If a family member has passed away, you may be owed money from a life or funeral policy they held — without knowing it. Verification is free and takes a few minutes.
Last year, South African insurers returned R$22.7 billion to clients and heirs from unclaimed policies. The sector estimates R$33.5 billion is still being held. The hardest part is knowing it exists.
For ASISA-member insurers, claims do not expire — an old policy from the 1990s can still be paid out if a legitimate heir comes forward.
Three ways to run your free check
1. Contact insurers directly. If you know or suspect the deceased had a policy with any SA insurer (Old Mutual, Sanlam, Discovery, Metropolitan, Liberty, Hollard, FNB Life, Absa Life, Mr Price Life, etc.), call their claims department. They’ll ask for your ID, the death certificate, and proof of your relationship. Most major insurers have a dedicated unclaimed-policy department.
2. Contact ASISA. If you don’t know which insurer the deceased used, or the insurer no longer exists, ASISA can help you locate the policy. ASISA represents most major South African insurers and can point you in the right direction.
3. Check group life cover through employers. If the deceased worked for a medium or large company, they may have had group life cover as an employee benefit. Contact the former employer’s HR or pension fund administrator. The payout is usually 1x to 5x annual salary.
✓ Free • ✓ No payment • ✓ No ID required
What you’ll need
To run the check, you’ll typically need:
- Certified copy of your SA ID book or smart ID card
- Certified death certificate of the deceased
- Proof of your relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, or letter of executorship)
- Any documents you can find from the deceased that mention an insurer (old letters, debit orders on bank statements, etc.)
What happens after you submit
The insurer will verify your identity against their records. If a match is found, they’ll tell you the amount and payment method. If no match is found, you’ll know to check with other insurers.
Processing time is typically 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the company and whether documentation is complete on the first submission.
Legitimate insurers never charge upfront fees to claim a policy. If someone contacts you claiming to “release” funds for a fee, they’re a scammer.
Protect yourself:
- Contact insurers directly via their official websites or phone numbers
- Never pay upfront fees to anyone
- Never share banking details with someone who contacted you first
- Verify any claim by calling the insurer’s official number yourself
This content is for informational purposes only. We are not affiliated with ASISA or any of the insurers mentioned. We do not collect your ID number on this page.
