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How do life insurance payouts work?

As a beneficiary, you’re legally entitled to some or all of the death benefit once the insurer approves the claim.

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Katia Iervasi
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As a beneficiary, it’s important to know how to receive the funds that were left to you by your loved one. You can then use the money however you like, although your loved one’s insurer might deny the death benefit in certain cases — like fraud and criminal activity.

How do life insurance payouts work?

As the beneficiary, you can choose how you want to receive the death benefit. Depending on the insurer’s flexibility, you may be given the following options:

  • Lump sum payment. This is the simplest payout option and the default on most policies. You get a one-time payment from the insurance company.
  • Installments and annuities. You can choose to receive the money in installments — usually over the course of five to 40 years. For example, you might ask to get 25% of the death benefit every year for four years, or 10% every year for 10 years. This is also known as a systematic withdrawal, and the beneficiary usually earns interest on the unpaid amount while the insurance provider holds it. Many people choose this for the guaranteed income stream.
  • Retained asset account. The insurance company keeps the funds in an account and allows you to write checks against the balance. The account accrues interest, but you won’t be able to make deposits into it.
  • Interest-only account. The insurance company holds the death benefit and pays the beneficiary the interest generated from that amount.

The best payment option for you comes down to your situation. If you have debts and expenses that need to be covered, a lump-sum payment might make the most sense. But if you’re financially comfortable and don’t want to make any decisions about how you’ll use the money, you might want to elect for installments or annuities.

Which beneficiaries receive the life insurance payout?

Policyholders can name more than one person to receive the proceeds of their life insurance policy. They can also allocate how much money will go to each. For example, many parents will divide the policy equally among their children.

There are three types of beneficiaries:

  • Primary beneficiaries are the first to receive a payout.
  • Secondary or contingent beneficiaries receive the payout if something happens to the primary beneficiary or beneficiaries.
  • Final beneficiaries get the death benefit if something happens to both the primary and secondary beneficiaries.

Not all policyholders name primary, secondary and final beneficiaries. Some will simply name a sole beneficiary and that person will receive the entire death benefit.

If you’re a policyholder, it’s a good idea to talk over the beneficiary designation with your loved ones to prevent any surprises after your death.

What if a beneficiary dies before the person insured?

Your contingent beneficiary is next in line to receive your death benefit, otherwise the policy will be paid to the owner’s estate. Policyholders can update their beneficiaries at any time by filling out a form and submitting it to their life insurance company.

You can divide the death benefit ‘per capita,’ i.e. per person. So if one primary beneficiary dies, the proceeds are divided equally among all the survivors of that beneficiary and your other primary beneficiaries. Or, you can choose to divide it ‘per stirpes’ — i.e. by branch of the family — instead. This means that if you outlive one of your primary beneficiaries, their portion of the money will go to their children or grandchildren, and the rest to the other listed primary beneficiaries.

Do beneficiaries pay taxes on life insurance payouts?

Usually, no — life insurance proceeds are not considered taxable income. This means your beneficiaries will receive the full payout.

However, if your beneficiaries choose to receive the death benefit in installments, they may have to pay income tax on any interest earned on that account.

Let’s say your $100,000 policy earns $10,000 in interest between the time of your death and the payout to your beneficiaries. They’ll most likely owe taxes on that $10,000.

How to get a life insurance payout

If you believe you’re owed a payout, you’ll need to take action since the insurance company won’t do it on your behalf. Your steps to follow:

  1. Get a certified copy of the policyholder’s death certificate. The funeral home or your state or county’s records department will be able to help you with that.
  2. Collect any other supporting documentation. For example, if the policyholder died in an accident or as a result of a medical condition, gather proof.
  3. Request and fill out the claim form. The provider will guide you through the process. Each beneficiary who’s claiming part of the death benefit will need to complete and sign a claim form.
  4. File the claim. Submit the claim form and any other information the insurer requests.
  5. Wait for the claim to be reviewed. The insurer will assess the policy and circumstances surrounding the policyholder’s death. They’ll then approve or deny your claim. If the claim is approved, the insurance company will issue the payout within a specific timeframe.
  6. Choose a payment option. Let the insurance company know which payout option you prefer.

How to find an unclaimed life insurance policy

There’s over a billion dollars in unclaimed life insurance floating around the US. If you think you might be owed money, start by searching any records the individual may have kept. If you come up empty, check with your state insurance department or use the NAIC’s life insurance policy locator service.

How can I use the life insurance payout?

While you’re free to spend the money on anything, most people put the death benefit toward these major expenses.

