Editorial · Updated 2026-06-05
Pension Guides
Plain-English long-reads on the UK pension system — sourced from DWP, HMRC, MoneyHelper, and the FCA. Each guide cites its statutory source and date-stamps the rates used. All guides are free, with no paywall and no email-capture wall.
UK State Pension Qualification Rules
35 qualifying years for the full New State Pension, 10 minimum to receive any. Triple-lock uprating, Class 3 voluntary top-ups, and the 2026/27 rate of £240.30 per week.
8 min read
Workplace Pension Auto-Enrolment Explained
The 8% minimum contribution split, the £6,240–£50,270 qualifying-earnings band, employer match, salary sacrifice, and why opting out is almost always a mistake.
9 min read
SIPP vs ISA vs Workplace Pension
How to sequence the three UK tax-advantaged wrappers across each income band — capture the employer match first, then higher-rate tax relief, then flexibility via ISA.
10 min read
Tax-Free Lump Sum Rules
How the 25% Pension Commencement Lump Sum works in 2026/27 after the abolition of the Lifetime Allowance — the £268,275 Lump Sum Allowance, LSDBA, and when to take it.
9 min read
Annuity vs Drawdown 2026
The longevity-insurance argument for annuities, the inheritance-flexibility argument for drawdown, and the hybrid approach most UK retirees adopt in practice.
9 min read
Pension Wise — Free UK Pension Guidance
The statutory free 45–60 minute guidance entitlement, what it covers and what it does not, how to book, and what to bring to your session.
7 min read
How to Track Lost UK Pensions
The £30 billion forgotten-pot problem, how to use the DWP Pension Tracing Service, and how the Pensions Dashboards Programme will change pension discovery from 2027.
8 min read
Annual Allowance, Taper, and MPAA
The £60,000 standard pension Annual Allowance, the tapered allowance for £260,000+ earners, carry-forward, and the MPAA trap for anyone who has flexibly accessed a DC pension.
10 min read
Each guide is researched against the originating source — DWP rate-uprating order, HMRC Pensions Tax Manual, MoneyHelper guidance, or FCA Handbook reference — and date-stamped. For our full sourcing chain see the methodology page.