Ridiculous, the idiots in the DWP refuse to do this nonsense via e-mail or online as they claim that it isn't secure. Does that mean the Government Gateway isn't secure? If that's the case then they have an even bigger problem than I thought, If it's not the case, then why not just set up a page on the Government Gateway so you an register your continued existence there? Mu occupational pension is worth three times my state pension, yet the pension fund is happy to do everything online, including a PoL certificate every two years.

5 hours ago, Pdavies99 said:

Signature

FSA registration trustee number of mine

Read the rules it will say a stamp is not necessary.

 

Like I said I have signed hundreds at no cost to anyone, but of course you can pay someone if you wish.

 

END!

 

Agreed. Our village Phu Yai Ban (who also happens to be my wife's nephew) signs mine. No stamp but never been a problem.

On 1/25/2025 at 7:06 PM, Badrabbit said:

I like to watch it going every step of the way.

With EMS fromthailand post you can track it "every step" right up to delivery - as pointed out 200 baht, That's how I sent our last Proof of Lives

9 minutes ago, nglodnig said:

With EMS fromthailand post you can track it "every step" right up to delivery - as pointed out 200 baht, That's how I sent our last Proof of Lives

Awesome you paid 200, thanks for telling me.

11 minutes ago, Badrabbit said:

Awesome you paid 200, thanks for telling me.

FYI I think the first time I used their "special" service (> 1000 baht) which took a week - the same time as the 200 (actually maybe 270) service

18 hours ago, Guderian said:

Does that mean the Government Gateway isn't secure?

 

In that case it is IMHO simply not fit for purpose. In exactly the same way as HMPO's passport renewal online facility is not fit for purpose as we're not allowed to use it from Thailand.

On 1/27/2025 at 1:04 PM, Pdavies99 said:

They are sent out as and when to persons mainly living abroad, to see you are still with us, note if you do not send back they will stop payment until received and would then backdated the payments outstanding.

 

As a retired pension trustee I have signed countless of these for for colleagues, note it does not need a stamp etc, merely a recognised person to effect.

Well as the form has a box for a official stamp to be put in, I for one wouldn't risk sending it back without a stamp for a fickle DWP to reject the form and then stop my payments.

 

You of course are welcome to do as you see fit.

On 1/27/2025 at 6:50 PM, nglodnig said:

With EMS fromthailand post you can track it "every step" right up to delivery

 

Certainly trackable as far as Wolverhampton. But its ultimate destination is, however, located in Newcastle upon Tyne!

 

3 hours ago, Andycoops said:

Well as the form has a box for a official stamp to be put in, I for one wouldn't risk sending it back without a stamp for a fickle DWP to reject the form and then stop my payments.

 

You of course are welcome to do as you see fit.

Read there info  a stamp is not required, providing a recognised person  / official signs it. Other posts have agreed.

 

But up to you, pay a 1000 bath+-

20 hours ago, Andycoops said:

Well as the form has a box for a official stamp to be put in, I for one wouldn't risk sending it back without a stamp for a fickle DWP to reject the form and then stop my payments.

 

You of course are welcome to do as you see fit.

As a retired local government officer, I can sign these PoL forms and also countersign passport applications. I have no such "official stamp". Why would I ?

I have signed many of these forms for my mates and never been a problem.

All they want is the form back, I always sign mine myself with a fictitious signature. 

45 minutes ago, Mutt Daeng said:

As a retired local government officer, I can sign these PoL forms and also countersign passport applications. I have no such "official stamp". Why would I ?

I have signed many of these forms for my mates and never been a problem.

 

Yes indeed, i'm a retired Magistrate and sign many POL for mates, like you i don't have any stamp. Now why can't i sign my own ? lol

On 1/27/2025 at 6:50 PM, nglodnig said:

With EMS fromthailand post you can track it "every step" right up to delivery - as pointed out 200 baht, That's how I sent our last Proof of Lives

 

The last time i did a POL and posted it EMS it cost me 1300bht to the UK from memory, how do you manage to get it for only 200bht ?

On 1/27/2025 at 2:52 PM, mancub said:

Perhaps someone could suggest that those helpful  British embassy people might interact with their government colleagues at the DWP or IPC when informed of the demise of a pensioner. They have all the necessary information after all.

 

So how does the DWP get notified of our demise ?

On 1/27/2025 at 10:12 AM, crazykopite said:

I have a HMRC app that’s how they contact me have had it for a number of years now it allows me to check everything and if they need to contact me they use the App 

HMRC app?  Did you mean the HMRC website?  

2 hours ago, proton said:

All they want is the form back, I always sign mine myself with a fictitious signature. 

Now thay know what you do lol 

2 hours ago, Pumpuynarak said:

 

The last time i did a POL and posted it EMS it cost me 1300bht to the UK from memory, how do you manage to get it for only 200bht ?

Try 'long tabien' instead of EMS - same tracking but maybe a little slower - I don't know; I haven't used EMS for years. Yes, cost is around the 200-300 baht figure for a normal-size letter. My last 'long tabien' letter took 10 days to UK.

3 hours ago, Pumpuynarak said:

 

The last time i did a POL and posted it EMS it cost me 1300bht to the UK from memory, how do you manage to get it for only 200bht ?

I post my PoL by airmail registered. Cost 250 baht last year. It can be tracked all the way to it's destination in the UK.

Current postal prices:

 

 

4 hours ago, Pumpuynarak said:

The last time i did a POL and posted it EMS it cost me 1300bht to the UK from memory, how do you manage to get it for only 200bht ?

