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Last Updated 6 Feb 2026

PROOF OF LIFE STATEMENTS - LIFE CERTIFICATES

Some members have received letters from the Ministry of Works and Pensions requesting 'proof of life' statements to be completed and returned to the Ministry.  The signature on the statement has to be witnessed by a non-family member who should be in a position to affix an 'official' stamp on the document. 

If any member has returned one of these with a 'different' authorisation stamp please let us know.

There is a time limit of the completion and return of these documents, by which time failure to return the document will result in the Pension being 'frozen' until the document is received. 

A Life Certificate is used by the Department for Work and Pensions to check that a person living outside the UK can still get a UK State Pension.

Do not send us this form unless we have asked you to.

You must print, complete and post this form back to us as quickly as possible.

Pension Service 11
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1LW
United Kingdom

The person who witnesses the Life Certificate should not be related to you by birth or marriage, and should not live at the same address as you.

People who can witness a Life Certificate are:

  • a member of the police force
  • a teacher or lecturer
  • an officer of a bank authorised to sign documents on its behalf
  • a doctor, surgeon, dentist, nurse, pharmacist or optician registered under the law of the country where the declaration is made
  • a care or residential home manager (if customer is resident)
  • a barrister, solicitor or advocate authorised to practice in the country where the declaration is made
  • paralegal (certified paralegal, qualified paralegal, or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals)
  • a Notary Public or any other person allowed to administer oaths in the country where the declaration is made (commissioner for oaths)
  • a civil servant or government employee
  • a councillor, for example local or county
  • a local government officer
  • a Member of Parliament
  • a magistrate or Justice of the Peace
  • a minister of a recognised religion

 

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