The financial stability of hundreds of elderly people was shaken recently due to a sudden interruption in their usual bank transfers. An administrative requirement of Social Securityessential for maintaining the monthly income of retirees, was not met within the deadlines stipulated by state services, generating an automatic blockage in the payment system for retirees.
This bureaucratic failure resulted in the immediate suspension of hundreds of pensions paid by Portuguese Social Security at the beginning of the month. The situation specifically affects national citizens residing abroad and who have not provided the mandatory proof of life before the competent authorities.
According to RDP Internacional, a public radio service for Portuguese communities, around 680 pensions were suspended between Luxembourg and Switzerland alone. The block is exclusively due to the failure to present proof of life, a control mechanism to avoid undue payments to deceased beneficiaries.
Race to consulates to regularize
The absence of money in the account led many pensioners to go to consular posts and Social Security attaché offices in their countries of residence. The objective is to understand the reason for the cut and try to reverse the situation as quickly as possible.
The same source indicates that Cristina Ribeiro, Social Security attaché in Switzerland, has already provided clarifications to more than thirty people faced with this scenario. The person responsible notes that, in most cases, the responsibility falls on the pensioner himself who did not submit the requested documentation for the continuation of the benefit.
The situation is reversible and the injured parties will not lose the right to the missing amount, as long as they regularize the administrative process. As soon as the proof of life is carried out and validated by the services, pension payments will be reactivated immediately.
According to Contacto, a leading newspaper for the Portuguese community in Luxembourg, there is a guarantee that payment will be made retroactively. The OGBL union obtained this confirmation from the Social Security attaché in that country, calling on retirees to complete the process urgently.
Criticisms of lack of communication
The aforementioned source explains that the trade union organization regretted the lack of publicity made by Portuguese Social Security regarding the mandatory nature of this procedure. The deadline for Luxembourg residents ended on December 15th and the lack of knowledge of the deadline contributed to the high number of suspensions.
To resolve the problem in Luxembourg, beneficiaries can contact the Consulate or the Social Security Attaché in person. Service for this purpose does not require prior appointment, facilitating the quick resolution of the blockage.
Extending the measure to more countries
Last year, the requirement for proof of life focused on Portuguese Social Security pensioners residing in Switzerland and Luxembourg. The rule must apply to anyone aged 66 years and 9 months or older.
It also explains that control will be expanded to other geographies next year. The measure will also cover national retirees residing in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium and Cape Verde.
Also read:
