# Verify Pension Entitlement Using Digital Proof of Life

> The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and the United Nations International Computing Centre deployed a blockchain-based solution to verify pension entitlements globally. Beneficiaries across more than 190 countries use the Digital Certificate of Entitlement application to confirm their identity and proof of life via biometrics. In 2025, over 44,000 retirees utilized this live service, significantly lowering administrative overhead and replacing postal paper verification.

**Sector:** Tertiary sector · **Industry:** Insurance · **Organisation:** United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, United Nations International Computing Centre · **Maturity level:** Production

Canonical URL: https://www.sapientblock.com/en/use-cases/united-nations-joint-staff-pension-fund-rentenanspruch-digitalem-lebensnachweis

## Documentation status

- **Project status:** Production
- **Evidence:** Evidence medium
- **Editorial review:** pending

## Description

The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, in collaboration with the United Nations International Computing Centre, has introduced a digital system for proof of life. Traditionally, retirees had to sign a paper form every year and often have it certified by local authorities. The new procedure uses a mobile application and blockchain technology to provide proof quickly and tamper-proof directly from the smartphone. This allows identity checks worldwide to be completed within minutes without postal delays.

The Digital Certificate of Entitlement replaces the previous paper-based proof of life and residence with a decentralized identity architecture. Technologically, the system is based on Hyperledger Indy and Hyperledger Aries, supplemented by biometric facial recognition, liveness checks, and geolocation verification. Pensioners authenticate once via the mobile app and then create cryptographically secured proofs, which are transmitted to the pension scheme. The blockchain acts as a trust anchor for the validity of the proofs without publicly revealing personal or biometric data. By 2025, more than 44,000 eligible users in over 190 countries were already using this solution, representing nearly 60 percent of the suitable population. This led to measurable administrative savings and a significant reduction in fraud risk.

## Benefits

- Drastic reduction of manual verification and archiving efforts
- Legally compliant and tamper-resistant documentation of claims
- No need for physical certification on site
- Rapid proof within minutes via smartphone
- Real-time verification of proof of life worldwide
- Minimisation of overpayments and abuse
- Complete elimination of international postal transit times
- Relief from error-prone document verification
- Automatic data matching with the core administration system

## Challenges

- Integration into existing core administration systems of pension funds
- Ensuring compliance with various international data protection laws
- Challenges due to lack of digital affinity or poor internet connectivity
- Ensuring user-friendliness for older target groups
- Dependence on modern smartphone hardware for biometric functions
- Training needs to address exceptional cases and identification errors

## Technology foundation

The solution uses decentralized identity standards based on Hyperledger Indy and Aries combined with biometric facial recognition and geolocation checks. This enables cryptographically verifiable issuance and verification of digital proofs without centrally storing sensitive biometric raw data on a blockchain.

## Sources

- [UNJSPF and UNICC launch White Paper on Blockchain-Based Digital Identity](https://www.unicc.org/news/2025/09/18/unjspf-and-unicc-launch-white-paper-on-blockchain-based-digital-identity/)
- [UNJSPF Pension Administration achieves record-breaking performance in 2025](https://www.unjspf.org/newsroom/unjspf-pension-administration-achieves-record-breaking-performance-in-2025/)
- [UNJSPF receives social impact award for Digital Certificate of Entitlement](https://www.unjspf.org/newsroom/unjspf-receives-social-impact-award-for-digital-certificate-of-entitlement/)