Pension payments could potentially be suspended without verified evidence of a person's continued existence. But when might this occur?

The German Pension Insurance (DRV) has issued a fact-check to clarify misinformation circulating about the requirement for pensioners in Germany to provide proof of life.

Contrary to a recent claim, there is no rule coming into effect in August that requires pensioners in Germany to provide proof of life. This false information has been circulating on social media, causing confusion among pensioners.

The DRV clarified that pensioners in Germany do not have to provide proof of life. This is because the German Pension Insurance usually finds out about the death of a pensioner living in Germany automatically through the registration offices.

However, for pensioners living abroad, proof of life must be provided once a year. This process is facilitated through a data exchange between responsible authorities in countries such as Australia, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Israel, Croatia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland.

In around 1.2 million of the pension payments made abroad, proof of life is provided automatically through this data exchange. The DRV pays out approximately 26 million pensions every month, with around 1.7 million pensions being paid abroad.

The automatic proof of life process ensures that no pension is overpaid in case of death. This process helps to maintain the integrity of the pension system and avoid any potential misuse.

In 2025, there are expected to be many changes in the German pension system. However, the requirement for pensioners in Germany to provide proof of life remains unchanged.

The DRV encourages the public to verify information before sharing it, particularly when it comes to matters as important as pension payments. Misinformation can cause unnecessary worry and confusion, and the DRV is committed to providing clear and accurate information to its pensioners.