Metlife: Claiming Your Life Insurance Benefits

MetLife offers a range of life insurance policies to provide financial security for individuals and their families. In the event of a policyholder's death, their beneficiaries can file a life insurance claim to receive the benefits outlined in the policy. The process of filing a claim involves several steps, and MetLife provides resources to assist beneficiaries during this difficult time. This includes a life insurance claim kit, which guides beneficiaries through the necessary procedures and helps them navigate the claims process efficiently.

Individual beneficiary claim kit

To collect life insurance from MetLife, you'll need to submit a life insurance claim. There are two types of claim kits available: an individual beneficiary claim kit and a trust/entity claim kit.

If you are the named beneficiary of the policy, you should choose the individual beneficiary claim kit. This kit will guide you through the process and provide valuable information.

Step 1: Download the Kit

Visit the MetLife website to download the individual beneficiary claim kit. Review the kit thoroughly, as it contains important information and instructions.

Step 2: Complete the Claim Form

Fill out the claim form within the kit. Provide personal details about yourself and the insured, including:

• Your social security number
• Your relationship to the insured
• The insurance policy number(s) you are claiming; if you don’t know the policy number, you may search for it using their policy finder

Step 3: Gather Required Documents

In addition to the completed claim form, you will need to submit a death certificate. If the policy value is equal to or less than $100,000, a copy of the death certificate is sufficient. For policies valued over $100,000, you must provide a certified death certificate, which has a raised or colored seal.

Other required documents may include:

• An assignment form from the funeral home if they are to be paid directly by MetLife
• Proof of the accident (e.g., police reports) if you are making an accidental death benefit claim
• Power of Attorney documentation if you have authority over the beneficiary

Step 4: Submit Your Claim

You can submit your completed claim form and supporting documents to MetLife via mail, fax, email, or online. The specific submission options are provided in the claim kit.

Step 5: Check Claim Status

Once you have submitted your claim, you can call MetLife's customer service team at 1-800-638-5000 for updates. If you selected the option during the claim process, you can also receive status updates via email or text.

Remember to carefully review the individual beneficiary claim kit and follow the instructions provided by MetLife to ensure a smooth claims process.

Trust/entity claim kit

To submit a life insurance claim, you must download the life insurance claim kit. MetLife has created two claim kits to choose from, depending on who the named beneficiary for the policy is. If you are claiming the proceeds on behalf of an estate, a trust, or a company, you will need the Trust/entity claim kit.

The Trust/entity claim kit provides valuable information to help you through the process. You will need to complete the claim form within the kit and return it to MetLife, along with the death certificate and any other required documents as outlined in the kit.

If you are completing a trust/entity claim form, you will need to fill out personal details for the insured and information about the trust/entity. This includes the full name of the insured, their address, their date of birth, and their social security number. You will also need to provide the full name of the estate/trust/entity, your relationship to it (e.g. executor, trustee, CEO), its address, the date the trust was established (if claiming on behalf of a trust), the tax identification number for the trust/estate/entity, and the insurance policy number(s) you are claiming on. If you do not know the policy number, you can search for it using the policy finder at metlife.com/policyfinder/. Finally, you will need to provide documentation of your authorized representation for the trust/estate/entity.

Once you have completed the form and gathered the necessary documents, you can submit your claim and documents by email to [email protected], by fax to 1-908-655-9586, or by mail via USPS to the address provided on your claim kit.

Claim form requirements

To collect life insurance from MetLife, you must submit a life insurance claim. There are two types of claim kits available for download, depending on who the named beneficiary of the policy is:

Individual Beneficiary Claim Kit

Choose this kit if you are the named beneficiary of the policy. You will need to fill out personal details about yourself and the insured, including:

• Social security number
• Your relationship to the insured
• Insurance policy number(s) you are claiming on

Trust/Entity Claim Kit

Choose this kit if you are claiming the proceeds on behalf of an estate, a trust, or a company. You will need to fill out the personal details above, as well as information about the trust/estate/entity, such as:

• Full name of the estate/trust/entity
• Your relationship to the estate/trust/entity (e.g. executor, trustee, CEO)
• Address for the estate/trust/entity
• Date the trust was established (if claiming on behalf of a trust)
• Tax identification number for the trust/estate/entity
• Documentation of your authorized representation for the trust/estate/entity

In addition to the completed claim form, you will need to return the form to MetLife, along with the death certificate and any other required documents outlined in the kit.

If the policy you are claiming is less than $100,000 or the original/certified death certificate is already on file from another beneficiary, you can submit your claim and documents by mail, fax, or email.

Submitting required documents

To submit a life insurance claim, you will need to download the life insurance claim kit. There are two claim kits to choose from: the individual beneficiary claim kit and the trust/entity claim kit. The former is for those who are the named beneficiary of the policy, while the latter is for those claiming the proceeds on behalf of an estate, a trust, or a company.

After downloading the appropriate kit, be sure to review it in full as it contains valuable information. You will then need to complete the claim form within the kit and return it to MetLife, along with the death certificate and any other required documents outlined in the kit.

If the policy you are claiming is less than $100,000 or if the original/certified death certificate is already on file from another beneficiary, you can submit your claim and documents by completing the form online, or by email, fax, or mail.

If you are an individual beneficiary, you can submit your claim by email to [email protected], by fax to 1-908-655-9586, or by mail to the address provided on your claim kit.

If the insured passed away outside of the United States, you will need to mail the original death certificate and documents that include the cause and manner of death to the address on your claim form.

If you are representing a beneficiary who is a minor, you will need a court certificate that specifies who was appointed as the guardian of the minor's property or estate. If this is unavailable, the funds can be held at MetLife in a minor on deposit interest-bearing account until the minor reaches the age of majority in your state or until you can provide the court certificate.

If you are representing an estate, you will need additional documentation that can be obtained from probate court. This may include court certificate papers listing the appointed administrator or executor of the estate and a tax identification number. For smaller estates, only a small estate affidavit or a summary of the administration is needed.

If you are representing a trust, you will need to complete the certification of trust form that you will receive in the life claim packet.

Receiving the life insurance proceeds

• Deposit the funds into an interest-bearing, no-fee MetLife Total Control Account. You also have the option of receiving a debit card that can be used anywhere Visa is accepted. More information about this option can be found at MetLifeRetailTCA.MetLife.com.
• Receive a cheque via USPS within 5 business days. Please note that mail delivery times may vary.

You can check the status of your claim by calling MetLife's customer service team at 1-800-638-5000. If you are filing as an individual beneficiary, you can also receive status updates via email or text. Otherwise, you will be notified by mail of your payment status or if further information is required.

MetLife aims to make the process of filing a life insurance claim as simple as possible. They provide a claim kit and process summary to guide you through the process. There are two claim kits available: an individual beneficiary claim kit and a trust/entity claim kit. You will need to complete the relevant claim form and return it to MetLife, along with the death certificate and any other required documents outlined in the kit.

If the policy you are claiming is less than $100,000 or the original/certified death certificate is already on file from another beneficiary, you can submit your claim and documents by completing the form online, or by email, fax, or mail.

Frequently asked questions