New legislation allows increased payment flexibility

If someone is a member of a defined contribution scheme from 6 April 2015, they will be able to access their pension fund, in full, without needing to purchase an annuity. With a defined contribution pension, you build up a pot of money that you use to provide an income in retirement. Unlike defined benefit schemes, which promise a specific income, the income you might get from a defined contribution scheme depends on factors including the amount you pay in and the fund’s investment performance.

Flexible rules
The tax-free lump sum of up to 25% of the fund will remain available, with any remaining balance taxed as income. These flexible rules will apply to Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs), an extra pension contribution members of an Occupational Pension Scheme can make to help boost their income in retirement. In addition, these flexible rules also apply to cash balances and some hybrid schemes, subject to the pension scheme rules.

New arrangement
The new legislation also allows schemes to bypass their present rules, to allow them to give the increased flexibility to their members. But, as the rules are permissive, scheme providers can choose not to
offer the new flexibility. If this happens, someone may have to transfer to a new arrangement to take advantage of the new payment flexibility.

Transfer benefits
Currently, you only have the right to transfer pension benefits up to a year before your scheme’s normal benefit age, and the Open Market Option doesn’t force providers to offer transfers to any other products. However, from 6 April 2015, this legislation will be amended allowing transfers right up to the point of retirement.

Approaching retirement
The Open Market Option (or OMO) was introduced as part of the 1975 United Kingdom Finance Act and allows someone approaching retirement to shop around for a number of options to convert their pension.

Taking advantage to legally minimise the tax paid

T he main beneficiaries of the pensions freedom reforms are likely to be those who have built up relatively large pension pots, who will be using this freedom to avoid paying 40% tax when they draw it down under the new freedoms. Read more…

10 things about the wide-ranging
changes you should know

The pension system is completely being overhauled to enable individuals to take their defined contribution pension how they like in order to create greater choice and flexibility. These changes were announced in Budget 2014. From 6 April 2015, no matter how much an individual decides to take out from their defined contribution pension after retirement, withdrawals from their pension will be treated as income; the amount of tax they will pay on what they withdraw will depend on the amount of other income they have in that year, as long as you are 55 or over. This is instead of being taxed 55% for full withdrawal, as it has been previously. Read more…

Taking all of a pension pot as a lump sum

When someone reaches retirement, they can take up to 25% of their pension as a tax-free lump sum (called the ‘pension commencement lump sum’). The remaining 75% has usually been used to purchase an annuity, a financial product that provides them with a guaranteed income for life, or been left invested, allowing them to take a portion of their pension pot each year to provide an income – known as ‘income drawdown’. Read more…

Greater choice and flexibility about how retirees use a
pension pot to fund retirement income

T he 2014 Budget announced major changes to the way that members of a defined contribution pension scheme could access their pension savings. In March 2014, the Chancellor George Osborne announced changes to the pension world which would revolutionise the way members of defined contribution schemes could access their pension benefits. These wide-ranging changes move away from individuals being required to purchase an annuity and instead offer a number of different options for drawing their pension benefits. Read more…

Protecting your assets to give your family lasting benefits in an uncertain world

Inheritance Tax (IHT) in the UK is a subject that was once something that only affected very wealthy people. It may be one of life’s unpleasant facts but today it affects more people than ever, partly due to the rise in the property market that has not been matched by a corresponding rise in the IHT threshold. Read more…

Filling in the family gaps

With an ageing population and increasingly more children living at home for longer, more and more people are joining the ‘Sandwich Generation’, having to fund family at both ends of the spectrum, such as their parents and children as well as themselves. Read more…

One in three could not carry out current jobs past their traditional retirement age

Employers estimate up to a third of their staff would struggle to continue in their current jobs past traditional retirement ages, research for MetLife Employee Benefits[1] shows. Its nationwide study found HR directors believe that, on average, 31% of their current workforce would not be able to perform their jobs adequately once they reach normal retirement ages, even though 54% of them expect an increase in the proportion of older staff. Read more…

How new pension fund rules could increase life expectancy

With the news that the tax charge on pension funds will be removed before age 75, some commentators have suggested that over 90% of people retiring in good health should expect to live beyond age 75. For someone with moderate levels of health issues, over 80% might expect to live to at least 75. The tax landscape beyond age 75 is different, with tax being paid on monies passed on. Read more…