What to do when a Sun Life account holder dies
Report the death to Sun Life's Group Life Claims at 1-800-247-6875
When an insured person dies, the beneficiary or executor should contact Sun Life's Group Life Claims at 1-800-247-6875 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
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Sun Life:
Filing a claim
- Sun Life asks for a copy of the death certificate and the beneficiary designation; the employer should have the beneficiary designation
- Sun Life reaches out to the employer for any additional information it needs
- For claim status, call 800-247-6875 and follow the prompts for automated service
- When there is more than one beneficiary, each completes a separate form
- The beneficiary completes and signs the form and returns it to the employer, with the death certificate where one is required
- The beneficiary chooses a payment method in section 6 of the form
- Email: USEBGLifeClaimsInbox@sunlife.com
- Mail: Sun Life, Group Life Claims, PO Box 219572, Kansas City, MO 64121
- Express mail: Sun Life, Group Life Claims, 108 Greystone Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66103
- Fax: 800-979-5128
- Include the name of the deceased, the dates of birth and death, the policy number(s) and the cause of death (natural or accidental)
- Include the funeral home's name, address and phone number, and the beneficiary's name, address and phone number
- Requests go to USWeb_Individual_Customer_Service@Sunlife.com, fax 1-888-863-8311, or Sun Life, P.O. Box 219957, Kansas City, MO 64121-9957
- Policies starting SU or SC are handled by the Sun Life Term Service Center
- For claim status, call or send a request with the policy number(s); a representative returns the call within 24 hours
Required Documents
- Life Insurance Benefits Claim Statement - Claimant (GLFM-7551), group life; one per beneficiaryThe beneficiary completes and signs it and returns it to the employer.
- Copy of the death certificate, group life, for a total benefit claim over $25,000A copy is acceptable, and it must list a final cause and manner of death. None is required for a claim of $25,000 or less, but Sun Life may request one if death cannot be confirmed through other means.
- Original certified death certificate, group life, for a death outside the United States or its territories
- Beneficiary designation, group lifeThe employer should have this information.
- Certified copy of the Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, group life, where the benefit is payable to the estateThe executor or administrator completes the Claimant's Statement, which requires the estate tax identification number, not the Social Security number.
- Verification of Trust form or a certified copy of the trust documents, group life, where a trust is the beneficiaryThe trustee completes the Claimant's Statement with the trust's Tax Identification Number, not the Social Security number, and provides copies of the trust document(s).
- Certified copy of the court document appointing the financial guardian, group life, where a minor's benefit is paid to a court-appointed financial guardianThe guardian completes and signs the Claimant's Statement with the minor's Social Security number and date of birth.
- Original police report, autopsy report and toxicology report, group life, accidental deathIf no autopsy or toxicology report was done, send verification from the coroner, medical examiner or admitting hospital.
- Completed claim form, individual lifeThe designated beneficiary provides it.
- Proof of death, individual lifeA certified copy of the death certificate or a notarized attending physician's statement.
Forms Sun Life issues3
- Life Insurance Benefits Claim Statement - Claimant (GLFM-7551)
Completed by each beneficiary of a group life policy, on a separate form. Available to download.1
- Verification of Trust form
Completed by the trustee, where a trust is the beneficiary of a group life policy. Sent by the institution on request.1
- Individual life claim forms
Completed by the designated beneficiary. Sent by the institution on request.2
What happens to each kind of account1
- Life insurance policy
Where a group life benefit is payable to the estate, Sun Life pays the executor or administrator of the estate. A person named as executor or administrator in the will must be appointed by the court before payment can be made.1
Where a trust is the beneficiary of a group life policy, Sun Life sends a Verification of Trust form for the trustee to complete, and also accepts a certified copy of the trust documents. The trustee completes the claim statement.1
On an individual life policy with no contingent beneficiary designated, the contingent beneficiary defaults to the estate of the insured.2
If the owner of an individual life policy dies before the insured with no contingent owner designated, ownership defaults to the owner's estate. A policy change for an estate needs the court-appointed representative's signature, with certified copies of documents.2
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- Sun Life Term Service Center
Individual life policies starting with SU (1-877-431-7377) or SC (1-877-431-7379)3
Email: admin@sunlifeterm.com
What Sun Life provides to the estate1
- Tax forms
For an individual life policy, Sun Life provides IRS Form 712 on request. Include the policy number(s), and a mailing address if the deceased was the policy owner.2
Help Sun Life offers survivors1
- Wellthy
Sun Life group life includes access to Wellthy starting 1/1/26: care coordination services and resources for employees, their families and beneficiaries through the end-of-life journey, including guidance through grief and loss.4
Who qualifies: Not available in New York or Vermont.
What Sun Life's agreement and guidance say2
- How proceeds are paid
A group life benefit is paid by lump-sum check, direct deposit or the Sun Life Benefit Account, and by check if no method is chosen. The Benefit Account is available to individual beneficiaries receiving $10,000 or more; a corporation, a trust, a guardian of a minor or a benefit under $10,000 is paid by check.1
For group life policies issued in and for residents of Kentucky, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Rhode Island, the Benefit Account is not an option and payment is made by EFT or check. Residents of Alaska are paid by EFT.1
- Payment to a minor or incapacitated beneficiary
For a minor with no financial guardian, Sun Life can pay an adult member of the minor's family "up to the limit of your state’s Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA)"; above that limit it pays a court-appointed financial guardian. With no guardian appointed, it may pay into a Sun Life Benefit Account.1
Not in Sun Life's published guidance1
- How long a claim takes
Sun Life's Group Life Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-247-6875, email at USEBGLifeClaimsInbox@sunlife.com, and fax at 1-800-979-5128 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Sun Life primary sources (24 pages reviewed). How we research.
Sun Life death claims support
Group Life Claims
Phone
Toll-free
Individual life insurance claims
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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