UK DWP proof of pension eligibility.

[WhiteHatPhil]

I suspect most if not all UK expats will have received a letter from the DWP asking to be provided with ‘proof of life’ and have it verified by a reliable person in Thailand. In my case I used my local Doctor who said he had done many and proceeded to fill out the form for me. 
I returned it using recorded delivery and I can see that it was delivered.

However last Friday my Pension was not paid into my bank account. It has been paid in every 4th Friday as regular as clockwork. 

My question really is “has anyone else experienced this”?. Or maybe this is just a coincidence? But even taking into account public holidays, they have never missed a payment. 
I’m in hospital at the moment so can’t call them until Friday. 
Thank you!

[hotandsticky]

11 minutes ago, WhiteHatPhil said:

I suspect most if not all UK expats will have received a letter from the DWP asking to be provided with ‘proof of life’ and have it verified by a reliable person in Thailand. In my case I used my local Doctor who said he had done many and proceeded to fill out the form for me. 
I returned it using recorded delivery and I can see that it was delivered.

However last Friday my Pension was not paid into my bank account. It has been paid in every 4th Friday as regular as clockwork. 

My question really is “has anyone else experienced this”?. Or maybe this is just a coincidence? But even taking into account public holidays, they have never missed a payment. 
I’m in hospital at the moment so can’t call them until Friday. 
Thank you!

 

 

It is called a Life Certificate and virtually anyone can certify it. It doesn't need to be a 'professional' and they don't need a stamp.

 

You have 16 weeks from the date of issue.

 

If the pension payment is not received (for any reason) call the International Pension Centre on https://www.gov.uk/international-pension-centre

[WhiteHatPhil]

First of all it does need to be a professional and it does need a stamp. But that is not relevant right now.

 

For those who are also experiencing a delay in receiving their pension, especially if you have recently filled in a Life Certificate, the DWP are experiencing a very large delay in processing. My certificate was received on the 1st May by the DWP but when I called them today, I was told that it was still in the backlog but would be pushed through as I had called, and should be received within 2-3 business days as it needs to go through the banking system (which believe it or not entails being sent to a US Bank first, Citibank or JP Morgan, who process all the overseas pensions for the UK, before being returned to my bank in the UK).  Illogical, but that's the way the DWP/Government do it.

 

The number to call is +44 0191 218 7777.

[xylophone]

On 5/26/2025 at 1:15 PM, WhiteHatPhil said:

My question really is “has anyone else experienced this”?. Or maybe this is just a coincidence? But even taking into account public holidays, they have never missed a payment. 

Yes I had a bad experience with UK pension folk, inasmuch as I received a new blank "proof proof of life" form accompanied by a letter stating that my pension had been stopped because I had not sent them the previous form (competed) and that I needed to complete this new form and send it back to them ASAP.

 

Of course that worried me immensely, so I telephoned them and managed to get through with my reference number, and the guy on the end of the line said that I wasn't to worry because there had been a mixup with the forms and also with the payments, and after checking my details he suggested that everything was okay and that I should throw this form away and not worry – – for which I was very thankful.

 

As regards signatories, I get the juristic person here at my condo block to witness my passport and sign the form where it's needed and all has been okay in the past.
 

[sometime]

Yes me, no money in the bank, got home a letter in the mailbox from DWP.

Said they have not received the proof of life form sent in January, it got filled in by my lawyer and returned airmail on 18 Feb.

 

They are playing silly games

[sometime]

On 5/26/2025 at 1:30 PM, hotandsticky said:

 

 

It is called a Life Certificate and virtually anyone can certify it. It doesn't need to be a 'professional' and they don't need a stamp.

 

You have 16 weeks from the date of issue.

 

If the pension payment is not received (for any reason) call the International Pension Centre on https://www.gov.uk/international-pension-centre

On the form it states a professional person or a person of good standing in the community, not any Tom Dick or Harry.

[hotandsticky]

51 minutes ago, sometime said:

On the form it states a professional person or a person of good standing in the community, not any Tom Dick or Harry.

 

That is not true...do some research.

 

The form probably also says add their 'stamp'.....that is also not required.

 

I have certified over a 100 of these if you wish to doubt my credibility.

 

Even with that wording on the letters they published the fact that anyone who satisfied the criteria for countersigning a British passport application could certify the Life Certificate.

 

I don't have a copy of their latest missive to hand but, essentially, anyone who is not related to you can certify. Quite right too, better still. allow it to be done digitally with a registered password.

 

Next.

[hotandsticky]

1 hour ago, sometime said:

Yes me, no money in the bank, got home a letter in the mailbox from DWP.

Said they have not received the proof of life form sent in January, it got filled in by my lawyer and returned airmail on 18 Feb.

 

They are playing silly games

 

They don't play games, silly or otherwise. They are a big organisation who occasionally make mistakes though.

 

That was a waste of your lawyers time then.. and unfortunately, in this case not very effective.

 

Never mind, a phone call to IPC quickly sorts it out .