Navro and MM have collaborated to integrate international proof-of-life verification with the global pension payment system.

Their partnership combines Navro’s cross-border pension payment infrastructure with MM’s managed verification service, creating a streamlined process where member identity and living status are verified before payments are processed through appropriate local channels.

Mitigating Risk for UK Pension Schemes

This collaboration addresses a significant risk faced by UK pension schemes. Over one million UK pension members currently reside overseas, with this number increasing at approximately 2% annually. Government data suggests that around GBP 511 million in overpayments can be attributed to undetected deaths among pension scheme members, particularly affecting trustees of defined contribution schemes who bear fiduciary responsibilities.

Verifying the living status and residency of overseas members has historically posed operational challenges for administrators due to the complexities of cross-border communication and the diversity in official documentation across different jurisdictions.

The Verification and Payment Workflow

MM’s Overseas Proof of Life service handles member engagement through both digital and physical means, using biometric verification that includes selfie capture and document scanning. The service supports over 230 international documents and provides certificates of existence, scheme-branded communications, and reports for trustees and administrators. Both single and bulk verification options are available to suit different-sized schemes.

After a member completes the proof-of-life process, whether through postal or alternative methods where digital access is limited, payments are processed via Navro’s global payments network. Combined reporting from both platforms aims to provide trustees with a documented audit trail showing verification details and outcomes alongside payment records.

For pension schemes already using Navro’s payments infrastructure, this partnership helps reduce overpayment risks, strengthen the fiduciary position of trustees, and offer clearer evidence of due diligence during regulatory scrutiny.

A Navro official noted that paying deceased overseas members is increasingly seen in the industry as a preventable error rather than an inevitable part of operations. The partnership aims to provide schemes with a defensible framework linking verification directly to payment execution. A MM representative stated the goal is to make overseas verification simple, secure, and scalable, allowing trustees to rely on documentation for each payment decision.