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Philippines · when a family member dies
Death claim requirements Philippines — fill in the checklist and letters, print them, claim on time
- Life insurer must pay by: —
- GSIS (non-life claims) by: —
- SSS, reported limit (confirm): —
OFW? Count the agency insurance
Agency insurer must pay by: type the date
Rules: Insurance Code Sec. 248; RA 8042 Sec. 37-A; RA 8291 Sec. 28; SSS limit not confirmed. Check your own case.
Calculated by Insurance Code Sec. 248 (60 days after the claim and proof of death), RA 8042 Sec. 37-A (10 days), RA 8291 Sec. 28 (GSIS, 4 years). The SSS 10-year limit is reported, not confirmed. Check your own case with each office.
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- 1Fill in. Type into the death benefits checklist — Philippines right here on the page — no sign-up, nothing to install.
- 2Print or download. Print it in one click, or download the Word file to keep and edit.
- 3Send. Bring the documents and the letter to SSS, GSIS, Pag-IBIG or the insurer; have the affidavit of legal heirs notarized first.
- 4Deadline. A life insurer must pay within 60 days of the claim; GSIS claims prescribe in 4 years — the calculator above counts your dates.
Deadlines
The rules, with the source
| What | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Life insurance proceeds | Paid within 60 days after the claim and proof of death are filed; late payment earns interest at twice the Monetary Board ceiling unless the claim is fraudulent | Insurance Code (RA 10607), Sec. 248; damages — Sec. 250 |
| Insurer refuses or delays | Complaint to the Insurance Commission for claims up to ₱5,000,000 | Insurance Code, Sec. 439 |
| OFW agency insurance | Paid within 10 days from the written notice of claim; at least US$15,000 accidental death, US$10,000 natural death | RA 8042 Sec. 37-A (RA 10022) and IRR |
| GSIS (government employees) | Claims other than life and retirement prescribe 4 years after the death | RA 8291, Sec. 28 |
| SSS death and funeral benefits | Primary beneficiaries: dependent spouse and children; then dependent parents. A 10-year limit has been reported — confirm with SSS | RA 11199, Secs. 8(k), 13, 13-B |
| Pag-IBIG, OWWA | No deadline found in the law — file early and ask the office | — |
Benefit amounts are set by each agency and change; check its current schedule. Policy proceeds go to the beneficiary named in the policy.
Checklist
Documents almost every office asks for
- Death certificatePSA copy (Local Civil Registry copy while the PSA copy is not yet available). Get several.
- Marriage certificatePSA — for the surviving spouse.
- Birth certificates of the childrenPSA — for minor and dependent children.
- Valid IDsOf the claimant and the deceased; two government IDs are often asked.
- Membership numbersSSS, GSIS BP, Pag-IBIG MID, PhilHealth PIN; contribution records help.
- Funeral receiptsIn the name of the person who paid — for funeral benefits.
- Affidavit of legal heirsWhen no beneficiary is named or the office asks; agencies may have their own form.
- Bank account, authorization letterMany offices pay only to the claimant’s own account; an authorization letter or SPA if someone else files.
Step by step
Five steps
1
Get the papers first
Death certificate, marriage and birth certificates, IDs, membership numbers.
2
List every office
Was the deceased in SSS or GSIS, a Pag-IBIG member, an OFW, insured? The checklist goes office by office.
3
File with the life insurer
Use the letter below and keep the receiving copy — the 60 days start from the complete claim.
4
Sign the affidavit if asked
All heirs sign before a notary. Have a lawyer review it.
5
Track the dates
Type them above. If the insurer is late, send the follow-up letter; then the Insurance Commission.
Free templates
Open as a page or as Word
- Death benefits checklist — Philippines Documents every office asks for, then SSS, GSIS, Pag-IBIG, life insurance, OFW agency insurance, OWWA and the employer: who claims, the rule and the deadline.
- Life insurance death claim letter Presents the claim with the documents and the 60-day rule; a follow-up letter if it is not paid on time.
- Affidavit of legal heirs Joint affidavit of the surviving heirs with jurat, for SSS, GSIS, Pag-IBIG, insurers and employers. Not an extrajudicial settlement.
Templates written for this page; fields in [BRACKETS] are for you to fill in. Licence CC BY 4.0 · © Layers (layers.md).
What people do next
Insurer late or refusing?
Send the follow-up letter (page 2 of the letter template) and keep proof; the Insurance Commission hears claims up to ₱5,000,000.
Estate questions
Land, bank deposits and shares of minors need an extrajudicial settlement or court process — talk to a lawyer.
What Layers does with it
Honest status: Works today is live now; Coming is not yet.
02
The Word file
The same template as .docx — print it, sign it, file it. Opens in Word, Google Docs and LibreOffice.
- Works today Download as .docx
03
Deadline on this page
Type the date and see the last day and how many days are left.
- Works today Calculator on this page
- Coming Reminders before the last day
04
Share with family or a lawyer
One folder for the papers: share it, comment instead of long message threads.
- Works today Drive with shared folders, chat, calls
Questions
What are the SSS death claim requirements?
Usually the death certificate, marriage certificate (spouse), birth certificates (children), valid IDs, the member’s SSS number and the claimant’s bank account; funeral receipts for the funeral benefit. Primary beneficiaries are the dependent spouse and children; if none, the dependent parents (RA 11199, Sec. 8(k)). Confirm the current list with SSS.
How long does a life insurer have to pay a death claim?
Sixty days after the claim and the proof of death are presented. If it pays late, the beneficiary is entitled to interest at twice the Monetary Board ceiling for the delay, unless the claim is fraudulent (Insurance Code Sec. 248).
Is there a deadline for GSIS death claims?
Claims other than life insurance and retirement prescribe four years from the date of death (RA 8291, Sec. 28).
What is an affidavit of legal heirs?
A sworn statement by the surviving family that names the deceased’s legal heirs, used to claim benefits when there is no named beneficiary or the office asks for it. It is not an extrajudicial settlement of the estate. Many offices have their own form.
What can the family of an OFW claim?
The agency’s compulsory insurance (at least US$15,000 for accidental death, US$10,000 for natural death, paid within 10 days of the notice of claim), OWWA death and burial benefits for active members, plus SSS and life insurance if any.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a checklist with the rules written in the laws, and templates. Have the affidavit and any complaint reviewed by a lawyer.
Other insurance claims
Keep the papers in one place
Letters, receipts and notices in one folder you can share with family or a lawyer. The templates and the editor are free; Layers is free for up to 20 people.
For information only, based on the laws cited as of October 2026. Check your case with each office; have documents with legal effect reviewed by a lawyer. Layers is not affiliated with SSS, GSIS, Pag-IBIG, OWWA or any insurer.