Paid Up Pensions…what to do with them?
/A paid-up pension is a pension that you may have had with a previous employer and upon leaving employment and ceasing payments, you may not have enquired about or moved to your own name.
How do I get information about my old Pension?
In most cases you should be receiving annual benefit statements with general details (including the value) of your pension. Though if you have moved to a new address, you may not be receiving this information annually or at all. If you are unsure where to look, the company’s human resource department (or Employee Pension department if there is one) is a good place to start.
Can I bring my pension with me when I move employment?
In most cases, when you leave employment, you have several options. You are entitled to request “leaving service options” which sets out what choices are available to you. This can intimidate and confuse people but if it’s explained correctly, I find people are more confident making the decision to move their pension into their own name.
Will I lose out if I move out of the old Pension arrangement?
The only way of knowing is by enquiring about the benefits currently included on the pension plan, but in many cases, you can gain from moving your pension funds into your own name.
One of the main advantages is that you get direct access and information sent to you personally about your pension. Many people like to have complete control over their pension without having to contact a Trustee (or past employer) anytime they want information regarding their policy.
What can a Financial Adviser do for you?
Part of our job is to help people arrange their pensions together into an efficient / transparent portfolio. In simple terms this means you know exactly what you have, where you have it and when you can access the funds. In certain cases, individuals are surprised to learn they may have access to part of their pension once they reach age 50.
