Users' questions

Where can I get advice on my pension?

Where can I get advice on my pension?

Free information and advice about your State Pension or your company, personal, stakeholder or occupational pension. TPAS can help with general guidance about pensions or if you have got a problem, complaint or dispute with your occupation or private pension arrangement.

Can you get pension advice?

If you’re aged 50 or over and have a defined contribution pension pot, you can get free guidance from Pension Wise. Pension Wise is a government-backed service that helps you understand how you can take money from your pension pot.

Can my pension be stopped?

You can stop your contributions to the Scheme at any time: Any payments you’ve made into your pension must remain invested until your retirement or until you transfer them out. These rules are set by the government and enforced by The Pensions Regulator.

Can Citizens Advice help with pensions?

The Citizens Advice service already supports people with many of the issues affecting retirement. In 2013/14, over 150,000 people came to us for help with pension issues. Locally, Citizens Advice are the known experts at helping people understand their circumstances and making informed decisions that are best for them.

Should I consolidate all pensions?

If you have lots of pension pots, consolidating them into one scheme can remove the hassle and paperwork of managing lots of different plans. Merging your pots together could also reduce your fees and give you access to a wider range of investments.

When should I seek pension advice?

If you plan to cash in a defined benefit pension, you are legally required to seek financial advice regardless of how much is in your plan. The guaranteed income that such final salary schemes provide is highly valuable so cashing in this type of pension is unlikely to be a good decision.

Does a private pension affect your state pension?

Your State Pension is based on your National Insurance contribution history and is separate from any of your private pensions. Any money in, or taken from, your pension pot may affect your entitlement to some benefits.

Who do I call about my pension?

Phone. To claim over the phone, call the Pension Service claim line on 0800 731 7898 (textphone: 0800 731 7339). Phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (except public holidays).

How does a pension work after retirement?

A pension provides you with an income after you retire and are no longer working. Pensions are also known as defined benefit plans, because they pay you a fixed amount each month. Some pension plans give you the option of receiving a lump sum to invest as you wish. Most of the time, the longer you work,…

Are pension funds considered earnings?

Because pension income is not considered earned income, it does not qualify you for any IRS credits that list earned income as a prerequisite. In addition to determining your eligibility for deductions and credits, your amount of unearned versus earned income affects whether you are required to file an income tax return if you are a dependent.

Does pension still exist?

The reality is that most employers ditch pension plans in favor of defined contribution benefit plans for their employees because they’re more cost-effective, according to Forbes. Even though this type of retirement plan is not nearly as popular as it once was, companies that still offer pensions do exist – if you know where to look.

Is pension and retirement the same?

It helps to understand that a pension, original called a ‘defined benefit’ is linked to a monetary payout while retirement is linked to a time frame and an ending of working life. The name retirement pension has been adopted in some cases to link the fund and the timing together, but they are not the same.