Pensions may be delayed for some people

A reader has contacted us to say some pensioners in France may not have received their pensions due to problems linked to Life Certificates.

Paul Williams in Pyrénées-Atlantiques said when his pension did not arrive he contacted the pensions helpline and was told that some Life Certificates returned to the pension service had not been processed. He said he had been told those from France were particularly affected.

The Department of Work and Pensions said today that it was aware of the problem but that it affected “a tiny minority of pensioners” and that it would be “resolved shortly”.

It is understood that fewer than 100 pensioners are affected – but the spokesman could not say if they were all pensioners living in France.

He advised anyone with concerns to contact one of the numbers listed at the International Pension Centre and anyone in difficulty should ask about the possibility of special payments.

When Mr Williams contacted the pensions service he was told his problem was being resolved there and then and that his pension should be with him once it had gone through the international system, around five days.

Let us know at news@connexionfrance.com if you have had a problem.