What to do when a WoodmenLife account holder dies
Report the death to WoodmenLife at 1-800-225-3108
Filing a death claim on a WoodmenLife policy begins with notifying WoodmenLife at 1-800-225-3108. 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.
The first step is contacting WoodmenLife at 1-800-225-3108 with the account holder's full name, account numbers, and the death certificate in hand.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with WoodmenLife:
Filing a claim
- For life insurance and annuity claims, begin a Claim Notification online at woodmenlife.org/claims.
- The online Claim Notification asks for the deceased member's name, certificate number, dates of birth and death, Social Security number, manner or cause of death, and funeral home details if known.
- Or contact a WoodmenLife Representative, or call Customer Service at 1-800-225-3108.
- Customer Service is open Monday through Thursday 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM CT and Friday 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM CT, in English or Spanish.
- For Accidental Death claims, call 1-800-401-8691.
- For Medicare Supplement claims, call 1-800-894-1317.
Claims Contact
Website: Online portal →
Forms WoodmenLife issues1
- Claim Notification
Completed online.1
What happens to each kind of account2
- Life insurance policy
If a member-owner dies with no designated beneficiary who can be paid, the Constitution and Laws pay the benefits to the surviving spouse, then in equal shares to the surviving children, then the surviving parents, then the member-owner's estate.2
Where one of two or more beneficiaries dies before the member, or it is not evident who died first, and no new beneficiary was designated, that share is paid equally to the surviving beneficiaries.2
- Annuity
If an annuity certificate is owned by someone other than the annuitant and the owner dies without a designated or valid beneficiary, the Constitution and Laws pay the benefits to the owner's estate.2
What WoodmenLife's agreement and guidance say4
- How proceeds are paid
WoodmenLife pays the proceeds according to its policy records.1
At an insured member's death, the benefits paid include the certificate's contractual benefits plus any funds WoodmenLife holds in an advance premium deposit fund and any other funds it determines are payable in respect to the certificate.2
Where a benefit certificate's provisions conflict with the Constitution and Laws, the certificate's provisions prevail.2
- Disputes between claimants
If WoodmenLife is made a party to a court proceeding over conflicting claims to a certificate's proceeds, court costs and a reasonable fee to WoodmenLife's attorney are paid out of the amount due under the certificate.2
- A denied or disputed claim
A beneficiary's dispute over a denied benefit claim goes to WoodmenLife's Dispute Resolution Official for informal negotiation, then mediation, then arbitration, "to the extent procedures of this Section 2 are not prohibited by applicable law."2
- Who can get account information
WoodmenLife does not disclose the personal information of deceased individuals unless it is in relation to a claim or a potential claim.3
Not in WoodmenLife's published guidance3
- A list of required documents
- A claim form to download
- A mailing address for claim documents
Sources3
- 1.File a Life Insurance Claim
- 2.Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society Articles of Incorporation and Constitution and Laws, October 10, 2025
- 3.Frequently Asked Questions, WEB73 R-10/23
WoodmenLife can be reached by phone at 1-800-225-3108 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from WoodmenLife primary sources (24 pages reviewed). How we research.
WoodmenLife death claims support
Phone
Accidental Death claims
Medicare Supplement claims
Hours
Website
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