Insurance Life Insurance What Is a Life Insurance Annuity? Life Insurance Annuity Options Explained By Justin Pritchard Updated on July 12, 2021 Reviewed by Samantha Silberstein In This Article View All In This Article What Is a Life Insurance Annuity? How Does a Life Insurance Annuity Work? Tax and Interest on Annuity Payments Pros and Cons of a Life Insurance Annuity Pros Explained Cons Explained Photo: Tony Anderson / Getty Images Life insurance policies pay a death benefit when an insured person dies. A life insurance annuity is a death benefit that is paid out over a number of years instead of in one lump sum. The term "annuity" refers to payments made for a period of time, which could be the rest of the beneficiary’s life. If you’ve recently lost a loved one, you may not feel prepared to make big financial decisions, but it’s important to understand the tradeoffs and advantages of choosing income (via a life insurance annuity) over a lump sum. What Is a Life Insurance Annuity? A life insurance annuity is a method of paying out a death benefit over time. Instead of paying out the entire amount in a single (often substantial) lump sum, the life insurance company can set up a stream of payments. The payout schedule can be linked to a beneficiary’s life expectancy or a specified amount of time, or the number of payments can be determined according to both. Life insurance policies often have several payment options, also known as settlement options. Receiving a significant amount of money can be overwhelming and problematic; you might end up with more money than you’ve ever imagined and be unprepared to manage the funds. With installment payments via a life insurance annuity, you can improve the chances of making that money last over the long term. Note Annuity payments are guaranteed payments from a life insurance company for a specified term. How Does a Life Insurance Annuity Work? Annuity payments can replace income or resources after someone’s death. Most people are accustomed to receiving monthly payments in the form of income, so annuity payments can make it easy for you to budget and manage month-to-month spending. When you take income from a death benefit, you might have several income choices available. Lifetime Income With this option, you receive income for the rest of your life expectancy. Payments stop after your death, whether that’s in the near or distant future. Life With Period Certain Payments continue for the longer of a period you choose (20 years, for example) or your life. This option may alleviate concerns about dying shortly after starting annuity payments, but still provide lifetime income. If you die before the period expires, remaining payments go to a beneficiary you choose. Period Certain With this option, you select a specific number of years to receive payments. If you die during the period, payments continue to a beneficiary you choose and stop at the end of it. Fixed Amount You choose an amount to receive based on your current needs. Payments continue until you use all of the funds available to you. If funds remain upon your death, a beneficiary can receive payments until the funds are exhausted. Joint and Survivor This payout option is tied to two lives, typically yours and a spouse. It guarantees the payments will continue for the duration of both. Depending on the insurance policy, you may have other options available as well. Carefully weigh your options, as different periods will pay out different amounts. The highest payment isn’t necessarily the best. Note When you choose an annuity payout over a lump sum, you convert that lump sum into a stream of payments. It’s important to know that upon doing so, you give up access to the lump sum in exchange for guaranteed income. Tax and Interest on Annuity Payments Income you receive from a life insurance annuity may be taxable—at least partially. In most cases, when you take the death benefit as a lump sum, you don’t owe taxes. But when you leave funds with the insurance company, you typically earn interest on that money. Each payment you receive may include a portion of the death benefit and a portion of interest earnings; the interest portion is generally taxable. Check with your tax preparer before you specify how you’d like to claim benefits from a life insurance policy. You need to know what (if anything) you’ll owe the IRS. Pros and Cons of a Life Insurance Annuity The decision to take income or a lump sum may be complicated, so take some time to carefully evaluate your needs. Pros Replace income Prevent overspending Reduce investment mistakes Protection from creditors Cons May be harder to pay final expenses No lump sum for debts Lack of control and access No lump sum for investments Potential estate implications Pros Explained Replace Income When the money is replacing income from a spouse, partner, or parent, annuity payments may be a natural fit since they look and feel like earnings from a job. As a result, the annuity option can simplify your finances during a difficult time. Prevent Overspending Having a substantial amount of money after the death of a loved one can be dizzying. While it may appear that you have robust resources, the money can go fast. It’s easy to overspend with a large account balance, but a steady income via annuity payments can ensure that money lasts longer. Reduce Investment Mistakes When you suddenly inherit a substantial amount, you may be a target for con artists (and you may be vulnerable after an emotional event). You might also be lured to invest in less-than-ideal ways that lead to tragic losses. Annuity payments might not be the perfect solution, but they’re relatively safe. Protection From Creditors If you have debt collectors seeking payments or a judgment entered against you, those creditors can only access the amount you’re periodically paid as opposed to the entire lump sum. Cons Explained May Be Harder To Pay Final Expenses If you have substantial medical or final expenses, a lump-sum payout makes it easier to cover those costs. No Lump Sum for Debts If you take a death benefit as a lump sum, you can pay off large loans like a mortgage or high-interest debts. But if you choose annuity payments, you’ll need to keep making monthly payments (which, depending on the interest rate and other factors, might be fine). Lack of Control and Access Once you make the decision to receive annuity payments over a lump sum, it’s generally irrevocable, although some buyout options may exist. But there’s a cost, and these may only be worth it in dire circumstances. No Lump Sum for Investments Some beneficiaries would be better served by investing a lump sum instead of exchanging it for income. For example, you might prefer to fund tax-deferred accounts or pursue long-term growth with a lump-sum death benefit on which the earnings have more time to compound. Potential Estate Implications The proceeds from an annuity can contribute to the value of your taxable estate if you were the owner of the policy or if you transferred it to an irrevocable trust. This can change the value of your estate and impact its tax status. Key Takeaways Beneficiaries can choose from a variety of payment options when receiving a death benefit.A life insurance annuity is an income stream guaranteed for a specified period of time.Annuity payments can replace lost income and ensure that a death benefit lasts for a long time.A lump-sum payout can help beneficiaries eliminate debt quickly and pursue other goals. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. IRS. "Life Insurance and Disability Insurance Proceeds."