What to do when a Voya account holder dies
Contact Voya's Voya Claims Center — 4-step process, 6 required documents, and 5 business days for group life claims; 10 business days for individual life claims; retirement plan distributions vary by account type and complexity
Voya Claims Center
Voya Life Claims, PO Box 1548, Minneapolis, MN 55440
Voya Claims Center -- Life, AD&D, Waiver of Premium
Voya Life Claims, PO Box 1548, Minneapolis, MN 55440
What happens to Voya retirement accounts after the account holder dies depends on how each account was titled. Beneficiary-designated and trust-owned accounts transfer directly. Accounts in the deceased's name alone go through the estate, and the executor or administrator works with Voya's Voya Claims Center -- Life, AD&D, Waiver of Premium (1-888-238-4840) to claim the funds.
Voya provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone or by mailing the required documents.
Death claim process
The death claim process at Voya works as follows:
Filing a claim
- Contact the employer or group plan administrator to report the death
- The plan administrator will confirm beneficiary designation(s) on file
- Voya contacts each beneficiary directly to request required documentation
- Start a claim at voya.com/claims (redirects to the Voya Claims Center) or call the appropriate claims line: 800-955-7736 for Group Life and Disability; 877-236-7564 for supplemental health (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity); 800-584-6001 for retirement plans
- If the beneficiary is a trust, indicate this when filing the claim
- Submit a certified death certificate
- Each beneficiary completes a claim form
- For trust beneficiaries: complete the Voya Trust Certification form and provide the Trust Agreement
- Voya reviews the claim; group life claims are typically processed within 5 business days of receiving all completed proofs; individual life claims within 10 business days
- Death benefits up to $100,000 for natural-cause deaths may not require a death certificate, though Voya reserves the right to request one for any claim
- If information is missing, Voya sends an email requesting additional documentation
- Life insurance claims are paid by check; retirement plan distributions follow the beneficiary's chosen payout option
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued ID for each beneficiary or trustee
- Completed Death Claim form (one per beneficiary)
- Trust Agreement and Trust Certification form (if trust is beneficiary)
- Letters Testamentary or Administration (if estate is beneficiary)
- Affidavit of Small Estate (if estate not being probated, per state rules)
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
For retirement plan death claims, contact the employer/plan administrator first. For group life and disability claims, call 800-955-7736. For accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity (supplemental health) claims, call 877-236-7564. The voya.com/claims URL redirects to the Voya Claims Center where claim forms can be filed and documents uploaded. A beneficiary care package is available to help navigate the process.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Voya
Voya asks for a letter of instruction alongside its claim form. We prepare a transmittal cover letter and the enclosure checklist Voya requires.
Build your letter of instructionExpected timelines at Voya: 5 business days for group life claims; 10 business days for individual life claims; retirement plan distributions vary by account type and complexity. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Voya requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate, Government-issued ID for each beneficiary or trustee, and Completed Death Claim form (one per beneficiary), 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
If no beneficiary is designated, or if all designated beneficiaries predecease you, your surviving spouse becomes the beneficiary. If you do not have a surviving spouse at the time of death, your estate becomes the beneficiary. Naming a specific beneficiary helps avoid probate and ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes.
The Voya Trust Certification form (213694) is required when designating a trust as beneficiary on a Voya account. The form certifies that the trust is irrevocable (or will become irrevocable upon death) and that all beneficiaries of the trust are individuals identifiable from the trust terms. You must also provide the trust's Tax Identification Number (TIN) and a copy of the Trust Agreement.
Distribution options depend on the plan type, beneficiary relationship, and applicable regulations. Common options include lump sum distribution, installment payments, rollover to an inherited IRA, or annuity payments. SECURE Act rules affect distribution timelines for non-spouse beneficiaries. Contact Voya or the plan administrator for options specific to your situation.
An ILIT is created when you transfer ownership of a life insurance policy to an irrevocable trust. The trust owns the policy and the trustee manages it. When the insured dies, the death benefit is paid to the trust and distributed according to its terms. Because the trust owns the policy, the death benefit is generally excluded from the insured's taxable estate. Permanent life insurance such as whole life or universal life is preferred for ILITs because term policies may expire before the insured's death. Contact Voya at 1-800-584-6001 to request ownership assignment forms.
Voya's Voya Claims Center -- Life, AD&D, Waiver of Premium can be reached by phone at 1-888-238-4840 and fax at 1-877-788-6308 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple Voya retirement accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Voya Claims Center -- Life, AD&D, Waiver of Premium can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Sources
Data sourced from Voya primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Voya Claims Center
Voya Life Claims, PO Box 1548, Minneapolis, MN 55440
Voya Claims Center -- Life, AD&D, Waiver of Premium
Voya Life Claims, PO Box 1548, Minneapolis, MN 55440
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