I received my Life Certificate/Proof of Life in September and, whereas I normally go to the bank as it’s just down the lane, as I was going to the mairie for another reason, I thought I might as well ask the maire to sign it. I always take a completed photocopy so that all anyone has to do is copy the information across, witness my signature and sign and stamp it. The receptionist took the form, barely looked at my passport and ID card, and simply asked me to come back the following morning which I did. Expecting to see the maire in order for her to witness my signature, I was, instead, just handed the completed form. When I returned home I noticed that although she’d signed and stamped the wretched document she i) hadn’t written her name in full and ii) written in her own passport number. I returned the form anyway with a cover letter and also emailed the DWP requesting another form, if they felt it necessary. I also asked for a confirmation of receipt. I’ve heard nothing - which is my main concern as in the past they’ve always been so quick to respond. Have others experienced a lack of response or delays this time round?
I never get an acknowledgement when I send back the proof of life form. As long as they keep paying my pension I don’t contact them.
I received my letter at the end of June which of course is the worst time of the year when everyone is away during July and August. I have only just got it signed by my doctor and posted it so it’s going to be a couple of weeks late. Last year I went to our notaire, didn’t see him just his secretary and had to wait a couple of hours. When I got home I saw he hadn’t stamped it but I sent it off on time. My pension was stopped so I rang up and they found the letter and ok’d it. So maybe the same will happen to you. Next time I think I’ll try the chemist as they seem to be the most approachable and they speak good English
Just a thought; it is possible to get this Life Cert form - from the DWP - printed in French - and the DWP do accept that version. You can download the form from the DWP - overseas section - by e-mail and just explain you need the french version of the form. Then keep the download and use for next time around.
What we’ve done is to fill in a copy of the form as an example and show them that along with the form itself.
We’ve got to know the ladies on the accueil at the Mairie and we fill in our bit, they fill in the rest and sign it. They say what their role is (obviously not the Maire) but the official stamp goes on it and I’ve never had it rejected. I don’t think the DWP or whatever actually read it - they see the stamp and the signature and all is well…
Yes, I’ll do the same as our pharmacist is excellent and fully understands English. It’s a bit hit and miss with the bank as they have a high turnover of staff but I certainly won’t be going to the mairie again.
Which is exactly what I did but I was concerned that the maire never actually saw me or witnessed my signature. That’s eased my mind though so thank you.
I read somewhere that they will accept a document in French. I always go to the mairie and ask for a “Certificat de Vie". They have one on their computer and just have to fill in your details and get the Maire or his representative to sign it. I then send it with the form they sent me filled in and signed by me. They haven’t stopped my pension, so it works.
Our Mayor brought the Mairie stamp with her when she came for lunch the other day.
The fun of filling out and trying to get one of these DWP forms signed is clearly a pleasure in store for those, like me, below UK pension age. I thought it might possibly be helpful for those of us in that category to actually see what the form looks like, and below is what the UK government site offered today.
If anyone happens to have either the DWP French language version or a certificate de vie model letter that their Mairie will sign, it might be helpful and useful for others currently grappling with this DWP procedure.
DWP Life certificate.pdf (301.6 KB)
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We wrote the French translation under the English words, having failed to find a current DWP French translation, but it really does depend on the Mairie. Ours has a file of “ones we filled in earlier” to use as examples. We tend to have to do 2 at a time - one for DWP and one for our small employment pensions and they have copies of each.
It took us a VERY long time to get the idea into our thick heads that popping into the Mairie and chatting to the people on the desk on a reasonably frequent basis was the best way to progress anything. We discovered that, once we were dropping in every week to pick up keys to one of the “salles des Associations” it made a huge difference.
Our Maire also has a “permanence” once a month where you can drop in an talk to him about any problems without an appointment. We’ve done this once so he knows who we are and always greets us when out and about.
After living all our lives in the UK where local government operates on a very different basis, it takes a long time to adjust to how things work here. Much more personal.
There’s only one reason for the pension service to ask you for proof of life and that is to make sure they stop paying pensions to people who are no longer with us. If they dont stop paying you no worries. When I lived in Pakistan the Pension service sent a guy out every year to check and he apparently saved the treasury millions and he had a nice life travelling the country.
I was interested to see this topic as I received my document when we were in France. As I knew I would be coming back to the UK for an extended holiday I brought the form with me as I could get my bank to sign it. I thought it would be easier as there would be no confusion regarding language. I went to the bank today and was told that they couldn’t sign it. They could only sign official bank documents. When I showed the list of potential witnesses for the form according to the DWP, which includes “an officer of the bank, authorised to sign documents on its behalf”. She repeated the not possible answer. When I got home I rang the bank helpline. They repeated that they could only sign Lloyds documents. Their concern is that there are so many scammers that this could be a scam and if they signed it they would be aiding a scam. At this point I gave up. So much for my theory that it would be easier to get it signed in the UK !!
You’ve sixteen weeks in which to return it, so when you return to the land of bureaucracy that actually works (albeit often only eventually) take it to the mairie, and just get it signed and stamped.
That’s a good idea.
Given the turn around times, I wonder of some of the DWP employees are still breathing.
This from the crew that use AWS 
“Client relationship: Lloyds Bank is a client of AWS, which provides cloud infrastructure services. In August 2024, Lloyds hired a former AWS executive to lead its new AI and analytics division, further demonstrating the connection between the two companies.
Allegedly a pharmacy can verify that I am still alive as they are also on the DWP list. I will pop into our local one tomorrow and see if they have a reason why they can’t confirm that I am who I say I am !
So is “We won’t lift our finger ‘cos it could be a scam” the new “It’s for Health & Safety” ? 
Success. I finally got the pharmacist at a local supermarket to sign it and declare that I am still alive. Always good to know. Can I expect to get this form regularly? I will go to the mairie next time !
why not check with your Pension Provider ? 
(although there is often a “covering letter” explaining the what and the why 
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