Life certificates

What is a life certificate and why might I get one?

From time-to-time we need to check that you are still alive and well, and getting the pension you are entitled to. This is entirely routine and we do it by sending most of our retired members a form to sign called a Certificate of entitlement to pension.

So there’s really nothing to worry about if you get one of these in the post, but we do need you to fill it in and send it back to us as soon as you can. We have to send these certificates because it’s one of our audit requirements, and because we have a ‘duty of care’ to protect our members’ money and guard against fraud.

The certificate also gives you the chance to tell us about other things that could affect the pension you get, for instance:

• if you get another job, or
• if you getting a dependant's pension but remarry, form a civil partnership, or start to live with someone as your husband, wife or civil partner.

We also need to know if for instance:

• you become too ill to understand or handle your own affairs, or
• you move house and forget to tell us

There are three parts to the certificate. Part A is to be completed by the person receiving the pension. Part B requests details of next of kin as having this additional information does prove very useful if we ever lose touch with you in the future. Part C must be completed and signed by an adult but not someone related to you.

If you do receive such a certificate then you must complete and return this to us. Failure to do so may result in your pension being suspended.