You will receive the cash value minus the surrender charges, not the face value of the policy.
Face value typically refers to the death benefit of the policy (i.e. how much your family would receive if you were to die). Cash surrender value is the amount of money that has accumulated (tax deferred) inside the policy and is the amount of money the owner would receive (before taxes) if s/he were to cancel the policy. Cash surrender value is different from plain old "cash value" or "accumulated value" in that most insurance policies have surrender charges for 10 to 20 years that reduce the total "cash value" or "accumulated value" down to the cash SURRENDER value.
You could submit a claim but that usually means dying first. Short of dying, you could surrender the policy for its surrender value. The surrender value depends on many things but it starts a zero when the policy is bought and grows to the face amount as the policy ages. The hardcopy of the policy should show a face amount but will likely also include a schedule for the surrender value. If the hardcopy of the policy can't be located, a call to the company is in order.
If it is an old cash value policy there may be if the premiums were all up to date. Depending on the face value of the policy and the individuals age and health it may be worth more to sell it than to cash it in.
You reduce the lift insurance policy face value and payment by considering the basics of the cash value policy basics.
The decreasing term insurance has its face value reduced as the policy ages.
This answer will depend on the type of policy that was taken out and if the policy is still "in force". If the policy is a term policy (unlikely), whatever is the death benefit face amount of the policy. If the policy is whole life or universal life policy, the policy may have a cash surrender value and a death benefit value. Meaning that you may be able to simply cash out the policy and get a check prior to death. Or, upon death, the value would be the death benefit face amount plus any unpaid dividends and interest minus any loans that may have been taken out. I am happy to answer more questions or help you with this. Brian Lombardo, CPA, Agent
Dividends from life policies can be used to buy additional face value. After these additions have occurred a policyholder can then surrender these additions in lieu of premium payments, which may pay premiums in full or part, thus reducing the cost to maintain the policy for the owner.
face amount reduces and the policy is made for paid-up value
It depends on what policy it is. If it was a whole life policy for which all premiums were paid promptly as agreed in the policy document, then Yes, you can cash it in after the death of the policy holder. For any other type of insurance policy, I would assume the policy has expired or lapsed by now since we are nearly 25 years ahead from 1987. So, in that case you cannot cash in the policy.
The cash value of any policy depends on its face value and the value of the policy at maturity when the policy has been maintained in force. The insurance company issuing the policy will be able to give you the answer you want.
== == == == The life insurance policy will state the face value ( death benefit ) of the policy. However, it may not state the amount that each beneficiary will receive as the number of beneficiaries may have changed since it was issued. Until a claim is paid, the beneficiaries will not know how much they'll receive.
If you are not working with an agent for the company that issued the policy, you need to locate one. An agent can effectively explain what your options are. What you can change about the policy, and if any changes are possible depends on what you want to change, and who you are in relation to the policy. The owner may be able to change the beneficiary. The owner may be able to change the type of policy (typically called a "conversion" if the policy permits it). The contract may allow other changes. But it's a complex legal document. Find an agent to explain what you've got and what options are available.