How long does it take to get life insurance proceeds?

The last thing a beneficiary wants to worry about is how long it takes to get life insurance money after his/her loved one has died. The emotional pain is overwhelming, however, legal and financial issues must be appropriately addressed so the insurer can pay the death benefit.

With most insurance companies, claims are paid within 30 to 60 days after they receive the required documents, such as a copy of the death certificate, the beneficiary’s current address, etc. How long does it take to get life insurance money exactly depends on the insurance company, the laws in your state, the documents required, and if the insured died within the first two years after he/she got the coverage (because some policies have an incontestability clause), to name a few.

What documents do I need to submit?

Every insurer has its own specific list of required documents that you will need to submit in order to collect benefits. Most of the time you will be able to download this list from the insurance company’s website as a packet or get it by mail with a simple phone call to them to request it. In general, the documents that are required are:

• The claimant’s statement includes the policy number and the deceased’s social security number, address, etc.
• A certified death certificate (they will not accept copies).
• The obituary or a newspaper article regarding the death, when available.
• The original contract.
• A completed HIPPA authorization.

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What are policy payout questions?

• Policy number
• Deceased’s full name
• Deceased’s social security number
• Cause of death
• Claimant’s name
• Claimant’s date of birth
• Claimant’s social security number
• Relationship to the deceased

What could get claims paid faster?

Make sure you follow your insurance broker’s advice on how to fill out the forms correctly the first time. Every time something is missing or not clear, the insurance company will not continue processing the claim until everything is in order. When they ask for a certified death certificate, they mean it – don’t send them a copy.

Contact the insurance company as soon as you can and talk to the claims department. They can help you with the required forms, and also make sure you have everything in order. If you have an insurance broker, this may be the perfect time to call him/her, as well. The broker can also help you with the required documents and make sure it gets to the right place after you sign, to avoid this headache.

What can delay payouts?

Every claim that is submitted to the insurance company will have to go through a review, just to make sure everything is in order. After all, the insurance company may pay a few million dollars at times, so they do take it seriously.

Read More: Life Insurance Coverage FAQs

If the insured died within 2 years after the policy was purchased, beneficiaries could face a few months to a year delay in receiving the benefits. The insurance company has a two-year contestability period that allows the carrier to do more digging and find out that there isn’t any fraud or misrepresentation on the application. Furthermore, if the insured committed suicide within the first two years, you should expect a denial of claims.

Another scenario that could delay payouts for longer than expected is if there was a homicide and the life insurance beneficiary is a prime suspect. All payouts would be frozen until charges are dropped.

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How do life insurance payouts work?

You will probably be surprised to hear that life insurance companies want to pay the claim as fast as possible. As discussed above, if all the forms are in order and there aren’t any red flags (such as homicide with the beneficiary as a suspect), you should expect payment within 30 days or less.

If, however, you don’t receive the payment within this timeframe (every state has a different time frame by law), you will be entitled to “statutory interest,” because they didn’t pay on time.

If you are the only beneficiary, this is pretty straightforward, and you can choose a lump sum or an ongoing monthly payment. If, however, you are not the only beneficiary, you may have to wait a little longer to receive your part.

What are the payout choices?

Most coverages will allow you to withdraw the death benefit amount in a lump sum or a monthly payment. Depending on the benefit amount, and your financial goals and debts, you may choose a monthly payment option. Generally, the lower the amount ($100,000 or less), the beneficiary elects to have this as fast as possible, since there are burial and other expenses associated with death. For the larger amounts, some choose tax-deferred investment vehicles.

For those who choose not to get a lump sum payment, they can pick an annuity payout which includes:

1. Interest income: You are guaranteed to receive payments on the death benefit interest.
2. Specific income: You decide how much per month for how many years to receive income until the death benefit is exhausted. If you die, your beneficiary receives the rest of the death benefit.
3. Life income: you are guaranteed a yearly income as long as you are alive. The insurer decides the amount the for how long, based on your age. If you die before, the insurer keeps the remaining death benefit.
4. Last survivor income: If there is more than one beneficiary, the carrier will pay until the last one dies.
5. Life income, period certain: you are guaranteed a yearly income for life or for a specific period, whichever is longer. If you die first, your beneficiary or the second beneficiary receives the rest.

Case Studies: Life Insurance Proceeds Timeframes

Case Study 1: Fast Payouts With Complete Documentation

John’s father had a life insurance policy with Insurance Company. Unfortunately, his father passed away, and John needed to file a claim to receive the life insurance proceeds.

John promptly submitted all the required documents, including a certified death certificate and his current address. As a result of his thoroughness, Insurance Company was able to process the claim quickly. John received the payout within 30 days, allowing him to handle the financial obligations that arose from his father’s passing.

Case Study 2: Contestability Period Delays

Sarah’s husband had a life insurance policy with Insurance Company. Unfortunately, her husband passed away within the first two years after getting the coverage. Due to the incontestability clause in the policy, Insurance Company had to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure no fraud or misrepresentation occurred during the application process.

As a result, Sarah experienced a delay in receiving the life insurance proceeds. She had to wait for several months before the claim was ultimately approved and the payout was processed.

Case Study 3: Frozen Payouts in Homicide Cases

Emily’s brother was the beneficiary of a life insurance policy with Insurance Company. However, her brother became a prime suspect in a homicide investigation, which led to the freezing of all payouts from the policy.

Insurance Company was legally obligated to withhold the life insurance proceeds until the charges against Emily’s brother were dropped. Unfortunately, Emily had to endure a lengthy waiting period until her brother was cleared of any involvement in the crime.

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What’s the bottom line?

You have many ways to collect the death benefit of a policy once your loved one passes away. It’s also important to note that you may want to consult with a financial adviser instead of deciding by yourself on how to collect the death benefit. Generally speaking, a lump sum is tax-free benefits, but your situation may vary depending on so many variables.

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