Using your pension pot

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  3. Using your pension pot

Capped drawdown

Capped drawdown was a way of taking an income from your pension pot where the money in your pot was invested in funds that would pay you an income. It is no longer available. ...

Delaying taking your pension pot

If you already have enough income to live on – either because you are carrying on working or you have other income from savings or investments to live on – you might be able to delay accessing you...

Options for using your pension pot

Following changes introduced in April 2015 you now have more choice and flexibility than ever before over how and when you can take money from your pension pot. Take your time to understand your optio...

Taking your whole pension pot as cash

Under rules introduced in April 2015, once you reach the age of 55, you can now take the whole of your pension pot as cash in one go if you wish. However if you do this, you could end up with a large ...

Fixed-term annuities

With a fixed-term annuity you use all or part of your pension pot to buy a retirement income for a set number of years. In contrast, a lifetime annuity pays a retirement income for the rest of your li...

Protecting your retirement income

When taking out a guaranteed retirement income product (an annuity) you can protect your income and provide extra financial security for your partner or other beneficiary if you die early by adding a ...

Single or joint annuities

An annuity pays a regular retirement income – usually for life. If you decide to buy a lifetime annuity with your pension pot, a key decision you’ll need to make is whether you want an in...

Fixed or increasing annuities

If you’re buying a basic lifetime annuity to provide you with a retirement income, one of the key choices you must make is whether to opt for one that provides a fixed retirement income or one that ...

Investment-linked annuities

An investment-linked annuity is a type of lifetime annuity where your retirement income varies to reflect changes in the value of investments such as stocks and shares. So while you can benefit from s...

How to shop around for an annuity

One way to use your pension pot is to buy an annuity. This gives you a regular retirement income – usually for the rest of your life. In most cases this is a one-off, irreversible decision, so it’...

What is income drawdown?

Income drawdown is a way of using your pension pot to provide you with a regular retirement income by reinvesting it in funds specifically designed and managed for this purpose. The income you get wil...

What is an annuity?

An annuity is a type of retirement income product that you buy with some or all of your pension pot. It pays a regular retirement income either for life or for a set period. ...

Free printed guides

Our free printed guides are designed to help not for profit and public sector organisations, as well as commercial organisations, helping people to make informed money choices. If you’re an i...

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