Everything you need to know about beneficiaries for Funeral Cover

Funerals come with both financial and emotional costs. On top of grief, families are often faced with unexpected expenses. While Work and Income or ACC may offer some help, it usually doesn’t go far enough.

That’s why Funeral Cover matters. It gives your family access to funds when they need help most, easing the financial pressure during a difficult time. But for that to happen smoothly, you need to make sure the right person is set up to receive the payout.

Choosing your beneficiary isn’t just a formality. It directly affects how quickly the money is paid out and who it gets paid to.  

Here’s what to keep in mind.

Who can you name?

You can nominate almost anyone as your beneficiary. Most people choose a partner, adult child, or close family member. The key thing is that you trust them to follow your wishes and use the funds to cover your funeral or other important expenses.

They must be 16 or older at the time you nominate them. If you want the money to go to someone younger, you’ll usually need to nominate an adult to manage the funds on their behalf.

How to nominate a beneficiary for Funeral Cover

We recommend you nominate your beneficiary when you first sign up for Chubb Life Funeral Cover, that way you don’t have to worry about there being any complications at claim time.

If you already have a Funeral Cover policy with us, nominate a beneficiary by filling out a nominated beneficiary form and returning it to us via email or post. Alternatively, you can contact our customer service team on 0800 900 047, and they can update your beneficiary over the phone – whatever’s easier for you.

Can you change your beneficiary later?

Yes. You can update your beneficiary at any time. If your relationships change, you get married, separate, or lose touch with someone, it’s a good idea to check your policy and make sure everything’s still correct.

All it takes is a quick call or email to your insurer. At Chubb Life we can assist you in just a few minutes over the phone.      

What happens if you don’t nominate anyone as your beneficiary?

If someone other than you owns the policy, the benefit will be paid directly to them. If you were the sole policy owner, then the payout usually goes to your estate. This means your loved ones will need to go through extra steps to claim the funds and Chubb Life will need proof of who’s entitled to receive the money. That means your family may need to wait before they can access the money, which can be a stressful delay at an already stressful time.

That’s why it’s so important to nominate a beneficiary ahead of time, so that your insurer can release the funds a lot faster. 

What if your beneficiary passes away before you?

If there’s no living beneficiary on the policy when Chubb Life processes the claim, those claiming will face the same extra steps as if no beneficiary was named at all. That’s why we recommend regularly reviewing your policy details to keep them up to date. 

Does your Funeral Cover beneficiary have to be named in your will?

No. Funeral cover is separate from your will. The person you name on your Chubb Life Funeral Cover policy will receive the payout, even if your will says something different. That’s why it’s important to keep both documents up to date.  

How much should you tell your beneficiary?

Let them know they’ve been named and explain what the money is intended for. They don’t need every detail of your policy, but they should know who to contact and what documents will be needed when the time comes.

Some people also give their beneficiary a copy of their policy or keep it with other important paperwork.

How do I put in a claim for Funeral Cover? 

If you’re a nominated beneficiary and need to make a claim you can contact Chubb Life for a claim form. 

You’ll need to include supporting documents with your claim form. Generally, this is going to be:

• A copy of the death certificate or Medical Certificate of Cause of Death
• Completed claim form from the beneficiary
• Proof of ID from the nominated beneficiary
• Verification of bank account

Once you provide all this information to Chubb Life we’ll assess your claim and keep you updated on its progress. We usually pay out within 48 hours of the claim being approved.   

How do I make a Funeral Cover claim if I’m not the nominated beneficiary

If there’s no nominated beneficiary, or if the nominated beneficiary has also passed away, the payout will go to the policy owner (or the insureds estate if they own their own policy) .   

If someone passes away without a nominated beneficiary or a will, things can get tricky. Without a will, there may be a delay for anyone to access the money. 

This often means extra paperwork, delays, and sometimes court involvement before the funds can be released. In the meantime, someone may still need to pay for the funeral upfront.

The best thing to do is contact Chubb Life as soon as possible and let us know what’s happened. We’ll guide you through what you need to do to make a claim.

You should be ready to provide:

• A copy of the death certificate or Medical Certificate of Cause of Death
• Completed claim form from the beneficiary
• Proof of ID from the nominated beneficiary
• Verification of bank account

In some cases, the insurer may allow the person who paid for the funeral to claim reimbursement, especially if the total payout is below a certain amount. However, this isn’t guaranteed and depends on the policy terms and insurer’s processes.  

Anything else to think about?

Remember that any beneficiaries need to agree on how the money is paid out, so it’s important you can trust them to work together to fulfill your wishes. 

Also, consider who is most likely to be responsible for organising the funeral or managing the paperwork. They’re often the most practical choice for receiving the funds.

It’s a good idea to review your Funeral Cover policy every few years, especially after major life changes like marriage, separation or the loss of a loved one. If your relationships or wishes change, you can update your beneficiary by contacting your insurance provider.

Taking a few minutes now to nominate a beneficiary helps remove stress for your family later. It’s a simple way to make sure your funeral costs are taken care of and that the payout goes to someone you trust.

If you're setting up Funeral Cover or reviewing an existing policy, we're here to help. Get in touch with Chubb Life Insurance NZ to make sure everything is set up the right way.