How to Claim Life Insurance as a Beneficiary in Ontario

If you were named as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy, you may be hoping for a simple payment. In many cases the process is fairly direct, but it still takes paperwork, and grief makes paperwork harder. You may also not be sure which insurer holds the policy, or whether you really are the named person.

This article walks through the practical steps: finding the policy, starting the claim, what to gather, and what your options are if the insurer cannot find you or disagrees with your claim. Policy wording and insurer practice vary, so treat this as a general guide.

Step one: find out which policies exist

Ontario's guide for people dealing with a death tells estate trustees to contact the deceased's insurers, bank and credit card companies, and ServiceOntario. If you are not sure whether a life insurance policy exists, the OmbudService for Life & Health Insurance can help search for one.

• Look through mail, email, bank statements and tax papers for premium payments or insurer names.
• Check the deceased's workplace benefits, since group coverage is common.
• Ask the family lawyer, financial advisor or accountant if they know of any policies.
• Check any safe deposit box or filing cabinet for policy documents.

If you think you are named but have never seen the policy, contact the insurer directly. Give them the full name, date of birth and date of death of the person who died, and your own contact details.

Step two: start the claim

Most insurers have a claims department that will send you a claim form and tell you what supporting documents they want. Exact requirements differ from company to company, so ask for them in writing.

• The policy number, if you have it
• Proof of death, usually a death certificate or the document the insurer specifies
• Your own identification
• The completed claim form from the insurer
• Banking details for the payment, if the insurer asks
• Any extra forms the insurer asks for if the death was recent, unusual or within the first years of the policy

Keep copies of everything you send, note the date, and write down the name of anyone you speak with. If a deadline or payment time is quoted to you, ask the insurer to confirm it in writing. Payment timing depends on the policy and the insurer, and a lawyer can confirm what applies.

If the insurer cannot find you or cannot confirm you

Sometimes the named beneficiary has moved, changed names, or the insurer holds old contact information. If you believe you are named, do not wait to be found. Contact the insurer, explain who you are, and provide identification that connects you to the name on the policy, such as proof of a name change.

If the insurer says it has no record of you, ask what the policy shows. Ask whether the beneficiary was changed, and when. What follows from that depends on the policy and the facts, and it is worth getting legal advice before you accept or argue with the answer.

If your claim is denied or disputed

FSRA does not intervene in the amount or settlement of insurance claims. Claim decisions can be reviewed by dispute-resolution bodies that insurers must belong to, such as the OmbudService for Life and Health Insurance, or they can be decided by a civil court.

FSRA does handle some complaints, but it requires the insurer's final position letter before it reviews a complaint. So if you are unhappy, ask the insurer for its final position in writing and keep that letter.

• Ask the insurer to explain the reason for the denial in writing.
• Ask for a copy of the policy and the beneficiary designation.
• Use the insurer's internal complaint process first.
• Consider the OmbudService for Life and Health Insurance or a lawyer if the answer is not satisfactory.
• Be aware that going to court may have time limits, which a lawyer can confirm.

What to do next

• Get several certified copies of the death certificate.
• List every insurer and plan you think may have coverage.
• Contact each one and ask for claim forms and a written list of requirements.
• Send in the claim and keep proof of delivery.
• Ask the insurer for its expected timeline in writing.
• If there is a dispute, ask for the final position letter and get legal advice.

If you are also the estate trustee, remember that insurance is only one part of the work. Other tasks, such as tax returns and probate, may be running at the same time, and a lawyer or accountant can help you sequence them.

Frequently asked questions