Verification of existence in life: what it is and how it works

Excluded from the check are pensioners residing in countries where social security institutions operate with which the INPS has concluded cooperation agreements for the exchange of information on deaths, such as:

• the German Rentenversicherung (DRV);
• the Swiss Ufficio Centrale di Compensazione (UCC);
• the Polish Zaklad Ubezpieczen Spolecznych (ZUS);
• the French Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Vieillesse (CNAV);
• the Belgian Service fédéral des Pensions (SFP);
• the Dutch Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) and Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen (UWV);
• the Australian Centrelink.

The exclusion applies only to pensioners who also receive benefits from the institutions indicated.

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In the first phase, the checks concern pensioners residing in:

• South America;
• Central America;
• North America;
• Asia;
• Far East;
• Scandinavian countries;
• Eastern Europe and neighbouring countries.

In the second phase, the checks concern pensioners residing in:

• Africa;
• Oceania;
• Europe (excluding Scandinavian and Eastern European countries).

The existence in life survey is initiated by Citibank by mailing pensioners an envelope containing:

•  the explanatory letter with:
  • instructions for completing the form;
  • the supporting documentation to be attached 
    (photocopy of an identity document of the pensioner with photo);
  • the contact details of the assistance service that the bank has made available to interested parties;
• the certificate form, customised for each pensioner (blank forms cannot be used).
  If a pensioner does not receive or loses the form, the latter must contact the bank's assistance service, which will send a new personalised form also via email.
  In addition, it is possible to request this form from patronage institutes with access to the Citibank portal, as they can produce and print the life certificate package themselves.
  For particular subjective situations (incapacitated persons, persons with functional limitations, in-patients, prisoners, etc.) in which the pensioner is unable to provide proof of existence in the manner described, it will be possible to use alternative methods by contacting Citibank’s assistance service.

The attestation form must be returned to the bank, countersigned by an "acceptable witness", i.e. a representative of an Italian Embassy or Consulate or of a local authority empowered to guarantee the signing of the attestation of life certificate.

The “Frequently Asked Questions” brochure on the Citibank website lists the different types of “acceptable witness” for different geographical areas.

Since 2015, for pensioners residing in Canada, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, INPS has provided a list of patronage institutes operators who, according to local regulations, have qualifications that fall within the category of “acceptable witnesses”. These parties are authorised to:

• access a portal set up by Citibank;
• electronically certify the existence of pensioners.

The electronic verification of life certificates is also available to officials of Italian diplomatic representations indicated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. In addition, INPS and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation have shared a project that envisages the possibility for pensioners to liaise with consular offices via a video call service

Citibank has also made available to other patronage institutes operators abroad who do not have the status of “Acceptable Witness”, the possibility of using an electronic submission tool of the existence in life forms: the authorised patronage institute operator will be able to upload copies directly to the Citibank computer system in electronic format of the forms and of the supporting documents duly completed and signed as appropriate, avoiding sending these by post.

Pensioners have 120 days to send the required certificates to Citibank.

If at the end of the 120-day period the life certificate is not completed, an instalment of the pension will be disbursed at the counters of a local Citibank operator (“support partner”) for payment in cash.

If the pensioner collects the instalment personally, the verification of the life certificate is deemed to have been successfully completed.
If the pensioner does not collect the instalment from the “support partner”, payment of the pension is suspended as a precautionary measure by the bank, starting with the next instalment.

For assistance with the verification of the life certificate, pensioners, delegates and attorneys may contact the Citibank service via:

• the dedicated web page;
• an email to inps.pensionati@citi.com;
• ne of the telephone numbers indicated in the explanatory letter;
• Citibank's interactive automated service.

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