  1. Mortgage or cosigned debt. If your loved one bought a policy to cover your mortgage or if you cosigned another debt like student loans, consider using it to pay off these debts.
  2. Everyday living expenses. You can cover daily expenses and home responsibilities like utility bills, groceries, a house cleaner or nanny to maintain your family’s lifestyle.
  3. End-of-life expenses. You could cover funeral and burial costs, which can cost over $7,000, as well as other end-of-life expenses like unpaid medical bills.
  4. Child or adult care for family. You could pay for childcare, care for an elderly parent or even raising a special needs child who may need nursing care or specialized equipment.
  5. College tuition. You could cover college tuition, helping your kids graduate with little to no student debt.
  6. Estate taxes. If your loved one’s estate is worth at or above $11.58 million — the IRS threshold for 2020 — you’ll have to pay federal estate taxes. Some states also require estate taxes.
  7. Inheritance. Divide the death benefit according to your loved one’s will, which may include giving it to children, grandchildren or a charity.
  8. Nursing home care, while living. If your loved one needs help with daily activities, some policies with a long-term care rider pay part of the death benefit to cover these costs.
  9. Medical bills for terminal illness. If your loved one is diagnosed with a terminal condition and bought a critical illness or accelerated death benefit rider, it pays a portion of the death benefit.

How long does the payout process take?

This depends on your state’s laws. Typically, insurers have to pay out beneficiaries 30 to 60 days after the claim is filed. If it takes longer, it’ll have to pay accrued interest on the proceeds.

Can you contest a denied life insurance claim?

Yes. Insurers base their claims decisions on solid evidence, so you’ll need to prove them wrong. To contest a claim, collect any evidence in your favor and present it to the life insurance company. If the claim is still denied, you can pursue legal action.

When the payout may be delayed or denied

There are a few reasons life insurance won’t pay out. As a beneficiary, you may run into delays if the policyholder:

  • Died within the first two years of buying the policy. Insurers can delay payment for up to two years while they investigate if fraud was committed. This is known as the two-year contestability period, and it also applies to suicide.
  • Died in suspicious circumstances. In cases of homicide or suicide, the insurance company might open its own investigation and verify details for the claim. Most policies have a statute that stops beneficiaries from receiving the death benefit if they played a role in the policyholder’s death.
  • Died while doing an illegal or excluded activity. These include driving under the influence, driving in a race, flying a private plane or traveling to a country on the State Department’s warning list.
  • Lied on the application. If the insurer discovers that the policyholder omitted health conditions or details about their lifestyle, they may deny the claim or reduce the death benefit. This situation can happen even if the dishonesty isn’t related to the death.
  • Life insurance expired. Term life insurance lasts a set number of years, like 20 or 30 years. Once this time is up, your coverage is no longer in effect.

Compare life insurance companies

Reach beyond our top five to find the best fit for your goals and budget.

Name Product Issue age Minimum Coverage Maximum Coverage Term Lengths Medical Exam Required
Policygenius
Policygenius
18 - 85 years old
$50,000
$10,000,000
10, 15, 20, 25, 30 years
Depends on provider and policy
Compare 12+ top insurers side-by-side to get the best possible deal, and shop return of premium policies online.
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More Info
Bestow
Bestow
18 - 60 years old
$50,000
$1,500,000
10, 15, 20, 25, 30 years
No
Get a quote in less than 10 minutes with on-the-spot approval and no medical exam.
Go to site
More Info
Everyday Life
Everyday Life
20 - 75 years old
$100,000
$10,000,000
10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years.
No
Ladder multiple life insurance policies to save on the coverage you need for all your debts.
Go to site
More Info
Ladder
Ladder
20 - 60 years old
$100,000
$8,000,000
10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years
No, for coverage up to $3M
Apply for term life insurance online without the medical exam. Get an instant decision and adjust your coverage at no charge.
Go to site
More Info
Sproutt
Sproutt
18 - 60 years old
$50,000
$4,000,000
5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years
No
Compare 40+ insurers and apply online to get the lowest possible price — no medical exam required.
Go to site
More Info
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Bottom line

In most cases, collecting a life insurance policy is straightforward. As a beneficiary, you’ll need to contact the insurance company to file a claim. If everything checks out, you should receive a payout in 30 to 60 days. But if the insurer needs to conduct an investigation, you may not get paid for months or years — or at all.

If you want to take out a policy yourself, be sure to compare life insurance companies.

Frequently asked questions about life insurance payouts

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