Reader question: Form 'being alive' from pension fund

You do indeed no longer have to go to Immigration, because they are no longer allowed to do that. If it is AOW benefit, you have to go to the local Social Security Office, but that is also stated in the letter from the SVB. It is difficult for other pensions, because the Social Security Office refuses to sign forms other than those of the SVB. We eventually ended up with the Tourist Police. After explanation, he certified for us with stamps and signatures. Our pension fund had no problem with that. So we travel to the Tourist Police every year!

Just go to you or a doctor, you ask him for a stamp and a signature, he checks whether you are still alive, if there is anyone who can see that, it is him, my doctor does that free of charge and sends that trade himself.

The Provincial Social Security Office does this for the SVB in the Netherlands.

I did it in Phitsanulok in a big office and I don't know what that building is called
They also issue the Thai passports there.

Have the form of life stamped by the police, doctor is also good for most pension funds.
Show your passport, just a pinch of your arm if you say au, you're still alive.
Call your pension fund to see if they accept it.

For the Aow (via SVB) I have to confirm that I am alive via SSO Thailand. In my case in Udonthani.
No one there speaks even a little English and last time there was not even anyone to handle it. Earlier I was sent to Immigration by SSO after which I had to pay 1000 Bath. Proof of payment was not given.
In contrast to this annual annoyance, the ING Pension Fund agrees to a stamp and signature from the local Post Office. Free of charge and with the Thai smile added "service"
It should not go unmentioned that SVB NEVER responded after asking for text and explanation twice about the above-described annoying state of affairs.

As a Belgian in March last year, I got it stamped at the counter at Immigration Jomtien for 200 baht, it took less than a minute, I had my passport in hand, but I didn't need it.

Due to changed rules at the BE embassy BKK (pension service form was no longer accepted, they now have their own form) I also did a test via doctor's certificate, and this was also accepted by the embassy for issuing THEIR pension service certificate. Everything via email is sufficient for the embassy , also for pension service, postal shipping not necessary (but I did it anyway...)

Ps: photo with daily newspaper with clearly visible the date of yourself by email is also accepted by BE embassy BKK for delivery of life certificate in replacement of personal appearance

Dear Don,
The Dutch embassy issues such a statement. You have to go there in person. It does cost you a lot: a return ticket to Bangkok and at the embassy cost 1300 Baht the last time.

After I did that for the first time I thought it was too expensive. I then consulted with my pension fund whether they would accept a copy of the living statement as issued for my AOW benefit. My one pension fund accepted this and I did not even ask the other, but simply sent a copy of the statement for the SVB. Apparently that was OK because I heard nothing back. You can discuss with the SVB in which month they will send you the statement so that you can synchronize it with your pension fund. For me it means that in June in Hua Hin (35 Km from my hometown) at the SSO (just before Soi Hua Hin 11) I can arrange everything in one go.

You can see that it is quite easy and cheap to do with a little planning. Good luck!
Rembrandt

At the end of last year at the Municipal in Cha-Am: asked at the counter for a stamp and signature on my Attestation de Vie. The boss was there, had to go to his office, looked doubtful and had objections that I couldn't understand. He asked for my immigration card in my passport so I gave him my passport with 2 100 bills in it. Suddenly his face brightened; he understood and enthusiastically stamped and signed my Attestation. It's who you meet. I also backed down at the tourist police and going up and down to the Embassy in BKK is not easy either. I know: I also want to prevent this kind of thing, but sometimes there is little other choice…

The Pension Fund needs this to know that you are still alive, including the SVB.
This is to prevent misuse. Have it signed and stamped by a competent authority.
If you die in the Netherlands in the place where you live, it goes directly to the relevant authorities. If you live in Amsterdam but that person dies in another city, the next of kin must report this, which also applies when abroad.
I know this because I worked for a large pension fund for over 40 years.

Coincidentally, I went to the embassy last week, had to have an income statement, downloaded in advance, completed.
Also had a form of being alive from my pension fund (construction) it was very busy, so thought this would take a long time, but after about ten minutes a lady came, asked who only had something to sign.
Gave my two forms, and she asked for 900 baht, asked for both, and she confirmed.
Ten minutes later I was out again.
Weird previously I paid 1500 for 1 form so was very pleased.
Came home, made a copy of the life certificate, for another pension fund (PFT) and it was also accepted by PFT.
But it remains a hassle every year, and I still wonder if there is no other way, because the funds now know that things are difficult here

Reading all the responses, obtaining and submitting to a benefits agency a living statement is quite confusing, contradictory and prone to corruption. This will certainly not only apply to Thailand. The same problems will also arise in other countries, such as Spain, where many more pensioners live than in Thailand.

The Netherlands and the Dutch government are world leaders when it comes to automation. It would be good if the government also ensured that all pension funds and other benefit agencies have one way of making such a statement and that the government also takes care of the way in which such a scheme is to be implemented. In principle, the embassies and consulates should be used for this at a reasonable cost and without everyone having to travel to an embassy in person. After all, a lot can be done digitally and online? The way in which to check whether someone is actually still alive will undoubtedly be a point of discussion. But once that hurdle has been overcome, such a statement should be able to be used by all benefit agencies. One statement for all, all bodies with one statement. Shouldn't it be possible?

I think that the local Dutch (and Belgian) associations, whether or not in consultation with the embassy (and possibly also in other countries) could commit themselves to this, for example with a request to the government and parliamentary parties. If the mailboxes of the members of parliament remain empty, nothing will happen.