Government pensioners can submit their life certificates closer to home over the next two weeks, as the Accountant General’s Department (AGD) takes its quarterly verification drive to 13 locations across the island.

The drive, which started on Monday, will run until July 11, and is designed to make it easier for more than 38,000 government pensioners to meet the requirements for their monthly pension payments.

Under existing rules, pensioners must submit a verified document known as a life certificate, which confirms they are alive, to keep their monthly payments flowing.

AGD teams will visit Spanish Town and Portmore in St Catherine, St Thomas, Portland, St Mary, St Ann, Trelawny, St James, Hanover, Westmoreland, Clarendon, Manchester, and St Elizabeth to collect the certificates.

Each session runs from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, and pensioners are asked to take with them a valid form of identification. Justices of the peace will be on hand at every location to assist with verification.

Director of communications at the AGD Ricardo Brooks said the initiative reflects a commitment to bringing government services directly into communities.

“When the life certificate drive was conceptualised, we saw it as an opportunity to meet our pensioners where they are and reduce some of the hassle and transportation costs for them,” said Brooks.

“The certificates are due January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31, essentially at the start of each quarter. We understand that some pensioners find it difficult to visit our head office in New Kingston, or even to reach a drop box, so the drive is about convenience, ease of access and encouraging compliance,” added Brooks.

At the first stop in Spanish Town, pensioners praised the speed of the process.

“It didn’t take me not even 10 minutes to get through. These people really know how to construct, organise, and to reorganise. I lift my hat to them,” said one pensioner.

Pensioners who cannot attend a drive can still use the AGD’s life certificate drop boxes, stationed at parish libraries in Portland, St James, Hanover, Westmoreland, and Manchester.

Additional boxes are located at the Ministry of Finance at Heroes’ Circle and the AGD head office in New Kingston.

Brooks said the Department is working to expand the options available to pensioners.

“The Accountant General Anya Jones has challenged the team to increase our capacity to collect more life certificates each quarter. We are looking at that carefully and expect to make further announcements as we go along,” said Brooks.

“She has been clear that she wants to see as close to full compliance as possible so that no pensioner faces any delay or disruption in receiving payments. We know how important the monthly pension is for government retirees, and we want to make the process as hassle-free as possible. Any pensioner facing challenges should reach out to us; the team is ready to assist.

“Compliance is the name of the game. We want all our pensioners to submit their certificates on time and get paid on time,” added Brooks.