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If your loved one has passed away and you believe you may be a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, there are several resources available to help you determine whether benefits may be available. With a little research, you may be able to locate an unclaimed life insurance policy and determine whether benefits are available. Let’s dive deeper into how unclaimed life insurance works, what you can do to locate a loved one’s policy, and what life insurance policies Aflac offers.
Table of Contents
Unclaimed life insurance is a situation that occurs when a policyholder passes away, and the death benefit is not claimed by a beneficiary. This may occur when beneficiaries are unaware that a policy exists or are unable to locate policy information after the insured's death. In some cases, inaccurate or outdated beneficiary information may also make it difficult for insurers to locate beneficiaries.1
Each state has unique laws that dictate what happens to unclaimed life insurance payouts. In many cases, however, the proceeds of the life insurance policy plus any interest earned get sent over to the policyholder’s state after a certain number of years.2
In many states, beneficiaries may be able to claim unclaimed life insurance proceeds through the state's unclaimed property program. Since unclaimed property laws vary by state, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with how they work where you live.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Help cover yourself and your family with coverage from Aflac.
Get StartedThere are several ways to find out if you’re a life insurance beneficiary or if you have unclaimed benefits:
Try contacting your state’s insurance department to find your loved one’s life insurance policy. Keep in mind that the policyholder may have purchased a policy in a different state than the one they passed away in, so remember to check any previous states the deceased has lived in.3
Did the deceased work with a financial professional, like an accountant, insurance agent, or financial planner? If so, you may want to reach out to them and ask if they have any knowledge of a life insurance policy. It’s also smart to check with your loved one’s former employers.3
There are several third-party resources that might be able to help you find an unclaimed life insurance policy. You can contact the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to find out if you’re owed any funds.4
Claim timeframes vary by state law and policy circumstances, although life insurance death benefits generally do not expire solely because a claim is not filed immediately. Once a beneficiary files a claim, however, an insurance company typically takes 30 to 60 days to process it and distribute the payout.5
Policyholders should do their part to help prevent unclaimed life insurance money. If you’re covered by a life insurance policy, be sure to let your beneficiaries know. Share details with them about the policy, including the insurance company, policy number, and coverage number. Additionally, keep any life insurance documents in a secure place so that your loved ones may be able to access them when necessary.
Life insurance offers a way to help protect your family financially if you unexpectedly pass away. But it won’t do you any good if your loved ones aren’t aware of your policy and don’t claim the payout. That's why it's important to inform loved ones about your policy and beneficiary designations, which may help with the claims process.
Aflac offers term life and whole life insurance policies to support your financial planning goals. Our policies come with enhanced, portable coverage that can help give you peace of mind. To learn more about life insurance and get a quote, chat with an agent today.
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Wondering if you can borrow money against your life insurance policy? Learn how life insurance loans work, how to take one out, and the pros and cons.
Life insurance with cash value lets you withdraw money to cover necessary expenses. Find out how cash value savings work and the types of insurance policies offered, including whole life insurance.
Wondering if you can borrow money against your life insurance policy? Learn how life insurance loans work, how to take one out, and the pros and cons.
Life insurance with cash value lets you withdraw money to cover necessary expenses. Find out how cash value savings work and the types of insurance policies offered, including whole life insurance.
1 National Association of Insurance Commissioners – Learn How to Use the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator. Published May 14, 2026. https://content.naic.org/article/learn-how-use-naic-life-insurance-policy-locator. Accessed July 20, 2026.
2 CNBC Select - Over $13 billion has already been recovered from unclaimed life insurance policies. See if you’re owed money. Updated April 20, 2026. https://www.policygenius.com/life-insurance/unclaimed-life-insurance-act/. Accessed June 22, 2026.
3 NerdWallet - How to Find Out if Someone Had Life Insurance. Updated July 22, 2025. https://www.nerdwallet.com/insurance/life/learn/find-lost-life-insurance-policy. Accessed June 22, 2026.
4 Policygenius - How to find out if someone has life insurance. Updated March 25, 2026. https://www.policygenius.com/life-insurance/how-to-find-the-life-insurance-policy-of-a-deceased-person/. Accessed June 22, 2026.
5 Investopedia - How Long Does a Beneficiary Have to Claim Life Insurance? Updated April 10, 2025. https://www.investopedia.com/how-long-does-a-beneficiary-have-to-claim-a-life-insurance-policy-5075605. Accessed June 22, 2026.
Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent/producer.
Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.
Aflac life plans – A68000 series/Term Life: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Pennsylvania & Virginia, Policies: ICC1368200, ICC1368300, ICC1368400. In Delaware, Policies A68200, A68300 & A68400. In New York, Policies NY68200, NY68300 and NY68400. Whole Life: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Pennsylvania & Virginia, Policies: ICC1368100. In Delaware, Policy A68100. In New York, Policy NYR68100. B60000/Term Life: In Arkansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas & Virginia, Policies ICC18B60200, ICC18B60300, & ICC18B60400. Not available in Delaware, Idaho, New York and Oregon. Whole Life: In Arkansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas & Virginia, Policies: ICC18B60C10, ICC18B60100. Not available in Delaware, Idaho, New York and Oregon. Q60000 series/Term Life: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania & Texas, Policy ICC18Q60200M. In Delaware, Policy Q60200M. In New York, Policy: NYQ60200M. Not available in Virginia. Whole Life: In Arkansas, Delaware & Oregon Policy Q60100M. In Idaho, Policy Q60100MID. In Oklahoma, Policy Q60100MOK. In New York, Policy: NYQ60100M. Not available in Virginia.
Aflac Final Expense insurance coverage is underwritten by Tier One Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Aflac Incorporated and is administered by Aetna Life Insurance Company. Tier One Insurance Company is part of the Aflac family of insurers. In California, Tier One Insurance Company does business as Tier One Life Insurance Company (NAIC 92908).
In AR, DE, ID, OK and VA: Policies ICC21-AFLLBL21 and ICC21-AFLRPL21; and Riders ICC21-AFLABR22, ICC21-AFLADB22, and ICC21-AFLCDR22. Not available in NY.
Coverage/plan levels may not be available in all states, including but not limited to NM or VT. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on plan selected. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policy and rider forms for benefit details, definitions, limitations and exclusions.
Aflac WWHQ | Tier One | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999
Aflac New York | 22 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Suite 2 | Albany, NY 12211
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