Beneficiary Services FAQs

You can mail documents to: Navy Mutual, P.O. Box 5769, Fredericksburg, VA 22403

You can securely upload documents to Navy Mutual after creating a Customer Portal account at members.navymutual.org.

You can fax documents to: 703-945-1441 or 703-945-1442.

If you would like to email documents to Navy Mutual, please reach out to a Beneficiary Services representative by calling 800-628-6011 to request a secure email. Use only secure email when sending documents by email.

A certified original death certificate may be required, depending on the circumstances of the claim. If requested, you can mail the death certificate, along with any other original documents, to: Navy Mutual, P.O. Box 5769, Fredericksburg, VA 22403. Please note that, if requested, a certified death certificate must be mailed to Navy Mutual. We cannot accept digitized copies.

We only require one certified death certificate per insured. It can be submitted by mail to: Navy Mutual, P.O. Box 5769, Fredericksburg, VA 22403.

Once all required documents are received by Navy Mutual, your claim should be processed and available to view electronically within 10 business days. The most efficient way to receive a benefit is via direct deposit; mailed checks may result in the funds’ accessibility being delayed.

If you would like confirmation that all documents have been received, please reach out by email to claims@navymutual.org. Alternatively, you may call Beneficiary Services, 800-628-6011 during our normal hours of operation, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.

Generally, life insurance death benefits are not subject to federal income tax; however, exceptions may apply. Consult a qualified tax adviser regarding your specific situation.

Keeping your beneficiary designations up to date is important. Log in to your Customer Portal account to download a Change of Beneficiary Form. Change of Beneficiary Forms must be signed by the policy owner and any irrevocable beneficiaries and can be returned to Navy Mutual by mail, email, or fax. We will confirm that the requested changes have been made within 15 business days.

Note that the insured cannot be the beneficiary.

You will receive notification within 15 business days of submitting a Change of Beneficiary Form.

In the event of an insured’s death, the beneficiaries typically can choose among four payout options:

• Lump-sum payment: Full or partial payment of the death benefit will be distributed to the beneficiary by electronic funds transfer (EFT) or check. This is the only available payment option if the death benefit is less than $10,000.
• Fixed payments: The death benefit can be paid out to the beneficiary over a fixed period of one to 30 years. If they should pass away during the fixed period, the remaining benefit will either (a) be paid in full to their beneficiary (if the beneficiary is an estate, trust, or corporation) or (b) continue being paid as fixed period payments for the remainder of the fixed period (if their beneficiary is a natural person).
• Quarterly interest payments: The death benefit is held by Navy Mutual, and any interest accumulated on that death benefit will be distributed to the beneficiary each quarter. A complete or partial lump-sum distribution can be requested at any time, provided the remaining balance of the death benefit is above $10,000.
• Life payments: The beneficiary may elect to convert the death benefit into monthly income for life, with or without a guaranteed payout period (a period certain). If no period certain is elected, payments will stop at the beneficiary’s death. If a period certain is elected, should the beneficiary pass away during that period certain, payments will continue to a second beneficiary through the end of the period certain. This is an irrevocable option. Please note that fixed period income payments guarantee that the full amount of the death benefit will be paid out to beneficiaries. There is potential for loss if a life income payout option is selected and the beneficiary passes away unexpectedly.

Fixed payments, quarterly interest payments, and life payments require a minimum benefit amount of $10,000. Any benefit amount under $10,000 will be paid in a lump sum.

Please review your payout options carefully and note that each has tax implications. To learn more, contact us at claims@navymutual.org or at 800-628-6011.

Life income and fixed period settlement options are processed as Single Premium Immediate Annuities. These are funded with the policy’s death benefit and any accrued interest. The annuity interest rate will depend on the size of the death benefit and the length of time that payments are to be made. Quarterly interest payments are made at rates established from time to time by Navy Mutual. Please contact a Claims Representative at claims@navymutual.org or 800-628-6011 for more detailed information about the interest rates applicable to your specific settlement.

Certain payment options may be subject to administrative fees. Please contact Navy Mutual at 800-628-6011 for current fee information.

Depending on the payment option selected, a death benefit or annuity settlement may include amounts that are subject to tax reporting. For example, interest associated with certain settlement options may be reportable; if so, applicable tax forms are issued as required by law. Tax treatment and reporting requirements can vary based on individual circumstances and the type of benefit received. For questions regarding your specific situation, please consult a qualified tax professional.

Most settlement options are irrevocable once selected. The quarterly interest payment option is the exception and may be changed after election. Depending on the amount of the death benefit and the settlement option selected, beneficiaries may be able to receive a portion of the benefit as a lump-sum payment and place the remainder into another settlement option.

If a payment includes both principal and interest earnings, withholding is generally applied only to the taxable portion of the payment (the interest), not the entire payment amount. The amount withheld will depend on the withholding election made by the beneficiary and applicable tax rules. Any required tax reporting forms, such as Form 1099-R, are generally provided by the end of January for the prior calendar year. For questions about your individual tax situation, please consult a qualified tax professional.

