Mine was the first since receiving my pension which I think must be around 16 years, cannot remember.

Rosemary

I wonder why they can't use the Government Gateway system for this? You need to be registered with a unique identifier number which should be known only to yourself to use it, so why can't everyone be told to log in and complete a proof of life form by a certain date every year (your birthday would be logical)? They do have the Tell Us Once system for things like notifying Government and Local Government bodies of someone's death, so why not for proof of life too?

You lot must stop being so logical!

Possibly because we have so many numbers, passwords etc to remember that people would probably write it down somewhere which means that anyone could actually complete the form on line.

Rosemary

As you sy there has to be a secure and better way to deal with the compliance/completion & return of IPCs request for Life Certificates... In my case in particular and for other IPC beneficiaries, many if whom, like myself, also have medical issues and their relative pensions are used to buy vital medicines... Social media alternativeplatforms such as 'Whatsapp Video call' with end to end encryption and similar should be considered... all expats have their respective passports, that coupled with a WHATSAPP VIDEO CALL should meet all requirements necessary.
Indeed Whatsapp is used widely throughout Gov. bodies as a recognised line of communication, it is even used as evidence in Gov. enquiries. (I refer to ' Nicola Sturgeon, COVID Partygate & Post Office fraud Enquiries')
The manner and system whereby you only become aware of a problem with your Pension, being when you discover it is suspended, is to say the least stressfull and,absurd, especially in the 21st century and with the secure digital technologies now available.

The issue I have with the DWP is having to rely on the mail system. OK over here but over there? My private and quasi government pension providers do it all electronically.

I agree with you. My extremely small government pension is totally completed electronically. Granted I still have to print out the form and get someone to confirm my identity, then I scan it and return it, so much easier and the list of signees is very long which makes that side of it less hassle too. Unfortunately though they seem to be sending it every 18 months.

Rosemary

There are a few posts elsewhere relating to this. There's a 'help' forum linked somewhere.
It goes roughly like this.
I live abroad, how can I get get a government gateway account?
Register for one, provide information to establish identity.
Thanks, I've tried that but it wants to validate my access by sending me a text code to a UK phone number that I don't have because I live abroad.
Just register, provide contact details, a text will be sent for an access code and enter it when asked.
I've done that but I can't give a UK number because I don't live in the UK
And it goes back and forth a few times before it eventually clicks with the forum advisor.

Apparently some people can get around it but plenty can't even if they do have cells/mobile phones.
I've been getting my civil service pension for - OMG - 17 years. Never had a POL request of any sort.

Originally I could access it it all on line.
Then the management of the scheme was privatised and access ended.
Eventually, it was reintroduced, possibly with a different provider (or just a rebranding due to the usual failures and controversies these "providers" like to engage in) and I got access back. Hooray.

Only for them to then introduce the text/sms thing, denying me access.

Outgoing International Mail here in Vzla. is non-existant.... still haven't received L/cert . sent By IPC in July.
Last year (2023) I received aletter that was posted 10 yrs. ago.

I got 2 in 6 months last year. Ignored the second and pension stopped. Rang to question the situation and a very pleasant guy explained they are quite random. Sent me a new form but reinstated my payment while they waited to receive the paperwork.

I would have thought an actual conversation with a 'live' person would trump a letter anyday.

Do people have to do this in the Uk as well??
I'm sure it would have been something my 80 odd yr old father would have whinged about over the years.

Thanks for that information because if I received a second one in a short time I would have ignored it too. Had no idea that it was random.

Rosemary

Random, really?

Quite some coincidence then that both my wife and I get one on the same day!

Random sounds good to me.

I've received two in the three and a half years since I started drawing the state pension, the first was after just two months.

WATCH THIS SPACE....!
Will be trying to contact them on Tues. for the "umpteenth" time by phone at 04:00 hrs local time (08:00 UK) with a bunch of questions, to which I hope to receive 'coherent' replies, but I fear that they will consider this 'highly presumptuous' on my part... nevertheless....