Dad Died, Had A Mature Policy On Me Now 40 Years Old And Was Contacted

Location: Chicago, Illinois

So my dad died in 2021 to COVID…there was no estate, I was (am) essentially homeless at the time, so I just left him to the medical examiners office to deal with him.

(If that sounds cruel I took care of him till he died but he was abusive when I was a kid to me, mentally, physically, and sexually and I had no money to get him buried)

I also do not have a death certificate…

Anyway couple weeks ago got a letter which was addressed to him but to the address I currently get my mail at.

It stated that this was an attempt to contact my dad about a policy via a major insurance company.

I called, and they said there was a policy,I explained he passed, they asked about the estate and I said there is none but I'm next of kin, they asked if I wanted to switch the policy to me.

I hesitated as I was afraid of incurring debt on myself (and being homeless essentially, I was very wary) and asked what the policy was for.

They said they could only tell the owner of the policy over the phone but could send a letter.

Received it yesterday and the policy was for a ‘20 year endowment M’ policy taken out ON me BY my father in March 1978 for five thousand dollars.

It names me as the insured and my deceased father as the owner.

It also contains forms to name the beneficiaries.

Online answers are confusing and some say I can get it, some say I cannot…looking for advice as how to proceed as I could really use that funding in my current situation.

Thank you in advance for any advice given.