UK. Pensions

[Dionigi]

How many Brits are having a problem with their UK Pensions? My life certificate was posted to me, by surface mail, in January and was received in June. My pension had already been stopped due to no return of certificate. I got in touch with the pensions office and they sent an email with a life certificate attached. I duly returned this by registered mail and the post office tells me it was delivered on the 29th of May. I am getting no replies from The pensions office and am still not receiving a pension. Anyone else in the same boat?

[Upnotover]

Many threads on UK pensions here..... https://aseannow.com/forum/337-uk-europe-topics-and-events/ ....Including numerous posters with similar issues to yours.

[CharlieH]

MOVED to UK forum

 

[OJAS]

Just because your witnessed life cert was received on 29 May does not, unfortunately, appear to mean that it would have been actioned by the DWP on that date - or, indeed, any time soon thereafter. In my case, although tracking indicated a delivery date of 29 January, it was not until 20 February that they finally got round to processing my life cert (as they informed me when I subsequently double-checked with them).

 

Maybe the long and winding road (via the M6, M62 and M1/A1) which our witnessed life certs have, I presume, to follow between their receipt at Wolverhampton and their eventual landing in the in-tray of an individual working at DWP's Newcastle upon Tyne office could have something to do with the delay? But, even so, it is clearly totally unacceptable for them to be dragging their feet in your case as a result of systemic shortcomings at their end.

 

If you are experiencing no joy in receiving responses to your written communications with DWP, then I can only suggest that you call them on +44-191-218-7777 Mondays-Fridays between 2.00pm and midnight local time in Thailand instead.

 

https://www.gov.uk/international-pension-centre

 

[Dionigi]

12 hours ago, OJAS said:

Just because your witnessed life cert was received on 29 May does not, unfortunately, appear to mean that it would have been actioned by the DWP on that date - or, indeed, any time soon thereafter. In my case, although tracking indicated a delivery date of 29 January, it was not until 20 February that they finally got round to processing my life cert (as they informed me when I subsequently double-checked with them).

 

Maybe the long and winding road (via the M6, M62 and M1/A1) which our witnessed life certs have, I presume, to follow between their receipt at Wolverhampton and their eventual landing in the in-tray of an individual working at DWP's Newcastle upon Tyne office could have something to do with the delay? But, even so, it is clearly totally unacceptable for them to be dragging their feet in your case as a result of systemic shortcomings at their end.

 

If you are experiencing no joy in receiving responses to your written communications with DWP, then I can only suggest that you call them on +44-191-218-7777 Mondays-Fridays between 2.00pm and midnight local time in Thailand instead.

 

https://www.gov.uk/international-pension-centre

 

Thanks for that, although it is hardly reassuring. I sent another query yesterday and two minutes after sending my telephone informed me that two months money had arrived at my bank. I am just appalled that they send out the life certificates surface mail. very 19th century!

[transam]

4 minutes ago, Dionigi said:

Thanks for that, although it is hardly reassuring. I sent another query yesterday and two minutes after sending my telephone informed me that two months money had arrived at my bank. I am just appalled that they send out the life certificates surface mail. very 19th century!

I had a long chat with DWP on the phone about not receiving the LC, and why they don't send an SMS to tell the form has not been received, as it can cause hardship..

 

The lady understood, but she/they are just following their job instructions..🤔

[Presnock]

21 hours ago, Dionigi said:

How many Brits are having a problem with their UK Pensions? My life certificate was posted to me, by surface mail, in January and was received in June. My pension had already been stopped due to no return of certificate. I got in touch with the pensions office and they sent an email with a life certificate attached. I duly returned this by registered mail and the post office tells me it was delivered on the 29th of May. I am getting no replies from The pensions office and am still not receiving a pension. Anyone else in the same boat?

