That sounds ripe for abuse - someone continuing to steel a pension after your death, either by use of old video or holding your decapitated head in front of a phone - or fitting you up for some big crime, making it appear as if you were on the scene.


I'm off to sell my idea to a movie producer.

Or even steal.

The decapitated head won't last long!

Some sort of freezer system, could even freeze that smile on the face so no manipulation needed.

The other thing about the Uk is the requirement for everything you do to have a different number.

Here I have my NIE. Its on everything...
In the Uk you have a UI for the taxman, drivers licence number, NI number, Passport number and the most silly of all a NHS number (dont know why as Ive never been asked for this at hospital visits. But would have thought asking for this one piece of info would stop medical tourism dead)

All of the Spanish stuff is joined up.
As to fraud, its alot easier to do this in the Uk than here where there really are no benefits to claim..

I know of one person who still has not informed the Uk of her husband's death here last year.
I dont know if she is claiming his pensions but she didn't inform the bank here either as they had a joint account.
She is rather belligerent about the bank saying its my money they dont need to know (they also never took residence until forced to in 2020).

Proof of life should be a form or at least a contact who confirms you live.
A photo even with today's newspaper is a lame way to go...Do kidnappers even use this ???

Got to keep those civil servants employed you know!

I don't want to drift too far from Rosemary's original question, but I'd just like to say that I'm encouraged to read that these things in Spain are joined-up.

I lived for twenty-something years in Switzerland; I considered that they were way ahead of the Brits in these matters, then moving to Belgium took it up to the next level.

One ID number, everywhere, and it works.

I can print a Federal Government 'proof of life' certificate all by myself from PC + a 'phone app (for 2FA), the only problem is that it's not accepted outside of Belgium ...

Let's keep banging those rocks together people, we'll get there eventually.

+++

Edit to add (before someone else gets in with this) not that we actually have a Federal Government at the moment, it's currently a 'work in progress'

You would think that for those of us on State and Government pensions there would be a way that one proof of life certificate would suffice for all those pensions. Unfortunately it doesnt seem to work that way but surely they hold the details of the pensions we have and as they are all from the government it shouldn't be too difficult to pass that on ?

Sense and ease are not part of their mind set so you are reaching for the stars with that thought.

Rosemary

Yes you are right Rosemary

Just to give you all a bit of a chuckle. When I was at the Justice of Peace I met a long standing friend. Whilst chatting I explained that I had to send the form back to the UK. She promptly went into helpful mode and explained that the post office was only open a short time each day and offered to tell me the times. I had to stop her because I was really struggling to keep a straight face. I have lived here for 18 years, have known her almost all of that time so surely she should realise that I have posted things in that time. I still have a giggle about it.

Rosemary

I had mine sent Certified from Madrid, 8 days....

Why? You live in Venezuela and have commented on another thread about the life certificate stating this.

Rosemary

No reliable international Postal Service here, so..... last year my son left Vzla. to join my other son in Spain, took letter with him and posted on from there.
nothing more sinister than that.
.

It's about time UK introduced an ID document like the rest of Europe and many other places around the world. With the amount of personal information most give away quite freely on social media it would hard to argue it was an invasion of privacy or an undue imposition!

BTW, both 'er indoors and yours truly received letters today, first in 11 years for her and 9 for me.