Shopping around 🙂 I just asked for standard and not "express" service - which seems to take about the same time - OK it was 270 and not 200

4 hours ago, Pumpuynarak said:

So how does the DWP get notified of our demise ?

AFAIK they don't - the UK embassy should be informed but I don't know if they pass it on. BUT if you don't send the form back coz you're dead this is a bit of a giveaway

Yes indeed BUT your wifey could continue to receive your SP until such time that a POL is required, that could be up to 2 years and more if my experience is anything to go by.

 

I've registered our marriage in the UK and the BE is aware also of our marriage but if nobody advises them of my death the SP continues to be paid and what chance do you think they've got of getting it refunded ?

 

50 minutes ago, nglodnig said:

the UK embassy should be informed but I don't know if they pass it on.

 

I think the BE would no doubt pass it on to eventually end up with the DWP. I think the only chance of it not ending up in the hands of the DWP is if Thailands authorities fail to do their job.

 

Whatever i've told wifey to just keep stum and let them continue to pay the SP, i have no concern considering their refusal to pay me any increases, tit for tat ehh lol

8 hours ago, Mutt Daeng said:

As a retired local government officer, I can sign these PoL forms and also countersign passport applications. I have no such "official stamp". Why would I ?

I have signed many of these forms for my mates and never been a problem.

 

7 hours ago, Pumpuynarak said:

 

Yes indeed, i'm a retired Magistrate and sign many POL for mates, like you i don't have any stamp. Now why can't i sign my own ? lol

 

What I have done, though, when witnessing others' life certs as a retired civil servant, is to enter my NI number in the stamps box.

 

3 hours ago, nglodnig said:

AFAIK they don't - the UK embassy should be informed but I don't know if they pass it on.

 

Unlikely that they do. If you open the following link

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-person-dies-in-thailand

 

it provides a comprehensive list of what needs to be done following the death of a Brit in LOS, but appears to place the responsibility for ensuring that everything necessary is done (including regarding pensions) squarely on the shoulders of the deceased Brit's next-of-kin.

 

I returned my form to Wolverhampton three days ago.  The cost was 250 baht.  According to the receipt the weight was 20 grams  as there was another sheet of paper attached with a copy of the signers ID card.  There's also a 13 character tracking number which currently reads Departure from [ Air carrier ] to [ (United Kingdom) International - GBDOH ]  dated 30th Jan.

 

I can't remember whether I asked for registered mail or recorded mail, but it's definitely not EMS.

38 minutes ago, lungbing said:

I returned my form to Wolverhampton three days ago.  The cost was 250 baht.  According to the receipt the weight was 20 grams  as there was another sheet of paper attached with a copy of the signers ID card.  There's also a 13 character tracking number which currently reads Departure from [ Air carrier ] to [ (United Kingdom) International - GBDOH ]  dated 30th Jan.

 

I can't remember whether I asked for registered mail or recorded mail, but it's definitely not EMS.

What is GBDOH? 

On 1/25/2025 at 4:42 PM, Badrabbit said:

Has any one received one of these, got it today, eventually got it signed at Chalong Police Station.

Cost 1000bht to send this back to DWP, surely in this day and age they should have an online form, oh well done now.

Didn't know where to post this so it's here.

I got one this afternoon 31 January 2025 from the Ministry of Defence about my military pension. It was dated 15 January 2025 and sent by Airmail. I have 60 working days from 15 January to reply, with the completed form.

 

It took 16 days to arrive and I can send the completed form back by email or/and by post.

 

The stupid thing is that they have my email address and mobile number, so they could have emailed me for free or called me at their expense.

 

I am 80,m and this is the first one I have had for my RAF pension.

 

I will go to the local hospital and get the doctors word (who should know better than him) that that I am alive.

On 1/27/2025 at 8:04 AM, Muhendis said:

I sincerely hope the UK  DWP can find a way to confirm that I am still alive without sending me a bit of paper once every year. EMS is very hit n'miss here in Buriram. A few years ago my pension was stopped because the life certificate never arrived from DWP. I keep a copy of it in my computer now so I can print it, get it signed and post it off to them every March without any delay. They seem to be quite content with that.

Me too.

On 1/27/2025 at 9:09 AM, Muhendis said:

I note the bit where it says "could be moved online". This has been under discussion for years.  The UK government really has no idea how to go about it. Perhaps they can take a look at banking security methods and use OTP's etc. I notice they have no problem in communicating with me by email so they really can use computers for communication if they have to.

 

"The DWP said it had no further information at this stage when we asked about the possible timeframe, how a digital process might work for signatures, and whether it might be difficult for some elderly people who lack IT skills."

 

That's a false assumption. Anyone who has made it as far as Thailand is quite likely to have gone on line to make the journey and is quite familiar with using their smartphone for making purchases etc.

If the DWP were to adopt security methods similar to financial institutions there would be no need for a verification signature.

These people really are dumb. 

 

I don't honestly think that they are dumb. It is the politicians who are in charge that are the dumb ones.

I received a PoL form yesterday from DWP.

10 hours ago, billd766 said:

I don't honestly think that they are dumb. It is the politicians who are in charge that are the dumb ones.

Yeah.

The guys on the front line have to do their bosses biding but it's the top DWP management who set the rules.

My "dumb" comment was really aimed at them. 

If they stopped spending money on posting these Life Certificates to me, they could save enough money to almost double my pension......🙂