When can I access my pension?
- Nic Round: Chartered Wealth Manager
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 9 hours ago
When can I access my pension in the UK?
In the UK, there are clear rules about when you can start taking money from your pension. These rules are based mainly on age, with a small number of specific exceptions.
Understanding when you can access your pension helps set realistic expectations about retirement planning and avoids assumptions about money being available earlier than it actually is.
This guide explains when you can access your pension in the UK, what exceptions exist, and what people often consider next once access becomes possible.
The normal minimum pension age
For most people, pensions can usually be accessed from age 55.
This is known as the Normal Minimum Pension Age (NMPA) and applies to most defined contribution pensions, including:
personal pensions
workplace defined contribution pensions
self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs)
Reaching this age allows access, but it does not require you to take money.
Changes to the pension access age
The minimum pension age is increasing.
From 2028, the normal minimum pension age will rise from 55 to 57.This change is designed to keep pension access broadly aligned with increases in the State Pension age.
If you are currently under 50, it is likely the higher access age will apply to you.
Are there any exceptions?
There are a small number of situations where pensions may be accessed earlier than the normal minimum age.
Serious ill health
If medical evidence shows significantly reduced life expectancy, earlier access may be permitted.
The exact rules depend on:
the medical position
the pension scheme rules
how benefits are structured
Protected pension ages
Some older occupational schemes include a protected pension age, often linked to specific professions or employment conditions.
These protections are now uncommon and usually apply only in tightly defined circumstances.
What types of pensions do these rules apply to?
Minimum access age rules generally apply to:
personal pensions
workplace defined contribution pensions
SIPPs
Defined benefit (final salary) pensions may have their own scheme retirement ages, although taking benefits early can reduce the income paid.
What happens if you try to access a pension too early?
Accessing pension money before the permitted age, without a valid exception, is normally not allowed.
Doing so can lead to:
significant tax charges
additional penalties
potential loss of pension benefits
Because of this, any offer claiming to unlock pension money early should be treated with caution.
Does accessing your pension mean you must retire?
No.
Many people:
access part of their pension
continue working
reduce hours gradually
or return to work later
Pension access and retirement timing are separate decisions.
A simple timing example
Imagine someone aged 54 with a defined contribution pension worth £300,000.
Even if they feel ready to retire, they would normally need to wait until age 55 (or 57 from 2028) before accessing that pension without penalties.
This illustrates an important point:
retirement readiness and pension access age are not always aligned.
Planning often involves bridging that timing gap.
What people usually consider next
Once people understand when they can access their pension, the next questions are often:
how to take money from the pension
how withdrawals are taxed
how pension income fits with other income sources
how long the pension might need to last
These decisions shape retirement far more than the access age alone.
Common questions about when you can access your pension in the UK
Can you access your pension before age 55?
Usually no, unless serious ill health or a protected pension age applies.
Is the pension access age definitely rising to 57?
Yes. The increase to age 57 is scheduled for 2028 to reflect longer life expectancy and later State Pension ages.
Do all pensions follow the same access rules?
Most defined contribution pensions do, although defined benefit schemes may set their own retirement ages with possible reductions for early access.
Can you work after accessing your pension?
Yes. Accessing a pension does not require you to stop working.
A final thought before taking action
Knowing when you can access your pension is only the starting point.
For many people, the more meaningful question is how pension timing fits into the wider picture of work, income, tax, and long-term security.
If you want space to think that through calmly, before advice or action, Evoa exists to provide that quiet starting point.
This article provides general guidance and does not constitute personalised financial advice.
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