Pension abroad?

How you make sure to receive it every year

Expats entitled to a pension abroad via Overseas Social Security (OSS) are required to submit an annual certificate of life. This is an important document through which the OSS ensures that pension payments are accurate and uninterrupted.

What is a certificate of life?

The certificate of life is an official document confirming that you are still alive. It comes in two versions:

• Pre-completed form: you receive it directly from the OSS in September each year.
• Blank form: you can find the form on the OSS website, where you can download it and fill it out yourself.

The document must be signed by an official body, such as an embassy, consulate, town hall, police station, or notary. In exceptional cases, a doctor may also sign the document, provided it states that the person is unable to travel. This procedure provides definitive evidence and helps prevent unjustified or incorrect pension payments.

Who is required to provide a certificate of life?

Anyone who receives a pension via the OSS and does not have an official residential address in Belgium must provide the necessary documentation to verify their status. People who live in Belgium but are under the power of attorney of a notary or mandatary must also submit a certificate of life annually.

When and how do you need to submit the certificate of life?

The OSS sends you the certificate of life every September. The deadline for submission is 31 December of the current year.

You can submit it in two ways:

• By email: Recommended, as it is easy and quick.
• By post: Fine, but less recommended due to international processing times.

What happens if you submit the certificate of life late?

If you submit the certificate of life after December 31, the OSS will temporarily stop payments. Once the document is received and meets the requirements, the pension will be paid retrospectively from the date payments were suspended. Delay can thus be inconvenient, but fortunately does not mean loss of pension.