What to do when a Symetra account holder dies
Contact Symetra — 4-step process, 6 required documents, and generally within three business days after all required documents are received. symetra emails or mails claim packets to beneficiaries promptly after notification of death. online "report a passing" form is available 24/7.
Phone1-800-796-3872
Mailing Address
Symetra Life Insurance Company, PO Box 34690, Seattle, WA 98124-1690
SwiftTerm / SwiftProtector
Group Life & Disability
Workforce Benefits
SPIA Hotline
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-796-3872
Mailing Address
Symetra Life Insurance Company, PO Box 34690, Seattle, WA 98124-1690
SwiftTerm / SwiftProtector
Group Life & Disability
Workforce Benefits
SPIA Hotline
WebsiteLearn more→
Individual Life & Annuity Claims / Group Life Claims
Phone1-800-796-3872
Toll-Free1-800-796-3872
Fax1-877-737-3650
Mailing Address
Symetra Life Insurance Company, PO Box 34690, Seattle, WA 98124-1690 (Overnight: 777 108th Ave NE, Suite 1200, Bellevue, WA 98004-5135)
Group Life/Disability Claims
Verified Jul 2026
A death claim on a Symetra policy is filed through the Individual Life & Annuity Claims / Group Life Claims (1-800-796-3872). Because insurance proceeds pass directly to named beneficiaries, this process is separate from probate. The required documentation and timeline vary by policy type.
Before contacting Symetra, have the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any available account numbers ready. A certified death certificate is required to initiate the claim.
Death claim process
The death claim process at Symetra works as follows:
Filing a claim
1
Gather documents and report the death:
- Locate the Symetra policy documents and note the policy number
- Obtain certified copies of the death certificate from the local vital records office
- Report the death to Symetra using the online form on the filing a claim page (available 24/7), or by calling the Claims Department at 1-800-796-3872 (Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM PT)
- The death can be reported by beneficiaries, loved ones, friends, a funeral director, or the financial professional who serviced the policy
2
Complete and return claim forms:
- Symetra will email or mail the beneficiaries a claim packet containing the forms needed to settle the claim
- Complete and sign the required claim forms included in the packet
- Return the completed claim forms along with a certified death certificate including the cause and manner of death
3
Provide additional documentation if applicable:
- If the beneficiary is an estate, provide a copy of the Letter of Testamentary naming the executor(s) or personal representative
- Once the executor is confirmed, they can complete the claim form on behalf of the estate
- If the beneficiary is a trust, Symetra will need the trust document showing trust name, trustee(s), and signature page, plus a completed Trustee Certification and Disclosure form
4
Select payout and receive payment:
- Select payout option: lump-sum payment or installment payments over time
- Once all requirements to process the claim are received, Symetra generally pays the claim via the selected payment method within three business days
Required Documents
- Completed claim forms (provided by Symetra in the claim packet after notification)
- Certified death certificate including cause and manner of death
- Policy number and deceased's information (name, date of birth)
- Letter of Testamentary (if the beneficiary is an estate, naming the executor or personal representative)
- Trust documents, trustee identification, and Trustee Certification and Disclosure form (if a trust is the named beneficiary)
- Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
The death can be reported by anyone with details about the passing, including beneficiaries, loved ones, friends, a funeral director, or the financial professional who serviced the policy. Symetra provides free access to Empathy (through The Empathy Project, Inc.), a service that helps beneficiaries with a personalized care plan, grief support resources including audio meditations, and on-demand access to a dedicated Care Team (available to U.S. residents only; not available on all policy forms). Life insurance death benefits are typically not subject to federal income tax when paid to beneficiaries. Life insurance claims are generally paid within three business days after all required documents are received. For annuity death claims, contact 1-800-796-3872 (weekdays 6:30 AM to 4:00 PM PT) or use the online form; claim forms are specific to each beneficiary and type of annuity; annuity claims are generally processed within 5-7 business days. Income annuity claims mail to PO Box 34690, Seattle, WA 98124-1690; deferred annuity claims mail to PO Box 674423, Houston, TX 77267-4423 (overnight: 14710 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Suite 140, Houston, TX 77032-3725). Overnight mail for life/income annuity claims: Symetra Life Insurance Company, 777 108th Ave NE, Suite 1200, Bellevue, WA 98004-5135. For group life claims, call 1-877-377-6773 or fax 1-877-737-3650; coordinate with your employer HR department first. Documentation submitted, including death certificates, will not be returned unless specifically requested.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Symetra
Symetra asks for a letter of instruction alongside its claim form. We prepare a transmittal cover letter and the enclosure checklist Symetra requires.
