death claim is paid after December 31st of the year following the date of death for qualified annuities, or more than one year after the owner's death for non-qualified annuities."2
The U.S. Postal Service does not forward Reliance Standard benefit payments, so the group claim form asks for a complete current mailing address, including any unit or apartment number.4
- Payments after the death
If systematic annuity withdrawals were paid after the date of death, signing the claim form agrees to leave those funds as distributed; a claimant who does not agree contacts Reliance Standard.2
- Payment to a minor or incapacitated beneficiary
On a group life claim, the legal guardian appointed for the minor's estate completes Part B and sends a copy of the court order. Where no guardian has been appointed, a responsible adult completes it on the minor's behalf.4
On an annuity, court paperwork appointing a conservator or guardian of the minor's estate is required even if the guardian is a parent. A notarized affidavit showing custodianship may be submitted if the beneficiary qualifies under UGMA/UTMA.2
On a SPIA or group annuity, if no guardian of the minor's estate has been appointed, Reliance Standard issues a supplementary contract and holds the proceeds at a declared interest rate until the minor comes of age or the court-appointed guardian asks for them in writing.6
- Wills, probate and small estates
The Annuity Claims Packet's additional documents include "A copy of Estate paperwork for the owner naming the Executor over the Estate or submit the small Estate Affidavit paperwork, which can be obtained from your state official website."2
- Dormant and unclaimed accounts
If Reliance Standard does not receive the required claim information within a reasonable amount of time (generally two months), it may be required to escheat the annuity death benefit to the state where the deceased person resided.2
- Fees
An annuity lump sum sent by overnight mail carries a $25.00 charge, deducted from the amount; overnight delivery is not available to a PO Box.2
- What it says about taxes
Reliance Standard reports the taxable portion of an annuity death benefit to the beneficiary and the IRS on Form 1099-R in the year the check is issued.2
Not in Reliance Standard's published guidance1
- How long a claim takes
Sources6
Reliance Standard's Life Insurance Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-351-7500, email at LifeClaimsScan@rsli.com, and fax at 1-267-256-3518 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Reliance Standard primary sources (23 pages reviewed). How we research.
Reliance Standard death claims support
Life Insurance Claims
Phone
Toll-free
Life Claims Fax - New Claim
Life Claims Fax - Existing Claim
Individual Life Insurance Policy Inquiries
Annuity Death Claims - Customer Care
Automated assistance
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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