UK pensions-life certificate

[thetefldon]

I got a request from DWP(UK) to get a life certificate completed. Anyone have any experience of completing this form. There are several choices for suitable candidates to certify I am still alive. I live fairly rural and the BIB seems the easiest. Anyone try using them for this purpose? Yea I know......so please keep the answers on topic

[steve187]

thread here - http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/617877-life-certificate/

[gerry123]

last time i received this request i went to my local bank branch and they after much deliberation understood my needs

i would not hold out much hope for the local RTP simply because if its an out of the ordinary procedure and easier to say

no do or you could go to the embassy bkk but i can guess not very close /convenient besides that bank no charge embassy possible 2 grand plus

[thetefldon]

Thanks for your thoughts and the link to the other topic. Both the embassy and immigration are long trips. I might forgo the police as suggested and try the Bangkok Bank main branch in Phetchabun.

[evadgib]

last time i received this request i went to my local bank branch and they after much deliberation understood my needs

i would not hold out much hope for the local RTP simply because if its an out of the ordinary procedure and easier to say

no do or you could go to the embassy bkk but i can guess not very close /convenient besides that bank no charge embassy possible 2 grand plus

I'm not sure if the Embassy still do it, but PoL certs for any branch of HMG were free of charge there as recently as last year.

Another option is to find a stronghold of ex servicemen living locally, as retired officers and WO's are among those that can sign.

My most recent PoL cert was signed by an expat British surveyor & was accepted without question.

HTH

Mods: Any chance of merging any threads containing the words "Uk" & "Pension" with the pinned topic at the top of the page?

Edited December 10, 2014 by evadgib

[meatboy]

i got mine on monday 8th,i am lucky i have a lawyer that lives by me.

i would go to your bank its less work than getting your letter for immigration [100bht] so i cant see your bank ripping you off.

or a teacher,what about the village head? it does say any person of good standing in the community.

just make sure whoever you get puts eg.passport no. or like i did i used my photo id.drivers licence.

unless you have a bib.officer who you know to talk to and lives by you i wouldnt go down that road.

[meatboy]

so all you guys that are receiving pensions and living in thailand and fiddling the system.LOOK OUT WE WILL GET YOU

[evadgib]

so all you guys that are receiving pensions and living in thailand and fiddling the system.LOOK OUT WE WILL GET YOU

Mine are occupational (not yet old enough for OAP) & the PoL sent to Thailand. Edited December 11, 2014 by evadgib

[theoldgit]

I received one of these things a week ago, thought they sent it a bit quick as I've only been drawing my State Pension for two years, my Civil Service Pension sent me one after five years, it also took three weeks from the date of the letter to be delivered, so the clock is ticking.

Evadgib is spot on, the British Embassy can no longer be bothered to do these, they advise that they can be signed by the same people who can countersign a passport photo https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications.

I tried to get a police officer to countersign, they weren't the least bit interested, also having been over an hour at my local bank on another matter I couldn't face them again, then I noticed the list states that Civil Servants can sign, current or retired, so I got a former Civil Service colleague to sign, ironically I was his manager, time will tell if it's acceptable.

[meatboy]

so all you guys that are receiving pensions and living in thailand and fiddling the system.LOOK OUT WE WILL GET YOU

looks like this mailing center is new.

what the details are,you must show photografic evidence of who you are and the witness must sign the certificate with their address,tellephone no.and profession.

so that it can be checked by the international pension center.

maybe just maybe those of us who's state pensions are frozen might be getting a warmer reception.

and the one's who ARE fiddling the system you could be in for a COLD winter.

[colinneil]

Life certificate. I got one yesterday. Now i have a big problem (i am paralyzed from chest down). Go to the bank!! What bank in Thailand is accessable to disabled people??? Police ask them come to the house, wife says noway we cannot have police here ,what will people think!!!

Doctor will not come unless he is paid. Wife is a school director, another director to witness my signature??? not acceptable.

So wife will ask orbortor if he will come hopefully he will do it.

[jacky54]

Just make it up and fill in yourself, they are not going to check, they just want to get the form back to see you are not dead

[thetefldon]

Thanks to everyone for suggestions. Got me thinking! I have English speaking friend who is a pharmacist and a couple who are teachers. So I reckon I will use one of these. Finally can I ask anyone who has done this....what mail did you use to return paper? I ask because I have had things go missing with bog standard airmail.

I will update this topic with more info when the task is done so anyone can refer in future.

[JohnC]

Send the form back EMS as there is a time limit before they stop your pension, I got two of these letters a couple of years back the same year I started drawing the state pension, with one of them the first I knew about it was when I got a follow up letter telling me if I didn't return it they would stop my pension! It took three attempts before I finally got the form (different pensions and both wanted their form completed) one was witnessed by the British Consul and the other I did at home when on holiday witnessed by the local housing officer who is a personal friend. Interestingly I have signed off passport applications for British expats here as I am a retired Royal Navy officer so I guess if needed I could witness these letters!

[meatboy]

Life certificate. I got one yesterday. Now i have a big problem (i am paralyzed from chest down). Go to the bank!! What bank in Thailand is accessable to disabled people??? Police ask them come to the house, wife says noway we cannot have police here ,what will people think!!!

Doctor will not come unless he is paid. Wife is a school director, another director to witness my signature??? not acceptable.

