What to do when a WoodmenLife account holder dies
Contact WoodmenLife's Customer Service / Claims — 4-step process, 6 required documents, and life insurance death claims are typically processed within 14 to 60 days after all required documentation is received. delays may occur if documentation is incomplete or if the certificate is within the contestability period.
WoodmenLife, PO Box 35903, Cleveland, OH 44135-0903. Overnight: WoodmenLife, 1700 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68102
Customer Service / Claims
WoodmenLife, PO Box 35903, Cleveland, OH 44135-0903. Overnight: WoodmenLife, 1700 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68102
Claims Department
WoodmenLife, PO Box 35903, Cleveland, OH 44135-0903. Overnight: WoodmenLife, 1700 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68102
Filing a death claim on a WoodmenLife policy begins with notifying the Claims Department 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.
WoodmenLife 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
Follow these steps to file a death claim with WoodmenLife:
Filing a claim
- Locate the WoodmenLife certificate documents and note the certificate number
- Obtain certified copies of the death certificate (must include a colored or raised seal)
- File a death claim online at woodmenlife.org/claims (fastest method)
- Or contact your WoodmenLife sales representative to initiate the claim
- Or call WoodmenLife Customer Service at 800-225-3108
- WoodmenLife will send a claimant statement form to the beneficiary
- Complete the claimant statement with all required information
- Submit the certified death certificate along with the claimant statement
- Provide any additional documentation as stated in the letter from WoodmenLife
- If a trust is the beneficiary, include trust documents and trustee identification
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate (must include a colored or raised seal)
- Completed claimant statement form (provided by WoodmenLife after claim initiation)
- Government-issued ID for the beneficiary or trustee
- Certificate number and deceased member's information
- Trust documents and trustee ID (if a trust is the beneficiary)
- Any additional documentation requested by WoodmenLife in writing
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
Filing online at woodmenlife.org/claims is the fastest method to initiate a death claim. You can also contact your local WoodmenLife sales representative or call Customer Service at 800-225-3108. For accidental death claims, call 800-401-8691. For Medicare Supplement claims, call 800-894-1317. WoodmenLife will send a claimant statement form and a letter outlining any additional documentation required for the specific claim. Overnight shipments should be sent to: WoodmenLife, 1700 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68102.
Prepare your letter of instruction to WoodmenLife
WoodmenLife asks for a letter of instruction alongside its claim form. We prepare a transmittal cover letter and the enclosure checklist WoodmenLife requires.
Build your letter of instructionExpected timelines at WoodmenLife: Life insurance death claims are typically processed within 14 to 60 days after all required documentation is received. Delays may occur if documentation is incomplete or if the certificate is within the contestability period. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Documentation required by WoodmenLife includes Certified death certificate (must include a colored or raised seal), Completed claimant statement form (provided by WoodmenLife after claim initiation), and Government-issued ID for the beneficiary or trustee, along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. An ILIT can own a WoodmenLife life insurance certificate, removing the death benefit from the grantor's taxable estate. The trust can own the certificate from inception, or an existing certificate can be transferred to the trust through an assignment, subject to a three-year lookback rule under IRC Section 2035. Once transferred, the grantor permanently relinquishes control of the certificate. WoodmenLife does not establish ILITs; you must work with an estate attorney to set one up.
My Choice IUL (Indexed Universal Life) is WoodmenLife's permanent life certificate that combines a death benefit with the opportunity to build cash value. Cash value can grow in two ways: through a fixed account earning a competitive current interest rate, or through an indexed account tied to the performance of the S&P 500 Index. The indexed account has a guaranteed 0% floor, backed by WoodmenLife's claims-paying ability, meaning your cash value will not decrease due to negative market performance. Face amounts start at $25,000 and premiums are flexible. Accumulated cash value can be accessed during your lifetime.
You can file a death claim online at https://www.woodmenlife.org/claims/ (fastest method), contact your local WoodmenLife sales representative, or call Customer Service at 1-800-225-3108. For accidental death claims, call 1-800-401-8691. For Medicare Supplement claims, call 1-800-894-1317. After initiating the claim, WoodmenLife will send a claimant statement form and a letter outlining any additional documentation required. You will need a certified copy of the death certificate with a colored or raised seal.
No Lapse Guarantee Universal Life is a permanent life certificate that provides guaranteed coverage up to age 121, as long as the no-lapse guarantee premium stated in the certificate is paid at least as frequently as the stated interval, no changes are made to the face amount or rating class, no loans or partial surrenders are taken, and the certificate has not been reinstated. It focuses on guaranteed death benefit protection rather than cash value accumulation.
WoodmenLife's Claims Department can be reached by phone at 1-800-225-3108 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple WoodmenLife policies, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Claims Department can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Sources
Data sourced from WoodmenLife primary sources (19 pages reviewed). How we research.
WoodmenLife, PO Box 35903, Cleveland, OH 44135-0903. Overnight: WoodmenLife, 1700 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68102
Customer Service / Claims
WoodmenLife, PO Box 35903, Cleveland, OH 44135-0903. Overnight: WoodmenLife, 1700 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68102
Claims Department
WoodmenLife, PO Box 35903, Cleveland, OH 44135-0903. Overnight: WoodmenLife, 1700 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68102
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