<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
FIRST ALLMERICA FINANCIAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
ALLMERICA SELECT SEPARATE ACCOUNT
SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 1997
***
Effective October 1, 1997 the Company has received approval to offer the
disability waiver under contracts issued in New York. The last paragraph
under "WHAT IF I NEED MY MONEY BEFORE MY ANNUITY PAYOUT PHASE BEGINS?" on
page 9 of the Prospectus is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
You may also withdraw all or a portion of your money without a surrender
charge if, after the Contract is issued and before age 65, you become
disabled. Under New York Contracts, the disability also must exist for a
continuous period of at least four months. In addition, except in New York
where not permitted by state law, the surrender charge will be waived if,
after the Contract is issued, you are diagnosed with a fatal illness or
confined in a medical care facility until the later of one year from the
issue date or 90 days. For details and restrictions, see "Reduction or
Elimination of Surrender Charge."
The first paragraph under "REDUCTION OR ELIMINATION OF SURRENDER CHARGE" on
page 31 of the Prospectus is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
The Company will waive the contingent deferred sales charge in the event
that the Owner (or the Annuitant, if the Owner is not an individual)
becomes physically disabled after the issue date of the Contract and before
attaining age 65. Under New York Contracts, the disability also must exist
for a continuous period of at least 4 months. The Company may require proof
of such disability and continuing disability, including written
confirmation of receipt and approval of any claim for Social Security
Disability Benefits and reserves the right to obtain an examination by a
licensed physician of its choice and at its expense. In addition, except
in New York where not permitted by state law, the Company will waive the
contingent deferred sales charge in the event that an Owner (or the
Annuitant, if the Owner is not an individual) is: (1) admitted to a medical
care facility and remains confined there until the later of one year after
the issue date or 90 consecutive days or (2) first diagnosed by a licensed
physician as having a fatal illness after the issue date of the Contract.
The following paragraph is added at the end of "APPENDIX C, DIFFERENCES UNDER
THE ALLMERICA SELECT RESOURCE I CONTRACT:"
7. The waiver of surrender charges offered under the Allmerica Select
Resource II contract for disability prior to age 65, fatal illness or
confinement to a medical care facility is not available under Allmerica
Select Resource I. Note: only the waiver for disability is available
under Allmerica Select Resource II contracts issued in New York.
***
<PAGE>
Effective for all Contracts, any portion of an initial net payment (or a
subsequent net payment received during the Contract's first fifteen days)
allocated to a Sub-Account or to a Guarantee Period Account will be invested as
requested and will not be held in the Money Market Fund of the Trust for the
Contract's first fifteen days. As such, the second and third sentences of the
fourth paragraph under "A. PAYMENTS" on page 21 are deleted.
***
Effective for all New York Contracts, if the Owner revokes the Contract within
ten days after receipt, the Company will provide a refund equal to the amount
of gross payments. The description of the Free Look Period under "10. OTHER
INFORMATION" on page P-4 of the Profile is deleted and replaced by the
following:
FREE LOOK PERIOD: If you cancel your contract within 10 days after
receiving it (or whatever period is required by your state), we will pay
you an amount equal to the value of your contract. This may be more or
less than your original payment. If required by applicable state or federal
law, we will return your gross payment.
The following sentence is added to "CAN I EXAMINE THE CONTRACT?" on page 10 of
the Prospectus: "In New York, you will receive a refund equal to your entire
payment."
The following sentence is added at the end of the second paragraph under
"B. RIGHT TO REVOKE CONTRACT" on page 22 of the Prospectus:
Notwithstanding the above, under Contracts issued in New York, the Company
will provide a refund equal to the Owner's gross payments.
***
Supplement Dated September 25, 1997