How far back can you claim on life insurance?

You may be entitled to a life insurance payout — even years after the insured has passed away. The good news? There’s usually no strict time limit to file a claim, but acting sooner is always better.

Here’s what you need to know about how far back you can go and how to claim what’s rightfully yours.

Is There a Time Limit on Life Insurance Claims?

In most cases: No hard deadline.
Most life insurance companies do not impose a strict expiration date on when a beneficiary can claim. However, state laws and policy terms may influence the process.

What Happens If You Wait Years?

If the policy is still valid and active at the time of death, beneficiaries can often claim even 10–20 years later. However, insurers may require:

• Death certificate

• Proof of beneficiary status

• Original policy (if available)

💡 Tip: Interest may accumulate on unpaid benefits depending on state law.

What If the Policy Was Never Claimed?

Unclaimed benefits are typically sent to the state’s unclaimed property division. You can search for them using:

• MissingMoney.com

• State treasury websites

• NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator

What You Need to File a Claim

To successfully claim a payout, gather:

• The full name of the deceased

• Date of death

• Your identification

• Policy number (if known)

Even without a policy number, the insurer can often verify using personal details.

When Claims May Be Denied

• If the policy lapsed due to non-payment

• If the contestability period revealed fraud

• If the beneficiary can’t be verified

But in most legitimate cases, even decades-old claims can be honored.

Don’t Leave Money on the Table

Millions in life insurance benefits go unclaimed every year.
👉 Let us help you check if you’re eligible — fill out the short form below and we’ll guide you for free.