Yeah govt's are the same everywhere, a couple of years ago I got a "surface mail" letter from the US tax IRS folks.  It said this letter is to advise us did you actually file your 1040 tax form.  You have 45 days from the date of this letter (sent 45 days previous to my receipt) so I called their number immediately because they said that if I didn't respond within that 45-day span, then they might stop processing of that tax refund and then if they learned later, I could claim that on my next year's tax form.  Fortunately I had already received my tax refund but they just don't seem to understand the world.

[baansgr]

12 minutes ago, Dionigi said:

Thanks for that, although it is hardly reassuring. I sent another query yesterday and two minutes after sending my telephone informed me that two months money had arrived at my bank. I am just appalled that they send out the life certificates surface mail. very 19th century!

Especially when they send you one by email to be returned. With 500,000 OAPs loving abroad the postage cost must be colossal. Sure they do it just to peef people off 

[himmel]

I also have not recived  my UK state pension for the last two months, thinking it was an oversite until i downloaded last months uk bank statement today, I have not recived a Life Certificate, I have printed one out and will procede to get it signed and returned DWP.

[mikeymike100]

21 hours ago, Dionigi said:

How many Brits are having a problem with their UK Pensions? My life certificate was posted to me, by surface mail, in January and was received in June. My pension had already been stopped due to no return of certificate. I got in touch with the pensions office and they sent an email with a life certificate attached. I duly returned this by registered mail and the post office tells me it was delivered on the 29th of May. I am getting no replies from The pensions office and am still not receiving a pension. Anyone else in the same boat?

It would seem it depends  on who you get on the phone?

I had a similar problem last month.

I called the number+44 191 218 7777 and after the customary automated menu i got thru to an assistant.

I explained the situation, I am in Thailand etc, the post is hit ans miss etc. she explained a letter containing the life certificate was sent 2months ago and another about a month after that. I didn't receive it.

To my surprise she said they knew that Thailand has a substandard postal system and that some get thru and some dont.

She then asked me around 8 security questions, yes 8, i answered and she said ok she would remove the block and I would receive the pension in 5 working days and if the letter does show up, to dispose of it! The pension was received as she said. She was very pleasant and very helpful!

 

[mancub]

19 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

It would seem it depends  on who you get on the phone?

I had a similar problem last month.

I called the number+44 191 218 7777 and after the customary automated menu i got thru to an assistant.

I explained the situation, I am in Thailand etc, the post is hit ans miss etc. she explained a letter containing the life certificate was sent 2months ago and another about a month after that. I didn't receive it.

To my surprise she said they knew that Thailand has a substandard postal system and that some get thru and some dont.

She then asked me around 8 security questions, yes 8, i answered and she said ok she would remove the block and I would receive the pension in 5 working days and if the letter does show up, to dispose of it! The pension was received as she said. She was very pleasant and very helpful!

 

Had exact same issue, didn't receive the letter supposedly sent in Jan, subsequently no payment forth-coming in May. Lady at DWP said it's OK, she'd cleared it and Jun was fine. Don't know if I'm expected to do anything now until next year ! Somewhat annoying as I only became eligible in Dec last year !

[mikeymike100]

6 minutes ago, mancub said:

Had exact same issue, didn't receive the letter supposedly sent in Jan, subsequently no payment forth-coming in May. Lady at DWP said it's OK, she'd cleared it and Jun was fine. Don't know if I'm expected to do anything now until next year ! Somewhat annoying as I only became eligible in Dec last year !

The letters are sent out approx every 2 years, in my experience, so I would guess you don't need to do anything.

 

[NoshowJones]

On 6/30/2025 at 1:40 PM, Dionigi said:

How many Brits are having a problem with their UK Pensions? My life certificate was posted to me, by surface mail, in January and was received in June. My pension had already been stopped due to no return of certificate. I got in touch with the pensions office and they sent an email with a life certificate attached. I duly returned this by registered mail and the post office tells me it was delivered on the 29th of May. I am getting no replies from The pensions office and am still not receiving a pension. Anyone else in the same boat?

Yes me. but was not to a Newcastle address, the address was to Wolverhampton.