In some circumstances, settlement options may be available that allow proceeds to remain with Navy Mutual until a minor beneficiary reaches adulthood. Available options depend on the beneficiary designation, the amount of the benefit, and other applicable requirements. For active duty servicemembers, additional financial education and counseling resources may be available through the Department of Defense Office of Financial Readiness. Please contact Navy Mutual to discuss the options that may be available for your specific situation.

You can start by downloading our Survivor Checklist. You can also find information in the Survivor Benefits section of this site.

If you prefer to speak with a representative, our Veterans Services team can assist you in understanding and applying for any benefits to which you may be entitled.

Yes. Navy Mutual offers four payout options for you to choose from: lump-sum payment, fixed payments, quarterly interest payments, and life payments.

If you choose the settlement option for your plans, we encourage you to inform your beneficiaries before the insured passes away.

Ownership of the policy does not automatically transfer to a specific individual upon the policy owner’s death. To help ensure your wishes are documented, Navy Mutual offers a Successor Owner Designation Form, which allows you to designate the person you would like to become the policy owner in the event of your death.

To designate a successor owner, please complete a Successor Owner Designation form, which can be found on the “Resources” tab of the Customer Portal.

Required documentation varies based on the size and location of the estate and applicable state law. Depending on the circumstances, Navy Mutual may require court-issued documents identifying the authorized estate representative, a small estate affidavit where permitted by law, and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) for the estate. Please contact Navy Mutual for information regarding your specific situation.

You have access only to information regarding your portion of the death benefit after the time of death.

The taxable portion, if any, depends on the annuity value, the amount initially contributed to the annuity, the beneficiary, and the distribution option selected. Because tax treatment varies based on individual circumstances, please contact Navy Mutual for information about available options and consult a qualified tax professional regarding your specific situation.

Check locations where you commonly store important documents, such as a fire safe box or a safety deposit box first. If you cannot find the documents in these locations, speak with the attorney who set up the trust.

If the trust is no longer in effect, Navy Mutual will request documentation of the dissolution of the trust or a notarized statement from the executor (1) stating that the trust is not in effect, and (2) directing payment of the benefit.

In certain situations, such as when an estate or trust is receiving benefits, Navy Mutual may require a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to process the claim and comply with applicable tax reporting requirements. If a TIN is needed for your claim, Navy Mutual will provide additional information regarding the documentation required.

You can learn more and apply for a TIN on the IRS website.

If an estate will not be probated, the documentation needed to process a claim may vary depending on the circumstances and applicable state law. In some situations, documents such as a small estate affidavit or other documentation establishing authority to act on behalf of the estate may be accepted. Please contact Navy Mutual for information regarding the requirements that may apply to your specific situation.

No. Claims forms are drafted specific to the beneficiary, the claim amount, and the options available to the beneficiary as determined by the policy owner. For this reason, there is not one standard form available for all beneficiaries.

Once a report of death has been submitted, Navy Mutual makes reasonable efforts to contact beneficiaries identified on the policy. If you believe you may be a beneficiary and have questions about a claim, please contact us at 800-628-6011 so we can assist you.

Contact the estate attorney for help obtaining Letters of Administration.

Yes, Navy Mutual will return the death certificate after a claim is processed.

In some situations, a small estate affidavit may be used to establish authority to collect or transfer assets without a formal probate proceeding. Availability and requirements vary by state law and may depend on factors such as the value of the estate and the type of assets involved. Please contact Navy Mutual for information regarding the documentation that may be required for your specific claim.

Yes. Navy Mutual can accept an absolute assignment, which, depending on the policy’s death benefit, transfers complete or partial ownership of the policy to another party to cover funeral expenses. In some situations, policy owners may also choose to name a funeral home as a beneficiary. Because each situation is different, please contact Navy Mutual to discuss the arrangement that best meets your needs and any applicable requirements.

Form 712, Life Insurance Statement, is an IRS form that may be used for certain estate, gift, or tax-related purposes. The form provides information regarding the value of a life insurance policy and may be requested by an executor, beneficiary, attorney, accountant, or tax professional in connection with estate administration or tax reporting requirements.

You can obtain a completed Form 712 by requesting one from claims@navymutual.org or calling 800-628-6011.

If no estate has been established, the documentation needed to process a claim may vary, depending on the circumstances and applicable state law. In some situations, a small estate affidavit or other documentation may be used to establish authority to collect or transfer assets without a formal probate proceeding. Please contact Navy Mutual for information regarding the requirements that may apply to your specific situation.

The policy owner can generally change the designation of a revocable beneficiary is a beneficiary without the beneficiary’s consent while the policy is in force. An irrevocable beneficiary has certain rights in the policy and generally must provide consent before changes affecting their interest can be made. If you have questions about establishing or changing your beneficiary designations, please contact Navy Mutual for assistance.