On a grey Monday morning, the queue at the post office is longer than usual. Coats, walking sticks, and small folded papers held tightly in shaking hands. People in the neighbourhood are saying that pensions will go up starting on February 18. But only for people who send a new “life certificate” or an online declaration that half of the people here have never heard of. The clerk at the counter says the same thing over and over: “You have to do it online or send the form back.” Some people nod, acting like they understand. Some people leave without saying anything, feeling confused and too proud to ask again. The date of the rise is already all over the screens. You don’t see the people who won’t get a penny.
Pensions go up on February 19, but not for everyone.
Starting on February 8, millions of bank accounts will show a rise in their pensions. The government talks about fairness, keeping up with inflation, and protecting the buying power of seniors. The number sounds good: a few extra euros a month, and sometimes more for people with smaller pensions. Politicians will say it again on TV, charts will go around, and headlines will be happy. But there is a very simple filter behind this good message. The rise will only help retirees whose files are “up to date.” And that little thing is making a lot of people very anxious. For example, Ernest is 78 years old, a widower, lives alone in a small town, and doesn’t have a smartphone. He found out about the story by chance while talking to his neighbour on the landing. She tells him, “They say you have to confirm something online, or the pension won’t go up.” He goes to the town hall, waits, and then is sent to the pension fund. After that, he goes back to the post office. By the time he finally gets the right information, he has a new problem: he has to send a certificate that he never got or fill out an online form that he doesn’t know how to open. The rise in his pension suddenly seems like a test he wasn’t ready for. It’s easy to see how this system makes sense on paper. Pension funds need regular proof that beneficiaries are still alive, especially if they live abroad or don’t talk to the administration very often. The “life certificate” or similar digital confirmation helps stop fraud and wrong payments. When a technical safety measure becomes a social barrier, that’s when the problem starts. People who don’t have internet, don’t drive anymore, or don’t have any family nearby are in a silent gap. Their bills go up, but their pension doesn’t. The rule that was supposed to protect the system ends up hurting the most isolated.
How to send the missing certificate when you are not “connected”
The first step is very clear: find out which organization pays your pension and either call or visit them in person. One important thing to ask on the phone is,
Heating a lemon in the microwave: a straightforward kitchen technique you’ll keep repeating
Is my file blocked because I don’t have a certificate or declaration?”
If the answer is yes, ask for the document to be sent by mail or for the address where you can send a signed handwritten statement. Some funds will accept a simple letter saying that you are alive and still live at the same address, along with a copy of your ID. It doesn’t look good, but it works. The goal is to make a paper trail that they can quickly check so that your pension adjustment doesn’t take months.
A lot of retirees say they sometimes throw away letters from the government without reading them because they think they’re ads or complicated forms. Let’s be honest: no one really looks forward to reading every single envelope. This is exactly where things go wrong. There is an envelope that looks a little different from usual, a form that looks boring, and the pension increase quietly goes away. If you take care of an older family member, one small thing can make a big difference. Once a week, sit down together and read through the stack of letters and emails. A pen, a cup of coffee, and ten minutes. You tick boxes, sign and put papers in an envelope. And all of a sudden, the famous February 18 isn’t as scary anymore. Sometimes, just talking to someone can solve a whole problem. A social worker has put a handwritten note on the notice board at the community center in a suburb that says, “
Need help with pension forms?”
Come on Wednesdays. People come with plastic bags full of papers, some of which are yellowed and some of which are still in their envelopes. They leave with less weight in their hands and heads. Maria, who is 82, says, “I had given up.” “When they talk about the internet, it sounds like they’re speaking a different language.” I thought, “So it’s not me who’s stupid; it’s the system that’s too fast,” when the lady here slowly explained things to me and filled out the form with me.
If you ask for a certificate, make sure to get a paper copy and the right address to send it back to.
Even if the order isn’t perfect, keep all of your pension letters in a simple folder and organise them by date.
Write down every deadline in the letters on a calendar, even if it’s just one word.
Ask for help from people in your area, like the town hall, a social worker, a trusted neighbour, or a family member.
Send the document anyway with a short note if the deadline has passed.
The “offline” generation’s quiet anger
There is something deeper growing behind the technical side: a sense of being left behind. Many retirees are sick of being told to “just go online” for everything, from taxes to health to pensions. When the February 8 increase is based on a digital or semi-digital process, the message they hear is harsh: those who don’t keep up will make less money.
This anger doesn’t often get loud. It shows in short phrases in line at the bank, a shrug on the bus, and a resigned laugh at the pharmacy. Some people are embarrassed to admit that they don’t know how to use a smartphone, as if not knowing how to do something is a bad thing instead of just a fact of life. Some people say again and again that they “don’t want to bother anyone” and stay quiet.
| Key point | Detail | Value for the reader |
|---|---|---|
| Check your file | Contact your pension fund and ask if a certificate or declaration is missing | Avoid a frozen pension and benefit from the February 8 rise |
| Prefer paper if needed | Request postal forms and send copies of ID and a signed statement | Access your rights even without internet or a smartphone |
| Seek local support | Use town halls, social workers, associations, neighbors or family for help | Reduce stress and the risk of losing income through administrative gaps |
FAQ:
Question 1: Who will see their pension go up on February 8?
All retirees whose pension fund has checked their file and who have all the necessary certificates or declarations up to date. People who don’t have all the right papers will often have to wait for their rise until their situation is fixed.
Question 2: I didn’t get any certificate forms in the mail. What should I do?
Call your pension fund and tell them you never got the document. Ask them to send it again or offer another way to get it, like a signed letter with a copy of your ID. Tell the agent to write down that you called about this in your file
Question 3: Is it possible to do everything without the internet?
Yes, most funds still accept paper exchanges by mail or in person. Your rights don’t depend on having a computer or smartphone, even if the process takes longer.
What if I find out after February 8 that I don’t have a certificate?
Please send the missing document as soon as you can. According to the rules of each fund, the increase is usually applied retroactively for the months in question once your file is updated.
Question 5: Where can I get free help with filling out my forms?
You can go to your town hall, local social services, pension information centers, senior citizen groups, or neighbourhood centers. Some banks and post offices also help people read and understand letters from the government.
