Inherited Voya 401(k): Death-Claim Steps & Timing
Voya's processing timelines run long, which matters because the deceased's year-of-death RMD may still be due on YOUR calendar — start the claim as soon as the death certificate is available.
Below: the claim sequence, the direct-transfer election to insist on, and every deadline a non-spouse beneficiary now faces.
The one mistake that cannot be undone
A non-spouse beneficiary has NO 60-day rollover. If the plan cuts a check in your name and you deposit it, the entire account becomes taxable income that year — there is no Rev. Proc. self-certification, no IRS letter, no fix. The ONLY safe move is a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer into a properly titled inherited IRA. If anyone offers to "just send you a check," stop the call and get help first.
Full rules: what non-spouse beneficiaries can and cannot do →
What to expect from Voya
Beneficiary services: 1-800-584-6001 · Mon-Fri 8am-9pm ET
Ordinary transfer processing: 14-21 business days (paper-based) — death claims add a document-review stage on top, so budget extra weeks beyond that.
Online: https://my.voya.com
Voya quirks that also bite beneficiary transfers:
- Voya is the rebranded ING US — if your old statement says ING, you're now at Voya. The login at my.voya.com works for legacy ING accounts.
- Voya almost always requires a Medallion Signature Guarantee for rollovers (NOT a notary). Get this in person at a bank you have a relationship with — they want to see photo ID and your most recent statement.
- Voya is known for slow rollover processing — plan for 3 weeks, not 2. If your 60-day window is tight, initiate IMMEDIATELY and use certified-mail tracking. Many Voya rollovers fail the 60-day deadline because customers underestimate processing time.
How to claim, step by step
- 1
Order 3–5 certified copies of the death certificate — Voya and every other institution will each want one.
- 2
Call Voya's beneficiary-services line and ask for the "death claim" or "beneficiary distribution" package for the specific plan. Have the deceased's SSN, date of death, and your ID ready.
- 3
Ask Voya to CONFIRM you are the beneficiary of record before discussing options — plan documents control, not the will.
- 4
Before signing anything, decide the destination: a properly titled inherited IRA (e.g., “Jane Doe, deceased, FBO John Doe, beneficiary”). Titling errors are treated as full distributions.
- 5
Insist on a DIRECT trustee-to-trustee transfer into the inherited IRA. Decline any option that mails you a check payable to you personally.
- 6
Get the transfer confirmation in writing, then calendar your RMD obligations for the current year — the deceased's year-of-death RMD may still be due.
Your distribution clock (2026 rules)
- Most non-spouse beneficiaries must empty the account within 10 years of the death — and if the owner had already started RMDs, annual withdrawals are required in years 1–9 (enforced since 2025, with a 25% excise tax behind them).
- The deceased's year-of-death RMD may still be due on YOUR calendar while the claim processes.
Full 10-year-rule breakdown with a worked year-by-year example →
Common questions
How long does a Voya death claim take?
Longer than most. Voya's ordinary outbound rollovers already run multi-week — among the slowest of the major recordkeepers — and death claims add document review and often plan-sponsor sign-off on top. Start immediately: if the owner died late in the year with an RMD still outstanding, that year-of-death RMD deadline doesn't wait for Voya's queue.
Will Voya require a Medallion signature guarantee?
Commonly, yes — Voya's transfer paperwork leans on Medallion stamps even for routine rollovers, and many Voya-administered plans additionally require the employer's approval before funds release. Ask the rep to enumerate every required signature and approval on the first call so you make one gathering pass, not three.
Questions about your situation?
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Educational information, current to the July 2024 final regulations as enforced in 2026 — not tax, legal, or financial advice. Beneficiary elections are frequently irreversible; verify with your own CPA or estate attorney before acting. Estate deadlines (including the 9-month federal estate-tax election window) exist — consult the estate's attorney.