Your pension income options
Decide what works best for you
The earliest you can take your pension is usually 55 (rising to 57 from 2028).
It’s up to you when you take it. If you don’t need the money yet, you can leave it. We can help you prepare for your retirement too.
If you want to access your pension pot, there are three main ways you can do this. You can also mix and match options for taking from your pension which could help you find the right balance of security and flexibility.
Compare your options
Annuity
Drawdown
Lump sums
In a nutshell
In a nutshell
In a nutshell
Swap money in your pension for a guaranteed income for the rest of your life.
Keep your pension invested. Take the income you want, when you want.
Keep your pension invested. Take the lump sums you want, when you want.
Tax
Tax
Tax
You can usually take up to 25% tax-free cash at the start. Your income is taxable.
You can usually take up to 25% tax-free cash at the start. Any income you withdraw is taxable.
Usually 25% of each withdrawal is tax free, and the rest is taxable.
Benefits
Benefits
Benefits
Your income is guaranteed for life. This is true no matter how long you live.
You can choose options so your income increases. This means your buying power could keep up with inflation.
Your income could continue after you die if you’ve chosen certain options when you get quotes and apply.
Withdraw what you want, when you want. So you keep your options open if your circumstances change.
Potentially beat inflation with returns from your investments. You could maintain your buying power as prices rise.
Pass on your money – when you die this can normally be paid as a lump sum or as income.
Withdraw what you want, when you want. So you keep your options open if your circumstances change.
Potentially beat inflation with returns from your investments. You could maintain your buying power as prices rise.
Pass on your money – when you die this can normally be paid as a lump sum or as income.
Risks
Risks
Risks
You can’t change your options if your circumstances change.
You can’t cash in your annuity.
Annuity rates might rise in the future, but you won’t benefit from this if your annuity is already being paid.
You could run out of money if you withdraw too much, your investments don’t perform as you’d hoped or you live longer than expected.
Income isn’t secure, it could fall or even stop completely.
It’s possible you’ll get back less than you originally invested, as all investments can fall as well as rise in value.
You could run out of money if you withdraw too much, your investments don’t perform as you’d hoped or you live longer than expected.
Income isn’t secure, it could fall or even stop completely.
It’s possible you’ll get back less than you originally invested, as all investments can fall as well as rise in value.
Annuity
Swap money in your pension for a guaranteed income for the rest of your life.
Lump sum
Keep your pension invested. Take the lump sums you want, when you want.
Accessing your pension with the HL SIPP
It could make sense to bring all your pension pots together. Combining old pensions into a SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension) makes it easier to see exactly how your investments are performing and if you’re still on track to reaching your retirement goals.
If you transfer old pensions into the HL SIPP, you can access your pension in the ways outlined above. What’s more, a wide choice of investments means that if you choose to keep your pension invested, you can do this in a way that suits you. Before transferring, please check that you won't lose any valuable guarantees or benefits, or incur excessive exit fees.
Ready to talk through your options?
Even after you’ve done your research, you’ll probably still have some questions about taking your pension.
The experts on our pensions helpdesk are ready to help.
Give us a call on 0117 980 9926 or email us.
Monday - Thursday 8am-7pm
Friday 8am-6pm
Saturday 9:30am-12:30pm
Pension guidance
We strongly recommend that you seek guidance from Pension Wise, the government's free and impartial service.