Bereavement support

Help when informing us about a death

We know how overwhelming it can be to manage the financial affairs of someone who’s passed away. That’s why we’re here to make the process that little bit easier.

The simplest way to let us know about the death of a Wesleyan policyholder is to complete our short online form.

If you'd prefer to speak to someone, you can call us on 0800 316 3785. Opening times are Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.

If possible, please have to hand:

  • Personal details of the deceased (including their full name, address, date of birth, date of death and national insurance number)
  • The death certificate
  • Any reference numbers for their policies or products
  • Details of any existing will
  • Information on the next of kin (including their full name, address, date of birth, relationship to the deceased and bank details)

Alternatively, you can write to us by post:

Bereavement Claims
Customer Operations
Wesleyan Assurance Society
Colmore Circus
Birmingham
B4 6AR

Once we've started the process of settling a claim, we’ll then be in touch using your preferred communication method, whether that’s by phone or email.

WUTM policies

If the policy is with Wesleyan Unit Trust Managers (WUTM), please write to us using:

Administration Centre
PO Box 9033
Chelmsford
Essex
CM99 2WQ

 

We'll then be in touch using your preferred communication method, whether that's by phone or post.

Frequently asked questions

  • What if I don't have all the information?
    Don’t worry if you don’t have all the details when you get in touch. You’ll be able to share these at a later date, it just may slow down the process slightly.
  • What if I don't have the Will?
    You should still give us a call as we may not need one to process your request. There may be instances where a Will is required. If this applies to you, we’ll let you know on the call and inform you of the next steps.
  • How long will the process take?
    We'll work with you to get to completion as quickly as possible. With the right information, simple estates could complete in as little as five working days. However, we know not all estates are straightforward so some may take longer to complete.

    Please also note that if you're writing to us, this process may take longer.
  • Do I need to have probate?

    In some circumstances, we may require probate. For example, if the deceased has more than £50,000 invested (for WUTM plans this is £20,000 or more).

    If you aren’t aware, probate is the legal right to deal with someone’s property, money and possessions.

    You can still call us without probate, it just may delay the release of any investments. You can apply for probate online.

  • What is the process for settling a plan?

    The process depends on the products you’re calling us about. We’ll be able to explain in full when you give us a call.

    Pensions

    The pension scheme trustees will review all the evidence you've provided, including the nomination of beneficiaries form (if there is one) and the Will. They'll then decide who is the most appropriate beneficiary in line with the scheme rules. Depending on the scheme, the beneficiary may be entitled to choose how they receive these funds. For example, as a cash lump sum, an income for life (annuity) or through a dependant's drawdown plan.

    Investments

    We will value the investment, check our records and review the Will to make sure we're paying the correct beneficiary. If the investment value is over £50,000, we will ask for probate. 

    Protection plans

    For protection plans like life assurance and critical illness cover, you should still give us a call to inform us about the death of the policyholder. We’ll then let you know if we need anything from you or if the plan can be closed.

Additional support

Mourning a loss isn’t easy, but you don’t have to go through it alone. If you need practical advice or emotional support, you can visit the Bereavement Advice Centre.

If you’d like to talk to them, you can call 0800 634 9494. Their lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.

For 24/7 support, Samaritans are available (call 116 123). And if you've lost a parent, Sue Ryder offers invaluable support.

Practical advice