Skip to main content Accessibility help
The blue logo for John Hancock
  • Help center
  • Help center
  • For financial professionals

    • Life insurance
    • Investments
    • Retirement
  • For financial professionals

    • Life insurance
    • Investments
    • Retirement
    • For plan sponsors
  • For plan sponsors
  • Sign in
    • Home

    • Insure

      Insure

      Protect what matters most.

      Explore insure
      • Term life insurance
      • Permanent life insurance
      • Vitality
      • Aspire with Vitality
      Life insurance to help you live a longer, healthier life.
      Talk to an insurance professional
    • Invest

      Invest

      Make your money work harder for you.

      Explore invest
      Personalized advice to help you meet your financial goals.
      Contact an advisor
    • Retire

      Retire

      Something you can look forward to.

      Explore retire
      Enjoy what comes next
      Make a plan
    • Advice

      Advice

      Financial advisory services with a personal touch.

      Explore advice
      Our financial experts can help you prepare for the future.
      Start here
    • Insights

    • About us

      About us

      Connecting customers and communities.

      Explore about us
      • Community Investment
      • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
      • Leadership
      • Newsroom
      • Our Culture
      Make your impact
      View current career opportunities
    • Help center

      Help center

      Resources, FAQs, contact information and more.

      Get started
      • Retirement
      • Life insurance
      • Long-Term Care
      • Investments
      • Individual annuities
      • Group annuities
      • Other resources
      Have questions about a product or service?
      See how to contact us
    • Home
    • Insure
      • Explore insure
      • Term life insurance
      • Permanent life insurance
      • Vitality
      • Aspire with Vitality
    • Invest
      • Explore invest
    • Retire
      • Explore retire
    • Advice
      • Explore advice
    • Insights
    • About us
      • Explore about us
      • Community Investment
      • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
      • Leadership
      • Newsroom
      • Our Culture
    • Help center
      • Get started
      • Retirement
      • Life insurance
      • Long-Term Care
      • Investments
      • Individual annuities
      • Group annuities
      • Other resources
      • Help center
    • Help center
    • For financial professionals

      • Life insurance
      • Investments
      • Retirement
    • For financial professionals

      • Life insurance
      • Investments
      • Retirement
      • For plan sponsors
    • For plan sponsors

    Your browser is not supported.

    To use our website, we recommend using the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Chrome, or Safari.

    Accelerated death benefit claim

    John Hancock's Accelerated Benefit Rider gives you the peace of mind that financial resources are available should the insured face a terminal illness.

    Accelerated death benefit claim

    John Hancock's Accelerated Benefit Rider gives you the peace of mind that financial resources are available should the insured face a terminal illness.

    How it works:

    In the event of a terminal illness, this rider allows an insured to "accelerate" receipt of a policy's death benefit. You may request to receive up to 50% or 100% of your qualifying death benefit (depending on the terms of the rider), up to a maximum of $1,000,000 per life insured, with a written statement from your doctor that your life expectancy is one year or less.*

    This rider is available on all single-life, permanent and term policies, depending on the issue state. The rider is not available on survivorship products.

    Please note: the Accelerated Benefit Rider is NOT insurance for long-term care or nursing home expenses. Receipt of the accelerated death benefit could have tax implications and may affect eligibility for public assistance programs such as Medicaid, aid to families with dependent children, supplemental security income and other public assistance programs.

     

     

    Here’s everything you need to know about accessing your benefit:

     1    Notify us

    Give us a call at 888-887-2739.

     

     

    2    Complete the claim form


    The Claims Department will send a state-specific form to the policy owner to be completed by all required parties - owner, insured, irrevocable beneficiary, collateral assignee and attending physician (including disclosure statement as to effect on the policy).

    Step-by-step guide to filling out claim form

    3    Submit requirements

    Submit all requirements to the Claims Department.

    Fax:
    1-617-572-1571

    Regular mail:
    Life Post Issue - Claims
    John Hancock PO Box 55979
    Boston, MA 02205

     

    Overnight mail:

    Life Post Issue - Claims
    John Hancock 410 University Avenue, Suite 55979
    Westwood, MA 02090



    4    Receive a decision

    Once we receive your completed form, you will receive a decision on your claim within 7-10 business days.

    Although your death benefit is reduced by any accelerated benefit paid, the balance is maintained as valuable life insurance coverage for your beneficiary as you continue to pay your scheduled premium. Your policy’s death benefit will be reduced by the amount of the accelerated death benefit payable, plus one year’s interest. The interest rate is your policy’s loan interest rate. If your policy does not include a loan provision, the interest rate charged is the variable loan interest rate for the month. Your policy’s cash value will be reduced by the amount of the accelerated death benefit payable.

    Need to get in touch? We’re here for you.

    View all contact information

    *Life expectancy of two years or less in Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas and Washington.

    Benefits may be taxable under current tax law and receipt of benefits may affect eligibility for public assistance programs. Benefit is payable to the policy owner. Please consult your tax adviser regarding the tax implications of benefits received under the Accelerated Benefit. This provision allows the insured to receive up to 50% of the death benefit of the contract, to a maximum of $1 million. Policy death benefit will be reduced by the amount of the accelerated benefit payable, plus one year’s interest. The interest rate charged is the policy loan interest rate. If the policy does not include a loan provision, the interest rate charged is determined monthly and is the variable loan interest rate on currently issued policies.

    Insurance products are issued by: John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), Boston, MA 02116 (not licensed in New York) and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York, Valhalla, NY 10595.

    MLINY052021790-3

    Individual
    • Annuities
    • College savings
    • Group annuities
    • Life insurance
    • Investments
    • Retirement
    • Rollover
    • Safe-access accounts
    • Travel insurance
    Financial Professional
    • Annuities
    • College savings
    • Life insurance
    • Investments
    • Retirement
    Plan Sponsor
    • Retirement / TPA
    • Retirement / plan sponsors
    • International group program
    About Us
    • Community Investment
    • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Our Culture
    • Sponsorship
    • Supplier diversity
    Quick Links
    • Careers
    • Help center
    • Lost or unclaimed policy form
    • Contact John Hancock
    • Manulife Global
    • Manulife Investments
    • Manulife Real Estate
    • Manulife Re
    • © 2023 John Hancock
    • Stock Price
    • Privacy & Security
    • Fraud Prevention Center
    • Legal
    • Accessibility