state pension

I have been receiving my state pension for 3 years now and have never been asked for a proof of life
When do they start doing this , is it after so many years ?
TIA

I think I got one after about 3 years and I've had two in the last 8 years.
Quite easy at first as I had neighbours who were still UK residents that could verify me but they are now resident here so had to get my bank manager to verify the next one which was a pain due to the wait at the bank.

The last one we had a couple visiting that knew me and countersigned as a UK resident.

My wife has been getting her pension 5 years longer than me (from age 60) and has never had one of the proof of life certificates. No idea how they pick the person to send it to.

It would appear to be almost random. I had one maybe 8-10 years ago but my wife, who received her pension a couple of years before me has never had one at all.

My wife and I both received the letters yesterday. Today we went to our solicitors to have our signatures witnessed on the forms. They said they don't do it any more, and to go to the Ayuntamiento in Rojales.

At the Ayuntamiento we were told to go outside, turn right then immediately right again down Calle Antonio Andres, between the Ayuntamiento and the social centre. Then see the large new(ish) black building on the left. Go around to the entrance, go in, then first room on the left signed "Juzgado de Paz".

There we said "Certificado de Vida?" in our best Spanish, signed our forms and had them stamped etc. She wanted our passport by the way. No charge.

No doubt everyone knew this, except me, but then again maybe not ....

Pensions have never asked us to provide this form before, by the way.

Thanks everyone for the info about this
I have been in contact with the DWP and HMRC recently over extra pension years and money they owed me back due to a DWP cockup , all now sorted, so maybe they wont be asking me for proof of life for a few years yet

Singer wrote:My wife and I both received the letters yesterday. Today we went to our solicitors to have our signatures witnessed on the forms. They said they don't do it any more, and to go to the Ayuntamiento in Rojales.

At the Ayuntamiento we were told to go outside, turn right then immediately right again down Calle Antonio Andres, between the Ayuntamiento and the social centre. Then see the large new(ish) black building on the left. Go around to the entrance, go in, then first room on the left signed "Juzgado de Paz".

There we said "Certificado de Vida?" in our best Spanish, signed our forms and had them stamped etc. She wanted our passport by the way. No charge.

No doubt everyone knew this, except me, but then again maybe not ....

Pensions have never asked us to provide this form before, by the way.

That's good to know. When we went to the bank with an appointment booked for 11 it was almost 2 hours after that we were seen. They didn't charge but took ages to go through our accounts and try to flog us house insurance, solar power, funeral insurance etc.

Where we lived at the time one of the pharmacist at our local pharmacy signed forms for a lot of people.

The list is quite expansive though so it should not be too much of a problem finding someone to sign one for you.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d1dc20540f0b609da30d3e1/5_Life_Certificate_Witness_Options.pdf

That wasn't on the last letter I got although it has been a few years. My one said it had to be a UK resident on the electoral roll and in good standing or an official in the country I lived in. It mentioned council officer, bank managers, solicitors (how anyone can think a Spanish solicitor is of good standing I've no idea) and a couple of others as long as I was not related to them.

Certainly nothing like that list.

A long time ago now but I have a vague memory of a list like that.

Pretty unimpeachable source and as far as UK residents of good standing goes that would make it almost impossible to complete for many, myself included.

According to this https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-if-you-retire-abroad/report-a-change-in-your-circumstances it's the same as the list for who can sign a passport photo and that is laid out here https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications/accepted-occupations-for-countersignatories

Did DWP send the forms to you? My friend just called, she's been sent a letter but no form enclosed, apparently got to get in from WWW/MJU.ES Does that sound right?

Singer wrote:My wife and I both received the letters yesterday. Today we went to our solicitors to have our signatures witnessed on the forms. They said they don't do it any more, and to go to the Ayuntamiento in Rojales.

At the Ayuntamiento we were told to go outside, turn right then immediately right again down Calle Antonio Andres, between the Ayuntamiento and the social centre. Then see the large new(ish) black building on the left. Go around to the entrance, go in, then first room on the left signed "Juzgado de Paz".

There we said "Certificado de Vida?" in our best Spanish, signed our forms and had them stamped etc. She wanted our passport by the way. No charge.

No doubt everyone knew this, except me, but then again maybe not ....

Pensions have never asked us to provide this form before, by the way.