Build your letter of instructionProcessing timelines at Symetra: Generally within three business days after all required documents are received. Symetra emails or mails claim packets to beneficiaries promptly after notification of death. Online "Report a passing" form is available 24/7. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Symetra requires several documents to process a claim, including Completed claim forms (provided by Symetra in the claim packet after notification), Certified death certificate including cause and manner of death, and Policy number and deceased's information (name, date of birth), 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 Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) can own a Symetra life insurance policy, removing the death benefit from the grantor's taxable estate. The trustee should apply for and own the policy from inception when possible. If transferring an existing policy to an ILIT, a three-year lookback rule under IRC Section 2035 applies for estate tax purposes. Contact Symetra at 1-800-796-3872 to request the appropriate ownership transfer form. For annuities, trust-owned non-qualified annuities may lose tax-deferral benefits under IRC Section 72(u), so consult a tax advisor.
Report the death to Symetra using the online form on their filing a claim page, or by calling the Claims Department at 1-800-796-3872 (Monday-Friday, 7:00am-4:00pm PT). Anyone with details about the passing can report the death, including beneficiaries, family members, friends, a funeral director, or the financial professional who serviced the policy. Symetra will email or mail the beneficiaries a claim packet with the forms needed to settle the claim. Return the completed claim forms along with a certified death certificate. Claims are generally paid within three business days after all required documents are received.
Beneficiaries typically have a choice between a lump-sum payment (the full death benefit in one payment) or receiving the money as steady installment payments over time, including fixed amounts over a specific period or payments designed to last a lifetime. Life insurance death benefits are typically not subject to federal income tax when paid to beneficiaries. For annuity death claims, payout options vary by the type of annuity and the specific contract terms.
For employer-sponsored group life insurance through Symetra, contact your employer HR or benefits department first. They will coordinate with Symetra to initiate the claim. You can also call Symetra at 1-800-796-3872 (Monday-Friday, 7:00am-4:00pm PT) for assistance. The beneficiary will need to complete claim forms provided by Symetra and submit a certified death certificate.
Yes. Symetra provides free access to Empathy, a service that helps beneficiaries save time, money, and stress by providing a personalized care plan and grief support resources. Empathy is available to beneficiaries during the claims process at no additional cost.
Symetra's Individual Life & Annuity Claims / Group Life Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-796-3872 and fax at 1-877-737-3650 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple Symetra policies may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Individual Life & Annuity Claims / Group Life Claims to confirm what applies.
Sources
Data sourced from Symetra primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
Phone1-800-796-3872
Mailing Address
Symetra Life Insurance Company, PO Box 34690, Seattle, WA 98124-1690
SwiftTerm / SwiftProtector
Group Life & Disability
Workforce Benefits
SPIA Hotline
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-796-3872
Mailing Address
Symetra Life Insurance Company, PO Box 34690, Seattle, WA 98124-1690
SwiftTerm / SwiftProtector
Group Life & Disability
Workforce Benefits
SPIA Hotline
WebsiteLearn more→
Individual Life & Annuity Claims / Group Life Claims
Phone1-800-796-3872
Toll-Free1-800-796-3872
Fax1-877-737-3650
Mailing Address
Symetra Life Insurance Company, PO Box 34690, Seattle, WA 98124-1690 (Overnight: 777 108th Ave NE, Suite 1200, Bellevue, WA 98004-5135)
Group Life/Disability Claims
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Symetra accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
