In its newsletter, Stichting Goed mentions the problems surrounding the life certificate – proof of being alive – Attestation de Vita. You can read the text below:
For many Dutch people abroad, the 'Proof of Life' form is a piece of cake, but for many others it is an annual (or semi-annual) recurring frustration. It just depends on which country you live in, in the city or in a village where everyone knows the mayor and the policeman or which pension fund(s) you are dealing with and whether or not you have a working DigiD.
Last summer, our partner NIHB already asked for feedback on this subject from Dutch citizens living abroad. This feedback received was discussed during the meeting (still operating from the NIHB) at the SVB in September last year.
The SVB is very aware of the problems, a pilot has been carried out with 400 customers in 5 countries digitally to prove it is alive. However, the findings of this pilot are not yet known to us, we have asked the SVB for further information and hope to be able to communicate this soon.
Stichting GOED has now placed the Life Certificate at the top of the list of priorities. We request to anyone who is having problems feedback form on our partner site. Unless you've done this before, you don't need to fill it in again.
Recently reported issues
The problems we receive are of different nature
Some examples that have recently come to us:
- The locations in Thailand where people can have the life certificate signed are limited to only the embassy, the Dutch Consulate and the Thai Social Security Office (SSO). to be alive. Due to the reduction in the available locations, many state pensioners have to go to an SSO office, sometimes miles away. This is a problem for people who are elderly, sick, or less mobile. Previously, it was also possible to sign the certificate at the police station of the place of residence, at the town hall, at the Immigration office or at a notary.
- The proof of life is available in a number of other languages. But there are many countries with which the SVB has not made any arrangements for a possible translation, in these countries only the English version can be used. Since an English form is not accepted in every country, you will have to translate it yourself or have it translated. This problem has been submitted as a complaint to the Ombudsman by one of the NIHB members and is now registered as a signal with the Ombudsman. It will only take action if it appears that more people have a problem with this.
- People can no longer offer the life certificate via DigiD, due to the problems with the mandatory two-step verification.
- Due to digitization, sending by email is no longer possible at the UWV, among others.
Please complete the feedback form on the NIHB partner website if you experience any of the above or any other issues with the 'Proof of Life'. This is not necessary if you have done this before.
It is high time that being able to demonstrate digitally that one is still alive can be applied worldwide as soon as possible.
https://www.nihb.nl/sociaal-inkomen-juridisch/aow-bevroren-door-zoekraken-levensbewijs-attestatie-de-vita/
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Coincidentally done today for my occupational pension benefit.
Previously it was done for free in soi 5 at the immigration in Jomtien.
There was now a sign that read: Please contact your embassy.
Then I went to the police station in soi 9 in Pattaya.
At the counter I was immediately referred to an agent in the office
behind it, with the comment: You have to pay him 100 baht.
Done like that, it was done quickly and the 100 baht note was quickly taken off the table
with the addition: this is for beer.
Done quickly.
Kees.
Perhaps the occupational pension will accept this.
Pensioenfonds Koopvaardij also accepts it when done at immigration or the police.
Why don't all pension funds and annuities use (RNI) non-resident registration
You must register yourself with the NRI, this is possible at 19 municipalities in the Netherlands, you can do this by means of a request to register a foreign address, I did it at the municipality of Rotterdam. Search on Google
Municipality of Rotterdam. I have just received a letter from one of my pensions, stating that I no longer have to send proof of life, we have recently started using the ( RNI ). So this would be for many of us save money and stop making long journeys. Look on Google for more info
Rotterdam.nl then contact your pension fund
Sincerely, FREEK
See on the internet that you have to report personally to the desk for this.
have already lived in different places in thailand. Always found the relevant SSO (social security office) after some searching and there, sometimes with some searches, had the proof (SVB) stamped and signed there. Most recently, a month ago, in Trat.
Sent by digiD. Objection: you have to travel far for it is somewhat correct. But we are quite spoiled. In the Netherlands everything is around the corner. If you live in Germany or France, you also have to count on quite a bit of travel time.
Just sent it by post last year and sent an email to SVB that it had been sent.
This year I had telephone contact with SVB. Ran quite well.
My opinion: you have to give something for it. Of course, around the corner from the local police officer is nicer, but a day trip broadens your horizon. If you have difficulty walking, it is indeed a problem, but that applies to any activity!. Going to a bank, hospital, etc. Is also a problem in the Netherlands. In short: I am not impressed with the complaints.
So if I understand correctly, I can no longer go to immigration Jomtien for my life certificate? I'm Belgian but I don't think that will make a difference.
Dear Marcel,
as a Belgian it is much simpler regarding the life certificate and the pension service does not make a fuss about it either. You can go to ANY official body with it and it will be accepted by the FPS Pensions without any problem.
You can go to e.g.: doctor, town hall, police... the only thing is: they have to want to stamp it and sign it, as some are quite reluctant to sign something that they cannot read, although the life certificate is also always in English + a of the Belgian national languages.
I receive the form annually, both by email and by post (it used to be 2x/y as a former civil servant). Have it stamped and signed here, locally, at the Tessa Baan. Is free. Send a scan by email and the original by post. On the website: http://www.mypension.be can you follow whether the topic is closed or not, so whether they have received it or not. Very simple without any problem.
Did my life certificate for the Belgian pension service last month. Indeed immigration Jomtien did not want to do more. Police station Jomtien neither. I have also been to SSO. Thought if they do it for the Dutch SVB, then maybe also for the Belgian pension service. Sadly, didn't want to. Referred me to immigration, hahaha, circle was complete. So only option is embassy. In my case the Dutch embassy because I am Dutch. Only Belgian nationality can apply at the Belgian embassy. So trip to Bangkok. Not an annoying city, make it a nice day.
Hi
Why do pension funds not work together with SVB or vice versa?
The SSO office only processes forms from SVB, and NOT from other funds.
I always send the SVB form to other pension funds, by post NO problem.
SSO is located in the place where I live in Thailand, so that is the easiest and free for me.
Regards Dan.
Already told. You don't even have to leave your seat for the Danish Life Certificate. I receive an email, log in to their version of Mijn Overheid and declare that I am still alive and live at the same address. Send this and immediately receive an acceptance as a PDF. Done.
Very fraud sensitive. A child or acquaintance can log in with the data and then collect it year after year. For example, if a person is unable, physically or mentally, and someone else observes things. After death, the helper continues as before.
Apparently I'm lucky with my supplementary pensions. I only have to go to SSO once a year for the AOW. Apparently have
KLM pension
Delta Lloyd and
Aegon
inspection at SVB whether I am still alive.
Perhaps other pension funds do not have that option.
Correct SVB passes this on
to my pension fund
central management Achmea
so once a year
an sso office where you
quickly helped