Pension may be suspended from January 1: who needs to apply by December 15

The State Social Insurance Agency (SSA, VSAA) reminds about the necessity to submit an application for the continuation of the Latvian pension or corresponding compensation in 2027. Documents are accepted from October 1 to December 15, 2026, the LETA agency reports. If the application is not received by the established deadline, the payment of the corresponding pension or compensation will be suspended from January 1, 2027. This requirement is stipulated by the Cabinet of Ministers' regulations on the procedure for paying state pensions to individuals who have moved abroad for permanent residence. ## Who must submit an application The application is required for the following categories of recipients: - pensioners permanently residing abroad who receive a pension awarded in Latvia and fall under the established procedure for annual confirmation; - residents of Latvia receiving pensions or compensations awarded by the SSA to an account in a payment institution of another European Union country, European Economic Area, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom. At the same time, pensioners residing in Latvia and receiving their pension to an account in a Latvian payment institution do not need to submit such an application. ## How to submit an application The SSA offers several ways to submit documents: 1. Through the official electronic address e-adrese. 2. By email at pasts@vsaa.gov.lv, signing the application with a secure electronic signature. 3. In person at any SSA customer service center. 4. By regular mail. 5. Through an authorized person. Application forms are available on the official website of [SSA (VSAA)](https://www.vsaa.gov.lv/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) in the "Other Applications" (Citi iesniegumi) section. ## When it is necessary to confirm that the pensioner is alive If the application is sent by regular mail or submitted through an authorized person, it is necessary to attach a notarial confirmation that the pension recipient is alive. Such a document must be issued no earlier than one month before sending or submitting the application. For example, if the documents are sent on December 10, the confirmation must be dated no earlier than November 10. When submitting electronically via e-adrese or with a secure electronic signature, a separate notarial confirmation is not required. ## Which countries have exceptions In some cases, it is not necessary to confirm the fact of being alive with a separate document. This applies to recipients of Latvian pensions residing in Lithuania, Estonia, and Australia. The competent authorities of these countries exchange the necessary information electronically. Confirmation is also not required for those residing in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine if the pension is paid through the competent authorities of these countries. Residents of other EU and EEA countries can contact the pension authority of their country of residence to find out if they can confirm the fact of being alive through it. For those residing in Canada and the island of Guernsey, there is an option to submit an application certified by the local competent authority using a special SSA form. However, exemption from confirming the fact of being alive should not be confused with exemption from the obligation to submit the application itself. ## Special rules for survivor's pensions Additional requirements apply to recipients of survivor's pensions. In this case, notarial confirmation is required that both the pension recipient and the dependent for whom the payment is designated are alive. For example, if a parent receives a pension for a child, confirmation is required for both. However, there is an exception for dependents over 18 years old who continue their education. If such a dependent submits a valid certificate of study starting from October 1 to confirm the right to continue receiving the pension, additional notarial confirmation is not required. ## Can confirmation be obtained without a notary The SSA points out that in some countries, notarial functions may be performed by other authorized institutions or legal entities. Therefore, the agency will evaluate the submitted documents individually, taking into account the rules of the specific country and the information contained in them. The main thing is that the document properly confirms the fact of the pension recipient being alive. ## What is important to remember The deadline for submitting the application is December 15, 2026. If the SSA does not receive the necessary documents on time, the corresponding payments will be suspended starting January 1, 2027. Therefore, recipients of Latvian pensions residing abroad or using foreign accounts are advised to check in advance whether the obligation for annual confirmation applies to them and to choose a convenient way to submit documents.