Harrow Council is preparing to temporarily suspend pension payments to 419 members, representing approximately 5.8% of its 7,174 pensioners, who have not responded to life certificate requests. The decision was revealed at the Harrow Council Pension Board meeting on Thursday, July 31, 2025, and is part of an ongoing effort to maintain accurate pension records and prevent potential overpayments.
Patrick Kilgallen, Interim Treasury and Pensions Manager, highlighted in the Pensions Administration Update that while the administration team has processed responses to the life certificate requests, they have not received notifications or returned post from these 419 members.
Work will be undertaken in collaboration with payroll to suspend these members,
the report stated.
Life certificates are issued annually to pensioners living overseas and to a random selection of 10% of UK pensioners, with a full issue to all pensioners every three years. These certificates serve as an audit requirement and a means of identifying potential fraud, as well as keeping pensioners informed of available resources.
To finalise the status of the 419 non-responders, the council is enhancing its verification methods. Beyond the initial life certificate request, Harrow Council is setting up a system to allow us to just look up death certificates
using access to the national database. Currently, access is limited to local death certificates through the registrar's office, primarily covering deaths in care homes, but the new system will provide a broader scope.
During the meeting, board members discussed the importance of verifying the status of pensioners to avoid overpayments. Kilgallen assured the board that pension payments would be suspended for those who did not respond to the life certificate requests. He clarified that any suspended pensions would be reinstated upon verification, with arrears paid accordingly, according to the Minutes Public Pack 20032025 Pension Board.
