What to do when an USAA Life account holder dies
Report the death to USAA Life's Life and annuity claims at 1-800-531-8455
Filing a death claim on a USAA Life policy begins with notifying the Life and annuity claims at 1-800-531-8455. 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.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at USAA Life:
Filing a claim
- Report the loss online at any time, or call USAA Survivor Relations at 800-292-8294, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT
- A beneficiary can also call 800-531-8455 to have a claim information packet sent
- After USAA validates the beneficiary, each beneficiary receives a digital or paper claims packet within up to 10 business days, sent to the phone number, email or mailing address on file with USAA
- Complete and sign the Claimant’s Statement, including the substitute IRS Form W-9, and the claim settlement request form that chooses the payment method
- Include a certified copy of the death certificate showing the cause of death, and the HIPAA Authorization if the claim is filed within two years of the contract issue date
- Upload the forms online, or use the return envelope in the packet, mail or fax
- USAA’s review takes up to 10 business days; after approval, the settlement check or wire can take up to 5 business days
- Report the loss of a loved one online from the USAA life and annuity claims page
- Upload completed forms through Send documents: select Upload, then Life and Health Insurance or Annuities
- Uploaded documents can take up to 24 hours to reach USAA’s representatives
- Report the death to Survivor Relations at 800-292-8294, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT
- Call 800-531-8455 to request a claim information packet or for help with a life or annuity death claim
- Mail to ATTN: Life Company Claims, USAA Life Insurance Company, USAA Life Insurance Company of New York, 9800 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78288
- Or fax to 877-435-7099
Required Documents
- Claimant’s Statement with substitute IRS Form W-9In the claims packet. Each beneficiary completes and signs it.
- Claim settlement request formIn the claims packet. It chooses the payment method.
- Certified copy of the death certificate showing the cause of death
- HIPAA Authorization, if the claim is filed within two years of the contract issue date
- Certification of trust form, if a trust is the beneficiaryUSAA’s claim videos say it may be needed.
- Life Insurance Claim Questionnaire (Foreign), form MCF700ST, if the death occurred outside the United States
- Letters of Administration, Letters Testamentary or a small estate affidavit, if an owner who is not the insured has died and ownership is being transferredFiled with the Transfer of Ownership Due to Death of Owner form (MSF409ST). Other court documents are also named.
Forms USAA Life issues2
- Claimant’s Statement (Life Insurance Death Claim, form LCF717ST; instructions LSF403ST)
Completed by each beneficiary. Available to download.1
- Transfer of Ownership Due to Death of Owner (form MSF409ST)
Available to download.2
What happens to each kind of account2
- Life insurance policy
When an owner who is not the insured dies, ownership passes by the Transfer of Ownership Due to Death of Owner form (MSF409ST), filed with Letters of Administration, Letters Testamentary, a small estate affidavit or other court documents.2
- Annuity
On a deferred annuity, individual beneficiaries can take a lump sum, defer or annuitize. A trust or estate beneficiary can take a lump sum or defer.3
For deferred annuity claims, USAA says all requirements must be submitted 45 days before the one-year anniversary of the annuity owner’s death.3
USAA’s deferred annuity claim video says qualified accounts can be paid in full immediately or deferred for up to 10 years, and non-qualified accounts paid in full immediately or deferred for up to 5 years.4
The video says qualified annuity accounts can also be transferred into an inherited IRA, and a spouse beneficiary can keep the contract or change ownership to themselves.4
What USAA Life's agreement and guidance say2
- How proceeds are paid
Life insurance claims are paid by paper check or bank wire. A $20 fee may apply to a domestic wire.3
- Contestability of a recent policy
The contestable claim packet’s Life Insurance Claimant’s Statement (form LCF715ST) asks for health insurance carriers and physicians consulted in the past five years.5
Sources5
- 1.Life Insurance Death Claim packet (Claimant's Statement LCF717ST; instructions LSF403ST)
- 2.Transfer of Ownership Due to Death of Owner (form MSF409ST)
- 3.Life and annuity claims page
- 4.How to claim a deferred annuity page
- 5.Life Insurance Death Claim packet, contestable (Life Insurance Claimant's Statement LCF715ST)
USAA’s review takes up to 10 business days after it receives the documents. Payment can take up to 5 business days after approval, longer for a mailed check.
Frequently asked questions
Complete USAA Life’s Transfer of Ownership form (MSF408ST) and, because a trust is an entity owner, an Ownership Authorization Form for each contract naming the trustees authorized to exercise ownership rights. A copy of the first and last/signature pages of the trust agreement is generally sufficient to show the trust name, date, Tax ID, trustees and grantor. The transfer moves all ownership rights to the trust. Ownership changes on qualified plans are allowed only to a spouse due to death or under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order.
Report the loss online or call USAA Survivor Relations at 800-292-8294, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT. After USAA validates the beneficiary, each beneficiary receives a claims packet within up to 10 business days. Return the signed Claimant’s Statement and settlement form with a certified copy of the death certificate showing the cause of death, by upload, mail or fax to 877-435-7099. The review takes up to 10 business days, and payment can take up to 5 business days after approval. For help with a claim, call 800-531-8455.
USAA Life's Life and annuity claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-531-8455 and fax at 1-877-435-7099 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from USAA Life primary sources (29 pages reviewed). How we research.
USAA Life death claims support
Life and annuity claims
Phone
Survivor Relations (report a death)
Claims assistance (in San Antonio)
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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