Frozen Company pension plan?

What now?

Many of us have moved on from one company pension arrangement to another at some point during our working lives. Our previous pension is an area we know we should review, but it somehow tends to be forgotten.

Finding the best solution
Just about everyone is likely to experience a change of company pension arrangement at some point during his or her working life. If you fall into one of the categories below, then you should talk to us without delay:

* You change jobs, leave the old pension scheme and want to join your new employer's scheme.
* You leave your company to become self-employed.
* You are made redundant.
* Your employer introduces a new type of scheme after a takeover, merger or privatisation.

Did you know?
Few pension schemes or plans are compatible and, in many cases, a transfer of benefits might involve schemes set up under different tax regimes.
The most common scenario that could lead to a transfer of your pension benefits is when you change jobs to join another employer. If you were in a previous company scheme and made contributions for less than two years, you might be able to get your own contributions (not the employer's) back, less a charge for tax.

After two years:
* You can leave the pension benefit in the former employer's scheme (known as a 'deferred' or 'preserved' pension).
* You can take a transfer of benefits (the 'transfer value') to your new employer's scheme.
* You can take a transfer value to an Inland Revenue approved private individual plan, such as a personal pension - but remember, you will lose out on the guaranteed link to salary. Usually you should not consider this route unless the two main options above are not appropriate.

For more information please e-mail or contact us.

Levels and bases of, and reliefs from, taxation are subject to change. Because these investments may go down in value as well as up, you may not get back the full amount invested, especially if you withdraw from it in the early years.

Prior Knowledge is an appointed representative of Sesame Ltd. The site is intended for UK consumers only. Principal: A Prior