Taking retirement benefits
Click here to find out about the changes to SIPP regulations.
What are my options at retirement?
When it comes to taking an income from your retirement savings, there can be a number of ways of doing this, depending on the type of pension(s) or savings you have, and you can normally start taking benefits from age 55 even if you are still working.
There are a number of options available and you should seek independent financial advice if you are unsure which is the most effective or appropriate option for you and your pension fund:
- You can generally take 25% of the value of the fund as a lump sum which is presently tax-free. The remainder of the fund is intended to provide you with an income (i.e. a pension) via annuity purchase and/or pension income drawdown
- an annuity will provide you with a regular income (i.e. a pension), guaranteed for life.
Find out more about what an annuity is, what types and options are available to you, and what you need to consider when purchasing one.
- this allow you to receive an income by drawing a variable amount of income from that proportion of your fund designated for income distribution each year, within minimum and maximum limits calculated by the Government Actuary’s Department. Furthermore, you retain control over where your income drawdown fund is invested.
- At age 75 (or 77, if you are 75 on or after the 22 June 2010) your pension fund must be used to provide an income either by the purchase of an annuity or by continuing to withdraw an income from a SIPP.
- If the total benefits, in all registered pension schemes of which you are a member, have an overall value of no more than 1% x the Lifetime Allowance then you can take them as a cash lump sum.
Did you know? …
- If you are in an you may be able to carry on working at the same time as drawing your pension if your company pension scheme’s rules allow it.
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You may be able to enjoy ‘flexible retirement’, giving you more freedom to take your pension benefits in the way(s) that suit you best.
When deciding what level of income to take and how, you should also consider other important factors including, for example, your personal tax situation, and the .
 Retirement planning |
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