Starting March 20, 2026, Italian pensioners residing in the United States will be included in the first phase of INPS’s annual proof-of-life verification campaign. The process applies to retirees who receive Italian pension payments while living permanently in the U.S. and is required to confirm their continued eligibility for benefits.
The verification will be managed by Citibank N.A., which handles pension payments abroad on behalf of INPS. From March 20, 2026, eligible pensioners in the United States will receive a proof-of-life form by mail at the address on file. The completed and properly certified form must be returned to Citibank by July 18, 2026, following the instructions included in the mailing.
If the form is not received by the deadline, pension payments will not be immediately stopped. Instead, the August 2026 pension will be issued only as a cash payment through Western Union. To receive this payment, pensioners must appear in person at a Western Union location in the United States and present valid identification. This step serves as a final opportunity to confirm the beneficiary’s existence in life.
If the August 2026 payment is not collected by August 19, 2026, INPS will suspend pension payments starting with the September 2026 installment. Payments will remain suspended until proof of life is formally confirmed. While pensions can be reinstated once verification is completed, delays may occur and missed payments may require additional administrative processing.
Some Italian pensioners living in the United States are excluded from this verification phase. Exemptions apply to beneficiaries who have already confirmed their status through recent in-person payment collection at a Western Union counter or whose pensions are already suspended for other administrative reasons.
To complete the proof of life, pensioners must have the form signed and certified by an authorized witness. Acceptable certifying authorities include officials at Italian consulates located throughout the United States, staff at the Italian Embassy in Washington, D.C., or other recognized public officials authorized to certify signatures. Consular offices can often assist directly with the process, helping retirees avoid errors that could delay acceptance.
Once certified, the form must be returned to Citibank using the provided mailing instructions. Pensioners are strongly encouraged to act well before the July deadline, as postal delays or incomplete documentation could result in changes to how payments are delivered.
Proof-of-life verification is a standard requirement for pension systems worldwide. For Italian retirees living in the United States, timely compliance with the 2026 procedure is essential to ensure uninterrupted pension payments and avoid unnecessary complications.
