How to Find Out If You’re a Life Insurance Beneficiary

How life insurance beneficiaries work

Life insurance beneficiaries are the individuals or organizations that you can designate to receive the death benefit payout when you pass away. You can name individuals, such as loved ones, or certain charities and trusts as beneficiaries. You can also name one or more beneficiaries.

Additionally, policyholders can name contingent beneficiaries. These are backup beneficiaries that can receive the death benefit if the primary beneficiaries become unable to do so, such as if they pass away.¹

How to find out if you’ve been named a beneficiary

Here’s how to find out if you’re a beneficiary on a life insurance policy:

Talk to your loved one while they’re still alive

The easiest way to learn if you are a life insurance beneficiary is to talk to the policyholder if they are still alive. They can tell you whether you’re a beneficiary and provide information necessary to claim the death benefit when they pass away.

Look through financial documents

If the policyholder passes away before you can ask them, they may have left policy information in paperwork, such as:

• Wills
• Trusts
• Bank statements

Contact the life insurance company

If you believe you’re a beneficiary and know which life insurance company your loved one held their policy with, contact the insurer. You may need the following information:

• Policyholder’s name and date of birth
• Policyholder’s date of passing
• Policy number
• Your full name and relationship to the policyholder
• Proof of identity

Use a life insurance policy locator

Life insurance policy locator services help potential beneficiaries track down lost policies and find out who the beneficiaries are. Start with the Life Insurance Policy Locator from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).² This is the most well-known policy locator and is recommended by many state governments.

Check with the policyholder’s state

Each state’s government maintains an unclaimed property division for unclaimed property, including life insurance death benefits. The policyholder’s state’s unclaimed property division might possess the death benefit payout if the policyholder didn’t designate beneficiaries. If this is the case, it’s wise to contact their state.

What to do if you’re a life insurance beneficiary

Once you confirm that you’re a life insurance beneficiary, here’s how you can file a claim to get your death benefit:

1. Contact the insurance company: Reach out to the insurer and inform them that the policyholder has passed away. The insurer will tell you how to file a claim and what documentation you’ll need.
2. Gather documentation: Follow the insurer's instructions regarding documentation. That may include a copy of their death certificate and other information to confirm the identity of yourself and the policyholder.
3. File the claim: Submit your claim to the insurer with your documentation. Follow all instructions carefully to minimize errors and the chance of being denied.
4. Receive the death benefit: If the insurer approves your claim, they will pay you the death benefit amount. The amount you receive and how you receive it, such as installments or a lump sum, may vary by policy type and coverage amount.

Death benefits are generally tax-free regarding income taxes. Therefore, you may not owe taxes on the amount you receive. However, speaking with a financial advisor when you receive any type of windfall, such as a death benefit, is always a good idea.

What happens if a life insurance policy has no beneficiary?

Naming beneficiaries is vital to ensuring a life insurance policy pays out according to the policyholder’s wishes. Otherwise, the policyholder’s estate may receive the death benefit. If the policyholder has a will, this may determine how assets are distributed. However, the death benefit payout may have to go through a probate process, which can be costly and take a long time. This may leave the estate and heirs with less money.

Get a life insurance quote

Taking steps to find out if you’re a beneficiary before a policyholder passes away can be extremely helpful. But luckily, there are still ways to find out after the policyholder’s passing. Following the steps above can help you learn if you’re a beneficiary and, if you are, claim your death benefit proceeds to create financial security for yourself and your family.

Getting your own life insurance policy can help you further protect your loved ones and meet your financial goals. Contact an agent today to learn more about Aflac’s life insurance policies.