Debunking Retirement Myths: Separating Truth from Internet Mysteries

In Germany, proof of life (Lebensbescheinigung) is generally required to continue receiving a pension, particularly for pensioners living abroad. This proof confirms that the pension recipient is still alive and entitled to receive payments.

Exemptions and circumstances:

Exemptions from certain related residency or pension requirements exist for persons with physical, mental, or psychological disabilities or illnesses who cannot meet some contributions or language requirements related to settlement permits, but this is related to residence rather than specifically to pension proof of life.
Specific exemptions to submitting proof of life documents might occur due to exceptional circumstances, such as inability to attend in-person verification owing to severe disability or institutionalization, but explicit official sources do not detail these in the search results provided.
Typically, pension insurance authorities or relevant agencies request proof of life documents periodically, and exceptions would be case-specific or regulated under social law (SGB VI), with applicants advised to contact their pension insurance provider for personalized information about exemptions or documents required.
For pensioners living abroad receiving German pensions, proof of life may be verified through a certified document from local authorities or embassies confirming they are alive and residing at the declared address. This process varies, and sometimes pensioners may need to visit the German embassy or consulate to present proof of life when requested.

In summary: Proof of life is generally required to receive a German pension, especially for recipients outside Germany. Exemptions are typically very limited and linked to disability or other exceptional conditions but are not extensively detailed in available sources. Pensioners should maintain contact with their pension provider to confirm exact requirements and possible exceptions.

Long-Term Care Contributions:

The contribution rate for long-term care insurance increased by 0.2 percentage points from 3.4 to 3.6 percent at the start of the year.
The German Pension Insurance confirmed that the calculation complies with the provisions of the relevant regulation.
The increased contributions from the first half of the year were to be settled retroactively in July with the pension increase.

Banking Fraud Measures:

From October 2025, banks in the Eurozone will have to check whether an IBAN account number matches the name of the payment recipient to combat fraud methods like "spoofing" (identity fraud).
The DRV, the German Pension Insurance, has decided to waive such an IBAN-name check for pension payments, meaning pensions will be transferred as before, even if there are small differences in names.
This decision was not implementable at short notice for the pension insurance.

Misleading reports about pensioners needing to provide proof of life to secure their pension are false in most cases in Germany. The German Pension Insurance has denied reports of 22 million incorrectly calculated pension decisions. The government provided a lump-sum solution in the Long-Term Care Contribution Rate Adjustment Regulation 2025. From August, the contribution rate of 3.6 percent will apply again. No reference to Rente mit 70 or M+ was made in this paragraph.

Exemptions from providing proof of life to continue receiving a German pension might be granted for individuals with specific physical, mental, or psychological disabilities or illnesses.
Banks in the Eurozone, including the German Pension Insurance, will implement measures to combat banking fraud by October 2025, such as verifying the matching of IBAN account numbers and the names of payment recipients, except for pension payments.
In Germany, certain policy-and-legislation adjustments, such as the Long-Term Care Contribution Rate Adjustment Regulation 2025, address issues like pension calculations and contribution rates, but false reports about pensioners needing proof of life to secure their pension are generally unfounded.