In today's complex financial world, retirees are facing a new concern: sending a 'life certificate' to insurance organizations. About 500,000 retirees are currently facing a serious letter requesting them to prove they are still alive in order to continue receiving their pensions. Ignoring this request could lead to the suspension of payments by the end of November 2026.
New Rules for International Payments
This requirement mainly applies to those who receive their pensions abroad. While for some countries like Germany, information is automatically updated, retirees in other countries must provide this proof annually. For 1.2 million pension recipients in countries without an information exchange system, this process is done annually.
Additionally, the methods for submitting this 'life certificate' are available in both digital and paper formats. Retirees can use the Postident app for digital submission or send their documents in paper form, which must be verified by an authority. The official deadline for submitting these documents is set for July 31, 2026.
For those receiving more than one pension, a separate 'life certificate' must be submitted for each one. This may complicate the process, but failing to do so could have serious consequences.
