Death Claim Processing

• When reporting a claim, provide the exact date of death, if it is available. The date is required to cancel the policy and prevent subsequent mailings from being sent in the deceased's name. 
• Partial payments in advance of claim settlement may be available to clients. 
• If life insurance and the total face amount of all the life insurance policies is $150,000 or less, an express claim, where no claim requirements are needed, may be available. 
• If payout product and the total death benefit amount of all the payout product policies is $150,000 or less, a payout express claim, where no claim requirements are needed, may be available. 

How to Initiate a Life Claim for Individual Insurance:

1. Call our Customer Care Centre at 1-877-272-2020
2. Submit your request through eClaims (link to eClaims Application) application.

Once the death has been reported, this will initiate the setup of the claim and the termination of the policies.

• Form E84 - Claimant Statement completed by each beneficiary. 
• Death Certificate or Funeral Director's Statement. If death occurs within Canada a copy can be submitted with an obituary or the name, address and phone number of the funeral home handling the services. If death occurs outside of Canada or the United States, an original Death Certificate or Funeral Director's Statement with seal is required.

• Form E84 - Claimant Statement completed by the liquidator, executor or administrator. 
• Death Certificate or Funeral Director's Statement with seal. If death occurs within Canada a copy can be submitted with an obituary or the name, address and phone number of the funeral home handling the services. If death occurs outside of Canada or the United States, an original Death Certificate or Funeral Director's Statement with seal is required.
• If the total insurance amount is between $150,000 to $249,999.99, a notarial copy of the will. 
• If the total insurance amount is $250,000 or more, a notarial copy of the probated will. 
• If the client lives in Quebec, please see the "When do I need to provide a will" section below. 

• Form E84 - Claimant Statement completed by each beneficiary. 
• Form E65 - Proof of death/physician's statement

• Form E84 - Claimant Statement completed by the liquidator, executor or administrator. 
• Form E65 - Proof of death/physician's statement.   
• If the total insurance amount is between $150,000 to $249,999.99, a notarial copy of the will.
• If the total insurance amount is $250,000 or more, a notarial copy of the probated will. 
• If the client lives in Quebec, please refer to the "When do I need a to provide a will" section below. 

• The Claimant Statement should be completed by the legal representative of the estate. Refer to the 'When do I need to provide a will' section.

• If a trustee is named, the following are required: 
  • The E84 - Claimant Statement completed by the trustee. 
  • The signature area completed as 'John Doe trustee for Sally Doe, Date of Birth DD/MM/YY'. 
• The cheque is made payable to 'John Doe, in trust for Sally Doe, minor beneficiary'. 
• If no trustee is named, regulations vary for each province. Contact the Life Claims department. 

In the province of Quebec, 

• the proceeds can be claimed by both parents as tutors. 
• we need a certified copy of the birth certificate showing the names of the parents.

If the Power of Attorney is completing the claim statement for the beneficiary, the beneficiary information should be included in section 2 (Claimant’s information) of form E84 – Claimant statement.

• Form E84 - Claimant statement should be completed by a representative of the corporation or organization. 
• In section 2 (Claimant’s information), the address should be the corporation’s or organization’s address.
• In section 6 (Authorization section), the person signing the form should indicate the office or position they hold with the organization, beside their signature. 
• If the organization has a seal, it should be affixed to the form. 

If there are multiple beneficiaries who are not minors, each beneficiary must complete a separate form E84 – Claimant statement.

What if the beneficiary is deceased?

• If the beneficiary predeceased the insured, we will require the date of death and an obituary or the name and phone number of the funeral home if known, otherwise please submit a proof of death. 
• If this is not available, form E99 - Declaration of death by estate trustee signed by the executor of the estate of the life insured can be used. 
• Life Claims will advise the name of the beneficiary when the primary beneficiary predeceased the life insured. There may be delay if the original file is needed to confirm this information. 

• If the beneficiary is unable to claim due to incompetency and no Power of Attorney has been appointed, we require a claim statement by their Committee. 
• If the proceeds are over $50,000, a notarial copy of the document appointing their Committee is required. In Quebec we also need an appointment of a curator or the Power of Attorney to be probated following incapacity. 

Beneficiary claim statement payment options
Death claim proceeds can be paid by:

• A personalized cheque marked VOID or a direct deposit form from a bank are required.
• Payments will be deposited directly into the account indicated on either of the above requirements.

• Cheques will be mailed as indicated on E84 – Claimant statement.
  • Mail to claimant.
  • Mail to advisor for delivery.
• If no selection is made, cheques will be mailed to claimant.

If there is one named beneficiary, the beneficiary can transfer the funds from the deceased's Accumulation Annuity 'intact' to a new policy in their name. The intact transfer allows the beneficiary to retain the original investment interest rate and maturity dates. On the E84 – Claimant statement’, indicate the beneficiary's Accumulation Annuity policy number if it is an intact transfer.

If transferring the proceeds to other Sun Life products, indicate the beneficiary’s policy or account number on the E84 – Claimant statement.