Claims
Annuity claim resources
Annuity claims are paid after our service team verifies you are the rightful beneficiary, the contract is active and all conditions have been satisfied.
Prefer not to start your claim online?
Start your claim by phone by calling our Annuity Service Center
Monday–Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET
Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. ET
Documents and forms
When filing a claim by mail, these documents are necessary:
- Death certificate - a copy of the death certificate with cause and manner of death
- W9 Form - Completed for the Beneficiary
- One of the following claims election forms:
Additional documents may be needed
Not all options are available to all beneficiaries. Depending on your personal situation, these additional documents may be necessary:
- Equitable Certification of Trust Form for the product(s) associated with the policy/contract can be found in the links above.
- Used to identify the trustee, beneficiary, and TIN of the trust, required if the beneficiary is a trust
- W-4R Form (Optional)
- Used to elect additional Federal Withholding
Please note: All forms above are the most requested claim options.
Please refer to the these documents for more details.
- Structured Capital Strategies Beneficiary guide checklist
- Structured Capital Strategies Plus Beneficiary guide checklist
- Structured Capital Strategies Income Beneficiary guide checklist
- Accumulator Series 04 & Earlier - Beneficiary guide checklist: for all claim options
- Accumulator Series 06 & Later - Beneficiary guide checklist
You may also request the forms be sent to you by calling the numbers below.
Contact and mail information for Annuities service center
Regular Mail
Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company
Retirement Service Solutions
PO Box 1424
Charlotte, NC 28201-1424
Express Mail
Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company
Retirement Service Solutions
8501 IBM Dr. Suite 150-IR
Charlotte, NC 28262-4333
FAQs
Available death-benefit payment options depend on the contract and the beneficiary's status. Options may include a periodic annuity payment plan, a lump sum, or a combination of options. The contract owner may already have selected the payment option, and not all options are available with all products. Beneficiaries should contact the appropriate customer-service area and consult a tax advisor before choosing.
Death certificates may be obtained through the funeral director or County Clerk's office. The current page also directs users to the National Center for Health Statistics for assistance.
No. One original death certificate is generally required for a claim regardless of the product or number of beneficiaries. If there are multiple Equitable contracts, a copy may be submitted with a statement identifying the department that has the original.
Requirements vary by state and benefit amount. A court-approved guardianship or conservatorship document may be required. Contact Customer Service for the rules that apply to the specific situation.
A copy of the Power of Attorney completed and signed by the beneficiary and signed by the Attorney-in-Fact may be required. An accompanying declaration of Attorney-in-Fact may also be required in some instances.
For some contracts, when the owner and annuitant are the same person and the only designated beneficiary is the spouse, the spouse may be able to continue the contract. Contact Customer Service regarding the specific contract and circumstances.
A death in a foreign country may extend processing time. The current page requests an original death certificate and a State Department form for the death of a U.S. citizen abroad. A translation is requested if the death certificate is in another language.
Payments may be fully or partially taxable as ordinary income depending on the type of contract, whether after-tax contributions were made, and the selected payment option. Estate or inheritance taxes may also apply by jurisdiction. Beneficiaries should consult the appropriate customer-service area, a financial professional and an independent tax advisor. See our Losing a Loved One Beneficiary Guide for more information.
Documentation showing authority to act may be required for a trust, estate, charitable organization, beneficiary designated under a will, or unidentified children of the annuitant. Requirements may include trust documents, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, organizational authorization, a probated will, applicable claim and payment-option forms, taxpayer identification information, or a notarized affidavit.
If no annuity beneficiary is named, or if no eligible beneficiary remains on record, we distribute the annuity proceeds in the following order of priority: surviving spouse, surviving children, and if none, the estate.
GE-9158820.1 (10/2026) (Exp. 10/2030)
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