Q: I never started a pension when I was younger and I feel like I’m too old now, what’s the point?
A: Although it’s usually seen as better to start saving into a pension as early as possible, there’s no such thing as “too old” when it comes down to it.
Here’s three things to think about before writing a pension off when you’re older:
1. Put your money under the microscope
- Look at your current income, outgoings, your savings, and any debts you have. It’s always good to start at the beginning and see where you can make small changes.
- Think about how much you might need to live on in retirement. Keep in mind that the State Pension is accessible from age 66 (rising to 67 by 2028), and the new full amount from 6th April 2024, for those who qualify, is £11,502.40 per year.
- If you’re already a regular saver, think about whether a personal pension that you can make regular contributions into could benefit you.
You automatically get 20% pension tax relief on any contributions you do make, too. And if you’re a higher, or additional rate taxpayer, you could receive another 20% or 25% in tax relief, which can be claimed back through HMRC on your self-assessment tax return, if you don’t have a workplace pension that has this set up for you.
So, for every £100 you were to save into a pension, it only costs you £80 if you’re a basic rate taxpayer, £60 if you’re a higher rate taxpayer and £55 if you’re an additional rate taxpayer. Find out more about pension tax relief here.
But keep in mind a pension is a long-term savings product and is designed to be kept invested for five years or more.
And if you’re still not sure how much you’ll need in retirement, use our handy retirement planner tool to help guide you.
2. Think about delaying retirement
Sure, nobody wants to work for the rest of their life. But if you qualify for auto-enrolment, you could make the most of a workplace pension, by saving into it for as long as you can.
Your employer legally has to contribute at least 3% into your workplace pension, and you have to contribute 5% (of your gross qualifying earnings). It’s taken out of your salary, so you don’t have to lift a finger.
Delaying your retirement also means your pension savings have more time to grow.
3. Track down lost pensions
Did you know that there’s an estimated 1.6 million pension pots that are ‘lost’ in the UK?
When you’re moving to a new job, your workplace pension won’t automatically move with you. And you might have a personal pension you set up years ago that you’ve completely forgotten about.
You can follow our helpful tips or use the government’s pension tracing service to try and track down your old pension pots!
4. Don’t panic
It can get really scary thinking about not having enough for later life. But there are small changes that you can adopt now that can make a difference.
If you’re worried about your quality of life in retirement, or are looking for some guidance, the government’s free Pension Wise service from Money Helper can help.
Where to next?
- Want to learn more about pensions and build your knowledge? Check out our helpful guides
- If you’re confused by all the pension jargon, we’ve got a guide to help you uncover it all
- Have pensions all over the place? We can help you understand how to combine them
- Have some questions you need to find an answer to? Have a nosey around our Pension FAQs
Your pension is designed for later life. When you save into a pension, the value of your investment could fall and you could get back less money than you put in. You usually can’t access your pension until age 55 (rising to 57 from 6 April 2028).
This article can give you helpful tips, but it isn’t financial advice. If you’re not sure if something is right for you, you should speak to an Independent Financial Adviser.