Symetra
Subsidiary of Symetra Financial Corporation (a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Life Insurance Company)
symetra.comWhat to do when a Symetra account holder dies
Report the death to Symetra's Claims Department at 1-800-796-3872
A death claim on a Symetra policy is filed through the Claims Department (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.
Death claim process
The death claim process at Symetra works as follows:
Filing a claim
- Use the online Report a passing form, for a person insured by a Symetra life insurance policy or an owner or annuitant of a Symetra annuity contract
- Or call 1-800-796-3872 (life insurance claims: weekdays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT; annuities: weekdays 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT)
- The online form asks for the deceased person's name, date of birth, SSN/TIN, policy or contract number, cause of death and date of death
- It asks for your relationship (beneficiary, financial professional, executor or other) and how to send the claim paperwork: email, mail or fax
- SwiftTerm policies: contact the SwiftTerm Customer Care Center at 1-833-447-9438
- Life insurance through an employer: www.symetra.com/mygo or Symetra Benefits Claims at 1-877-377-6773, weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET
- Once notified, Symetra emails or mails the beneficiaries a packet containing what it needs to settle the claim
- Annuity claim forms are not on symetra.com; each is specific to the beneficiary and the type of annuity and comes in the claim packet
- Each beneficiary completes and signs the claim forms; life insurance proceeds are paid as the beneficiary elects
- Life insurance: return any other requested information, including a certified death certificate
- Annuities: return any other requested information, including a certified death certificate including the cause and manner of death
- Estate beneficiary: a copy of the Letter of Testamentary (life insurance) or Letters of Testamentary/Administration (annuity) naming the executor, who then completes the claim form
- Trust beneficiary, life insurance: a copy of the trust document showing the trust name, trustee(s) and signature page
- Trust beneficiary, annuity: the completed and signed Trustee Certification and Disclosure form
- Minor beneficiary of an annuity: Symetra follows state-specific guidelines and lists the requirements in its claim letter
- Death of a U.S. citizen outside the United States (annuity): a Consular Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad
- A deceased beneficiary (annuity): proof of death for all deceased individuals
- Life insurance and income annuities: Symetra Life Insurance Company, PO Box 34690, Seattle, WA 98124-1690 (overnight: 777 108th Ave NE, Suite 1200, Bellevue, WA 98004-5135)
- Deferred annuities: PO Box 674423, Houston, TX 77267-4423 (overnight via FedEx or UPS only: 14710 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Suite 140, Houston, TX 77032-3725)
- Life insurance: once all requirements are received, Symetra generally pays the claim by the selected payment method within three business days and sends a confirmation letter
- Annuities: once all requirements are received, Symetra generally processes the claim within 5-7 business days and sends a confirmation letter; not all annuity claims result in payment
Required Documents
- Completed and signed claim formsThe forms come in the packet Symetra emails or mails to the beneficiaries once it is notified of the death.
- Certified death certificate, for a life insurance claim
- Certified death certificate including the cause and manner of death, for an annuity claimSymetra requires one original death certificate for a claim, regardless of the product or the number of beneficiaries. Documents sent are not returned unless specifically requested.
- Copy of the Letter of Testamentary, if the estate is the beneficiary of a life insurance policyIt names the executor(s) or personal representative of the estate. Once the executor is confirmed, they can complete the claim form.
- Copy of the Letters of Testamentary/Administration, if the estate is the beneficiary of an annuityIt names the executor(s) or personal representative of the estate. Once the executor is confirmed, they can complete the claim form.
- Copy of the trust document, if a trust is the beneficiary of a life insurance policyIt must show the trust name, the trustee(s) and the signature page. The trustee then completes the claim form.
- Trustee Certification and Disclosure form, if a trust is the beneficiary of an annuityCompleted and signed. The trustee(s) then complete the claim form.
- Consular Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad, for an annuity claim, if a U.S. citizen died outside the United States
- Proof of death for all deceased individuals, for an annuity claim, if a beneficiary has also died
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms Symetra issues2
- Claim forms in the claim packet
Completed by each beneficiary. Sent by the institution on request.1
- Ownership Change Request
Available to download.2
What happens to each kind of account2
- Life insurance policy
If a primary beneficiary dies before the insured, the benefit goes to the other living primary beneficiaries, then to named contingent beneficiaries. If no beneficiary is living, the proceeds are payable to the owner or the owner's estate.3
When a policy owner dies, Symetra asks for the Ownership Change Request form, a death certificate and a letter of testamentary or a small estate affidavit. Where the owner lived in a community property state and the spouse becomes owner, only the form and a death certificate are required.2
- Annuity
Once all requirements are received, Symetra generally processes an annuity claim within 5-7 business days and sends a confirmation letter. Not all annuity claims result in payment.1
Help Symetra offers survivors1
- Empathy
Symetra gives life insurance beneficiaries free access to Empathy: a personalized care plan, grief support resources and a Care Team. Empathy is The Empathy Project, Inc., which is not a Symetra affiliate.3
Who qualifies: Insureds and beneficiaries who are U.S. residents. Not available on all policy forms or in all jurisdictions.
What Symetra's agreement and guidance say2
- Payment to a minor or incapacitated beneficiary
For a minor beneficiary of an annuity, Symetra follows the state-specific guidelines for settling a claim to a minor and lists what is required in its claim letter.1
- How proceeds are paid
A beneficiary of a deferred annuity may be able to transfer the death proceeds to another company, subject to certain requirements.1
Sources3
Life insurance: generally paid within three business days once all requirements are received.
Symetra's Claims Department can be reached by phone at 1-800-796-3872 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Symetra primary sources (28 pages reviewed). How we research.
Symetra death claims support
Claims Department
Phone
SwiftTerm Customer Care Center (SwiftTerm claims)
Symetra Benefits Claims (employer group life)
Group claims fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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