What to do when a Shelter Insurance account holder dies
Contact Shelter Insurance — 7-step process, 6 required documents, and 7-30 business days after all required documentation is received and the claim is approved. straightforward claims with named beneficiaries are typically processed faster.
Phone1-800-743-5837
Mailing Address
Shelter Insurance, 1817 West Broadway, Columbia, MO 65218
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-743-5837
Mailing Address
Shelter Insurance, 1817 West Broadway, Columbia, MO 65218
WebsiteLearn more→
Claims Department
Phone1-800-743-5837
Mailing Address
Shelter Insurance - Claims, P.O. Box 6008, Columbia, MO 65205
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Filing a death claim on a Shelter Insurance policy begins with notifying the Claims Department at 1-800-743-5837. 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.
To start a claim, contact Shelter Insurance by phone at 1-800-743-5837 or email documentation to claims@shelterinsurance.com. You will need the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Shelter Insurance requires:
Filing a claim
1
Notify Shelter Insurance of the policyholder's death by contacting the policyholder's local Shelter Insurance agent, calling 1-800-SHELTER (1-800-743-5837) (available 24 hours), or filing online at shelterinsurance.com
2
Gather required documentation:
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Policy number(s) for all Shelter Insurance life insurance and annuity policies held by the deceased
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant (beneficiary or executor)
3
Shelter Insurance will provide a claim form (Claimant's Statement) to each beneficiary
4
Complete the Claimant's Statement with:
- Claimant's full legal name, address, Social Security number, and contact information
- Relationship to the deceased
- Preferred settlement option (lump sum payment, annuity payout, or other available options)
5
Submit the completed Claimant's Statement along with a certified copy of the death certificate to your Shelter Insurance agent or mail to Shelter Insurance, 1817 West Broadway, Columbia, MO 65218
6
Shelter Insurance will review the claim and verify coverage, beneficiary designation, and cause of death
7
Upon approval, the death benefit is paid to the beneficiary according to the selected settlement option
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Completed and signed Claimant's Statement form (provided by Shelter Insurance)
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant
- Policy number(s) for the deceased's Shelter Insurance life insurance or annuity policies
- For trust beneficiaries: trust documentation including the trust agreement or Certification of Trust and trustee identification
- For estate claims (no named beneficiary): Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
Life insurance death benefits are generally income tax-free to beneficiaries under IRC Section 101(a). The beneficiary can typically choose from several settlement options including a lump sum, interest-only payments, fixed-period installments, or a life annuity. If there is no named beneficiary or the named beneficiary is deceased, the death benefit is paid to the policyholder's estate and may be subject to probate. Claims can be filed online through My Shelter, by phone (available 24 hours), or through a local agent. Documents can be emailed to claims@shelterinsurance.com. Contact your local Shelter Insurance agent for the fastest claims processing, as the agent can help gather required documentation and submit the claim directly.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Shelter Insurance
Shelter Insurance asks for a letter of instruction alongside its claim form. We prepare a transmittal cover letter and the enclosure checklist Shelter Insurance requires.
Build your letter of instructionProcessing timelines at Shelter Insurance: 7-30 business days after all required documentation is received and the claim is approved. Straightforward claims with named beneficiaries are typically processed faster. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Documentation required by Shelter Insurance includes Certified copy of the death certificate, Completed and signed Claimant's Statement form (provided by Shelter Insurance), and Valid government-issued photo ID for the claimant, along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Contact the policyholder's local Shelter Insurance agent or call 1-800-743-5837 to report the death. Shelter Insurance will provide a Claimant's Statement form. Complete and return the form along with a certified copy of the death certificate. Claims can also be filed online through the My Shelter account at shelterinsurance.com, or documents and photos can be emailed to claims@shelterinsurance.com. Phone support for claims is available 24 hours.
Yes. My Shelter is an online account portal where policyholders can schedule and pay premiums, view all policies, print ID cards, report and track claims, go paperless, and more. Register at shelterinsurance.com using your policy number. A mobile app is also available with the same features. Multi-factor authentication is enabled for account security.
Shelter Insurance's Claims Department can be reached by phone at 1-800-743-5837 and email at claims@shelterinsurance.com for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Shelter Insurance policies, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Claims Department can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Sources
Data sourced from Shelter Insurance primary sources (20 pages reviewed). How we research.
Phone1-800-743-5837
Mailing Address
Shelter Insurance, 1817 West Broadway, Columbia, MO 65218
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-743-5837
Mailing Address
Shelter Insurance, 1817 West Broadway, Columbia, MO 65218
WebsiteLearn more→
Claims Department
Phone1-800-743-5837
Mailing Address
Shelter Insurance - Claims, P.O. Box 6008, Columbia, MO 65205
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
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