At the post office counter, on a gray February morning, the line is longer than usual. Coats, wool hats, canes. People are clutching crumpled letters from the pension office, some already opened, others still sealed and ominous. A woman in her seventies leans over to the man behind her and asks quietly: “Do you know what this certificate is they’re talking about?” He shrugs. “They told me to do it on the internet. I don’t even have a smartphone.”
She sighs, eyes fixed on the screen above the counter, waiting for her number.
From February 8, pensions will rise only for retirees who send in a missing certificate, often online. Those who don’t manage? No increase.
A small box to tick, a big fear in the pit of the stomach.
Pension hikes tied to a missing certificate: a rise that many may never see
From the outside, the rule seems simple: from February 8, pensions will be raised, but only for retirees who have submitted a required certificate proving their updated situation. On the administration’s side, the message is clear: it’s about fighting fraud and updating files. On the retirees’ side, things are a lot messier. Letters arrive late, codes don’t work, and the famous “just log in to your personal online space” sounds like a bad joke to those without a computer.
A few lines of bureaucratic language suddenly decide who gets a boost in their monthly income. And who doesn’t.
Take Jean, 79, living alone in a small village, fifteen kilometers from the nearest town. His pension is 870 euros a month. His electricity bill has shot up, his rent has inched higher, and the supermarket receipt looks like a cruel prank. When he received the letter about the upcoming increase, tied to a digital certificate to submit, he put it on the table and just stared at it.
He doesn’t have internet. His old flip phone barely sends texts. His grandchildren live far away. *He folds the letter carefully, as if he could smooth out the anxiety hidden between the lines.*
For the pension authorities, linking the increase to a certificate update is a way to keep only those who are entitled to it on the books: people still alive, still residing in the country, not drawing multiple pensions illegally. On paper, the logic holds.
In reality, a whole slice of the population risks being left behind: those who don’t navigate digital tools easily, who don’t have broadband in their village, or who freeze as soon as they see a password field. **Digitalization saves time for the system, but it costs energy, dignity, and sometimes money to the people at the very end of the chain.** And those people are often already counting every cent.
How to get the pension increase when the internet feels out of reach
For retirees without internet, or those who just feel overwhelmed by online forms, the first practical step is often very concrete: go somewhere where humans still talk to humans. That might be the local town hall, a social center, the post office, or a pension fund branch. Many municipalities now offer “digital support” counters where someone can help create an online account, scan a document, or send it.
You can also call the pension fund by phone and ask if the certificate can be sent by post, or dropped off in person. It sounds old-fashioned, but a stamped envelope and a physical form can be the difference between getting the increase or losing it.
Let’s be honest: nobody really tracks every administrative deadline perfectly. Even less so when your life is already full of medical appointments, bus schedules, and rising grocery prices. One common mistake is to let the letter sit on the shelf “until later”. Days pass, the deadline gets blurry, and suddenly February 8 has come and gone.
Another trap: relying on a neighbor “who knows computers” without checking if they actually had time to send the document. People mean well, but their own lives get in the way. If you help an older relative, it’s often better to sit next to them, open the letter together, and complete the process on the spot, even if it takes an extra cup of coffee.
“On the hotline, we hear the same thing over and over,” confides a pension fund employee who asked not to be named. “People say, ‘I don’t understand your letter, I don’t know how to go on the website, will I lose my money?’ You can hear the panic in their voices. A small certificate, for them, feels like a huge wall.”
- Gather your papers
ID card, pension letter, previous payment slip, and any residence or civil-status document you might need. - Ask for help close to home
Town hall, social worker, a charity, or family member: say clearly, “I need to send this certificate before February 8.” - Use phone support
Call the official pension helpline and ask if they can send a paper form or confirm receipt of your file. - Keep proof
Photocopy or photograph the certificate and any postal receipt, so you’re not left empty-handed if there’s a glitch. - Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment
A slightly incomplete request sent now is better than a perfect file that never leaves the drawer.
Behind a simple certificate, a bigger question about dignity and access
This new rule about pension increases exposes a rift that many prefer not to see: a country that is supposed to be connected, paperless, fast, in which a whole generation still lives half-offline. On one side, platforms, QR codes, secure spaces, and digital identity checks. On the other, people who are afraid of “breaking something” just by clicking on the wrong button, who don’t dare ask again when they don’t understand the first explanation.
We’ve all been there, that moment when a screen demands yet another password or code and you just feel like closing it all. Now imagine facing that wall while your rent, food, and heating depend on it.
| Key point | Detail | Value for the reader |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate required | Pensions rise from February 8 only if a missing certificate is submitted | Understand why your pension might not increase as expected |
| Offline options exist | Town halls, social centers, phone support, and postal mail can replace online filing | Find a realistic way to send the document even without internet |
| Ask for help early | Relatives, neighbors, or local associations can help read the letter and complete the steps | Reduce stress and avoid losing money because of a missed deadline |
FAQ:
- Question 1What happens if I don’t send the certificate before February 8?
- Answer 1Your basic pension will continue to be paid, but you may not receive the planned increase. The raise will usually be applied only once your file and certificate are received and validated.
- Question 2Can I still send the certificate after February 8?
- Answer 2Yes, in most cases you can send it later. The increase will then be applied with a delay, sometimes retroactively from the date your situation was regularized, depending on the rules of your pension fund.
- Question 3I don’t have internet. How can I submit the document?
- Answer 3You can contact your pension fund by phone to ask for a paper form, go to your town hall or a social center for digital assistance, or have a trusted person submit the certificate online using your documents.
- Question 4Is it risky to ask a family member to do the online procedure for me?
- Answer 4It’s common for relatives to help. The key is to give them only what is necessary, be present if possible while they complete the process, and keep copies of everything sent so you stay in control of your file.
- Question 5What if I lost the letter that explains which certificate is missing?
- Answer 5Call your pension fund with your ID and pension number. They can usually tell you which document is missing and send a new letter or give you the right form to fill out.
