If you are listed in a life insurance policy as a beneficiary along with a person that is deceased. Who is awarded the benefits?

You are very entitled. But they do not have to tell any information about the policy, without consent of the insured.

Yes, if the insured person has passed and you are the beneficiary, you should call the insurance company and go through their steps to claim the benefit. It is the responsibility of someone that knows the Insured has passed to inform the Insurance Company. If no one tells them, they will assume that the insured no longer wants the policy and they will cancel it. It will require you to show a signed sealed death certificate and possibly other documents. It is sometimes different for each company. They then will issue a check to the person(s) listed on the policy as the beneficiary.