My wife recently passed away. She was still employed when she died, age 66. She had also just started to collect Social Security benefits.
Through her employer, she had life insurance. Is the benefit on insurance taxable? Is this usually disbursed as a lump-sum, one time payment?
She also had a 401K plan. I understand I can roll this over into my 401K. (I am currently 60 yrs of age). Can I take the 401K benefit and apply it to our home mortgage without penalty? What other options do I have with her 401K funds?
Thanks very much.
Plea_of_insanity2012-05-16T21:52:30Z
Favorite Answer
Benefits on life insurance policies are never taxable. They are usually disbursed as a lump-sum, one-time payment.
Yes, you can rollover the value of your wife's 401(k) assets into either your own 401(k) account or your own IRA. If you do so, you will not incur any penalty or taxes.
If instead you withdraw the money from your wife's 401(k), then you will pay income taxes on that amount, but there will be no penalty. Unless you have a particular reason for needing to pay down your mortgage principle or if you have more than enough saved up for retirement, this probably isn't the best idea.
Sorry for your loss. And consider reading some financial advice books or speaking with a financial adviser.
I suggest that you visit this website where you can get rates from different companies: http://HELP-INSURE.NET/index.html?src=2YAtcksiZF38
RE :401K and Life Insurance? My wife recently passed away. She was still employed when she died, age 66. She had also just started to collect Social Security benefits.
Through her employer, she had life insurance. Is the benefit on insurance taxable? Is this usually disbursed as a lump-sum, one time payment?
She also had a 401K plan. I understand I can roll this over into my 401K. (I am currently 60 yrs of age). Can I take the 401K benefit and apply it to our home mortgage without penalty? What other options do I have with her 401K funds?
Life Insurance proceeds are paid in a lump sum to the beneficiary but they are not taxable. Since your wife was over 59 1/2 there would not be any penalties for the beneficiary in making withdrawals, but the proceeds will be taxable. Sorry about your loss.
Odds are, the life insurance payment isn't taxable. For a spouse beneficiary, it's usually a lump sum.
As a spouse, you're the automatic beneficiary of her 401K, which you can roll over to yours. Any withdrawals you make before your legal age for withdrawal, ARE subject to penalties.
If you use the 401K for your mortgage, then it is taxable. If it does not stay in the 401K and you do not put it into another qualified retirement plan (IRA, 401K, etc.), then it is taxable.