So wife will ask orbortor if he will come hopefully he will do it.

whats wrong with another school director filling it in for you.as for getting it done for free TIT.

and ignore jacky54 he or she has a chip on the shoulder that keeps getting bigger.

Edited December 11, 2014 by meatboy

[evadgib]

Just make it up and fill in yourself, they are not going to check, they just want to get the form back to see you are not dead

To avoid any probs the very least should be to use someone with a UK or Commonwealth passport and/or is on the electoral register. The tongue-in-cheek suggestion above is asking for problems if taken seriously.

[evadgib]

Evadgib is spot on, the British Embassy can no longer be bothered to do these, they advise that they can be signed by the same people who can countersign a passport photo https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications.

It's more to do with their fear of litigation, although the current system prevents the need for a 1000 mile round trip for some too

[colinneil]

I phoned Newcastle .They said schooldirector not aceptable.

[Bernard Flint]

so all you guys that are receiving pensions and living in thailand and fiddling the system.LOOK OUT WE WILL GET YOU

sir

Does this mean one cannot rent out the council house, and not claim winter allowance, no free chang no more.

[meatboy]

I phoned Newcastle .They said schooldirector not aceptable.

so the details they send you is BS.i have it in front of me,WHO CAN SIGN THE LIFE CERTIFICATE?.

nobody related to you,or live at the same address.

should be a professional person or a person of good standing in the community.

so the school director should sue for slander.calling him a person of not good standing.

you phoned newcastle at what time? your post is timed 12.24 that is 24minutes past 5 morning uk.

[jacky54]

Life certificate. I got one yesterday. Now i have a big problem (i am paralyzed from chest down). Go to the bank!! What bank in Thailand is accessable to disabled people??? Police ask them come to the house, wife says noway we cannot have police here ,what will people think!!!

Doctor will not come unless he is paid. Wife is a school director, another director to witness my signature??? not acceptable.

So wife will ask orbortor if he will come hopefully he will do it.

whats wrong with another school director filling it in for you.as for getting it done for free TIT.

and ignore jacky54 he or she has a chip on the shoulder that keeps getting bigger.

A chip about filling in a form, or is it something else you refer to like being a dog hater? I have had these forms for years but more recently they email them, fill 'em in with a fake name and address and never had a problem. Got fed up with bothering so told them I live in the UK and now they don't send them. All they are bothered about is not paying out after you are dead and that's quite right. If in the UK dead certs are linked to pension dept so they are notified automatically then stop payments. My mrs will tell them when I snuff it so she can get half the pension. No need to crap your pants over these silly forms, you could put Homer SImpson as a witness.

Edited December 11, 2014 by jacky54

[thetefldon]

I phoned Newcastle .They said schooldirector not aceptable.

so the details they send you is BS.i have it in front of me,WHO CAN SIGN THE LIFE CERTIFICATE?.

nobody related to you,or live at the same address.

should be a professional person or a person of good standing in the community.

so the school director should sue for slander.calling him a person of not good standing.

you phoned newcastle at what time? your post is timed 12.24 that is 24minutes past 5 morning uk.

I too have the form in front of me and I concur what you say about suitable person. Given a teachers standing in local community in Thailand I would say they qualify.

We will see anyway because I just got my certificate completed by a teacher with school stamp added. Posted EMS at 950 Baht so I can track and trace.

Job done, thanks for help in various posts.

[evadgib]

Registered post is just as good but considerably cheaper @ around THB 150.

Edited December 11, 2014 by evadgib

[meatboy]

Registered post is just as good but considerably cheaper @ around THB 150.

post office in the mall korat,registered 82bht.

[Ace of Pop]

What an Idiot, tell them you live in the U.K.. Even my dumb Portuguese Pension clowns would ask for my new Bank in Lisbon.

[khastan]

I have received one of these this morning. If I am to continue to receive my UK pension. I have to have it witnessed, signed and stamped by a professional in Nong Khai. The only person I have found today is trying to charge me 4000baht!!. Does anybody living in Nong Khai know anybody who could witness and sign such a document and who can read and understand English at a reasonable price., thank you.

[meatboy]

I have received one of these this morning. If I am to continue to receive my UK pension. I have to have it witnessed, signed and stamped by a professional in Nong Khai. The only person I have found today is trying to charge me 4000baht!!. Does anybody living in Nong Khai know anybody who could witness and sign such a document and who can read and understand English at a reasonable price., thank you.

why not try your bank,if you are known to the staff it shouldnt be too much of a problem and should take less time than the letter they do for immigration[100bht.]

[Ace of Pop]

We look after an elderly Brit. Took Him to my BKK Bank,he has no Acc there but the Manager Photo Stated his P/Port, to cover himself, then filled in the form for Him.No Charge.Most helpfull,considering he wasnt a customer.

[soap]

I phoned Newcastle yesterday.

They will NOT accept a retired British policeman or a retired British solicitor as a witness.

They will accept a Thai bank manager ( I wonder if they know who was the main culprit for the 1996 Thai crash)

I did not bother to ask them if they would accept a British politician if I paid their expenses.

[jacky54]

I have received one of these this morning. If I am to continue to receive my UK pension. I have to have it witnessed, signed and stamped by a professional in Nong Khai. The only person I have found today is trying to charge me 4000baht!!. Does anybody living in Nong Khai know anybody who could witness and sign such a document and who can read and understand English at a reasonable price., thank you.

Do you really think they will bother to check who does it?