How to find a life insurance policy after a death

This one free form asks participating insurers to check their own records for life insurance and annuities.

Fill in the request using details from the death certificate, including the Social Security number, legal name, dates of birth and death, and veteran status.
If a policy is found and you are the beneficiary, the insurer contacts you directly. It can take 90 business days or more, which is four months or longer.
If nothing is found, or you aren't the beneficiary, you hear nothing. Silence doesn't prove there is no policy, because not every insurer takes part. Keep going with the steps below.

Some states run their own free policy search, and every state department answers life insurance questions.

Ask the department of insurance in the state where they lived whether it has a life policy search.
New York and Illinois are two states with their own search. Coverage and who can ask differ by state.

A premium payment or a yearly statement is the most common way a policy turns up.

Go through a year or more of bank and credit card statements for payments to insurers.
Look at their mail for a year. Insurers send annual statements and premium notices.
Check old tax returns and address books, and ask any insurance agent they used.
When you find a company name, write to it even without a policy number.

Many jobs and unions include group life insurance that families never hear about.

Contact the human resources office of their last employer and any long-term past employers.
Ask about group life insurance, accidental death coverage, unpaid wages, pensions and retirement plans all at once.
Ask any union, professional group, alumni association or fraternal group they belonged to.
Also ask each credit card and mortgage company whether it carried any credit life insurance.

MIB keeps records of many life insurance applications since 1996, but it is a paid, mail-only search.

It costs $75 per person by money order or bank certified check, and the fee is not refunded if nothing is found. You need a notarized application and an original death certificate.
The report arrives by mail in about 21 business days. It shows the company and application date, not whether a policy was active or who the beneficiary is.
It generally leaves out smaller policies, employer group coverage and military insurance. It isn't available to California residents or when the person lived in California.
Try the free searches first. It is optional.

Federal workers and many retirees may have FEGLI coverage.

For a current employee, tell the agency human resources office. For a retiree, report the death to the Office of Personnel Management, which sends the claim form.
Claims use Form FE-6 with a certified death certificate, sent by mail to OFEGLI. It cannot be filed online.
OFEGLI answers at 1-800-633-4542. Call about status only after 30 days.

Veterans may have VA life insurance or unclaimed funds with the VA.

Search the VA list of unclaimed money from older VA life insurance. A name match has to be confirmed with more details.
That list leaves out SGLI and VGLI. A beneficiary claims SGLI with form SGLV 8283. The VA line for these policies is 800-419-1473.
Also ask the VA about burial and survivor benefits.

Railroad workers are covered by a separate federal system.

Report the death right away to a Railroad Retirement Board field office at 1-877-772-5772.
Ask about survivor benefits and any lump sum payment.

Insurers pay when the beneficiary files, and most claims need only a form and a certificate.

Call the insurer, ask for a claim form, and send it with a certified death certificate.
If the insurer names someone else as beneficiary, it may only tell you that you are not named. That is normal.
Keep a copy of everything you send, and write down who you spoke with.

Life insurance an insurer couldn't pay can also end up with a state. Search unclaimed money too.

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