If you don’t have a social security number, you probably think you can’t get life insurance.

Unfortunately, many carriers and agents say you need to have a social security number to qualify.

However, you can obtain life insurance if you don’t have a social security number.

It’s true.

The application process can be easy, too.

Not many carriers offer life insurance for people without a social security number, but some do.

In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know to obtain the life insurance you need.

• Why Some Life Insurance Carriers Require A Social Security Number
• How To Obtain Life Insurance If You Don’t Have A Social Security Number
• Case Studies How We Helped People Without Social Security Numbers
• Now You Know People Without Social Security Numbers Can Obtain Life Insurance

Jump around as you need or contact us. We can help.

Why Do You Need A Social Security Number For Life Insurance?

Actually, you don’t. Nope. Nada.

It is not an industry requirement. You can purchase life insurance without a social security number. We help non-US citizens obtain life insurance all the time.

The issue is most carriers require a social security number if you are living here in the US full time.

“Well, John, why do companies require it?” you ask.

That is a good question. The answer is the insurance carrier wants to know who you are. There is a myriad of reasons, and they are important:

• money laundering – money laundering is the process of making illegally obtained money appear “clean” through a series of transactions in legitimate financial transactions.
• you are who you say you are – with identity theft rampant, carriers want to make sure you are who you say you are. This also follows the US Patriot Act.
• MIB report – we discussed the importance of the MIB report. Your social security number will help the carrier obtain the correct report. Moreover, the MIB report ultimately keeps everyone’s premiums reasonable.
• pharmacy / health / motor vehicle records – for the same reasons as the MIB report. You want to make sure the carrier has the right information. If you have a common name, you wouldn’t want a carrier selecting the wrong person based on the name only.

So, these are the main reasons carriers require a social security number.

However, there are many carriers that don’t require a social security number.

Let’s talk about those situations in more detail and the steps to purchase life insurance without a social security number.

How To Obtain Life Insurance Without A Social Security Number

We outline the steps below on how to purchase life insurance without a social security number.

The application and underwriting requirements really depend on your situation.

However , in general, here are the steps to obtain life insurance without a social security number.

1. Obtain an ITIN
2. Evaluate life insurance companies that allow ITINs
3. Go through the underwriting process as required
4. Reach out to us if you need any assistance

We discuss these steps in more detail next.

1^st Step: Obtain An ITIN

If you don’t have a social security number, most likely it is because you are a/an

• non-citizen
• foreign national
• resident alien
• undocumented immigrant

See our article on obtaining life insurance for non-citizens. Valid green card holders can usually obtain life insurance easily because they possess a social security number and they are a permanent resident. Visa holders can usually obtain life insurance easily as well because they have legal residence here through the Visa.

However, if you are living here long-term with neither a permanent residence nor a Visa, you can purchase life insurance without a social security number. You will need an ITIN. This is the 1st step. What is an ITIN? It is an individual taxpayer’s identification number (ITIN). You can obtain it from the IRS through form W-7. ITINs are used for income-tax reporting only.

Please note that means undocumented immigrants here in the US can obtain life insurance with possession of an ITIN.

2^nd Step: Work With Life Insurance Companies That Allow ITINs

Many carriers require social security numbers. If you are a Green Card holder, you pretty much can apply to any carrier as a US citizen. If you don’t have a green card, then only certain carriers will insure you. Once you have an ITIN, we can proceed with the insurance application process. This includes reviewing your needs, determining a budget, and applying for life insurance. This is the 2^nd Step.

We work with several carriers that allow ITINs on its applications.

One we enjoy working with has a very simple application process. You can purchase up to $250,000 of term life insurance. Your spouse and children can be on the same application. The application includes 3 or 4 required health questions. If you are unfamiliar with the life insurance application process, that is unheard of for term life insurance. The application process can be administered completely online or with the help of us. The process is very easy and does not take a long time to complete.

That seems where a majority of agencies stop. We don’t.

Moreover, we work with a handful of other carriers that allows ITINs on their life insurance applications, even for people who are undocumented and living here illegally.

The availability, type, and death benefit amount really depends on your situation.

Additionally, one carrier we work with allows $1 million death benefit or more depending on your income.

You can select term life insurance or any of their permanent products. Nearly all of their life insurance products have living benefits available. This carrier definitely offers more value with their life insurance products.

There’s more. There are also other carriers we work with that allow ITINs; however, their acceptance is on a case-by-case basis.

3^rd Step: Go Through The Underwriting Process

What is underwriting? It is the process of the life insurance carrier reviewing your application. The carrier assigns an underwriter who reviews your application and determines if you qualify for life insurance. There are a number of factors which influence their decision including, but not limited to:

(1) your health and any health conditions

(2) smoking use and drug use

(3) lifestyle history, including any misdemeanors, and dangerous hobbies

(4) occupation and income

(5) citizenship status – already discussed

The length of time for review varies. We have had some people without social security numbers get approved within a few days. Yet, others have taken a couple of months. The timeframe really depends on you and your situation.

Additionally, the carriers may require a paramedical exam. Other carriers may want a phone interview. In any case, we can help you regardless of the underwriter requirements.

Final Step: Contact Us For Assistance

This is the final step. If you have an interest, fill out the information below or contact us. We have helped many non-US citizens, including undocumented immigrants, obtain the life insurance they need to ensure peace-of-mind.

As you can see, there are many life insurance options available. The types of life insurance depend on your situation.

Here are some case studies to illustrate how we helped people without social security numbers obtain life insurance. While these cases may not fit perfectly with you, they show how we can help.

Case Studies Of How We Helped People Without Social Security Numbers

Below are a couple of case studies which demonstrate our value in helping people without social security numbers obtain life insurance.

A B-Visa Holder Wanting Life Insurance

Marvin contacted us. He is a foreign national / non-US citizen, but has significant business interests in the US. His children live in the US. He does have some healthcare established here in the US and regularly visits on his B-Visa between 3 and 6 months each year.

Marvin needed over $1 million in coverage. Because he is a citizen of a “B” country, many carriers limited him to permanent insurance. We were able to secure both term life insurance and permanent insurance. He completed the application process while here in the US.

An Undocumented Immigrant Wants To Protect His Family

Enrique has a growing family. Two children with a 3^rd on the way. He is the primary income earner in his family. There was roadblock after roadblock on obtaining life insurance because of his document status. He knows the value of life insurance, but was only able to secure $100,000 due to his immigration status. He does have an ITIN.

Based on a needs analysis, we determined he needed $1,500,000. He has a very good job, earning close to $100,000 in many years. He thought there was no way we could help him out. However, we did. We were able to secure that $1,500,000 on a 30 year-term with living benefits also.

We have many more success stories of helping people without social security numbers obtain life insurance.

Now You Know We Can Help People Without Social Security Numbers Obtain Life Insurance

I hope you understand now that you can obtain life insurance, even without a social security number. Would you like to learn more or need our assistance? Contact us or use the form below. We would be happy to help you any way we can.

As with everything we do, we hold your best interests first. That means, we only recommend solutions that work best for YOU and not for anyone else. If we can’t help you, then we tell you that. And, we help you as much as we can so you obtain the solution you desire. It’s that simple.