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PENSION HELP PLEASE

Royal Mail pension news and discussion.Please note the advise given in this forum is unofficial, please use the links we have for a more detailed response or see an independent financial adviser.
postie59
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 19
Joined: 26 Jan 2009, 20:05
Gender: Male

PENSION HELP PLEASE

Post by postie59 »

HI, IM 60 IN JUNE AND HAVE RECEIVED A PENSION PLAN LETTER GIVING A LOT OF OPTIONS WHICH IM HAVING DIFFICULTY FOLLOWING TO BE HONEST. I WANT TO TAKE ALL OF MY BENEFITS NOW AS IM NOT SURE KEEPING THEM IN THE PENSION PLAN WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO ME AS THERE ARE TOO MANY CHANGES NOW.

DO YOU PAY TAX AND NI ON THE LUMP SUM OR JUST ON THE PENSION BENEFITS. IM PLANNING TO KEEP ON WITH ROYAL MAIL UNTIL I CAN LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT SO AT LEAST WILL STILL GET A WAGE.
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POSTMAN
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Joined: 07 Aug 2006, 03:19
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Re: PENSION HELP PLEASE

Post by POSTMAN »

Are you still staying in the job because for ever year you take your pension early (in your case 5 years) you LOSE a percent,i think it's 5%.
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baldrick
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 5028
Joined: 13 Sep 2007, 23:37
Gender: Male

Re: PENSION HELP PLEASE

Post by baldrick »

You will be able to take the benefits accrued until 31 March 2010 (NRA 60 Benefits) without any reduction when you reach 60.
If you want to take all your benefits, the pension accrued after 31 March 2010 (NRA 65 Benefits), will be actuarially reduced by 5% pa,
so you would lose about 25%, I think.
If you are a CWU member, you can ask your CWU Branch Secretary if your Branch has a Rep who can explain the terms to you.
Most CWU Branches will have someone who has had CWU training on pensions issues and can give you advice, though at the end of the day it is up to you to decide what is best for your personal circumstances.

You do not pay tax on a pension lump sum payment. I'm not sure about NI, but I don't think you would pay that.
RobertT
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 6548
Joined: 09 Sep 2007, 14:26
Gender: Male

Re: PENSION HELP PLEASE

Post by RobertT »

skeenie wrote:HI, IM 60 IN JUNE AND HAVE RECEIVED A PENSION PLAN LETTER GIVING A LOT OF OPTIONS WHICH IM HAVING DIFFICULTY FOLLOWING TO BE HONEST. I WANT TO TAKE ALL OF MY BENEFITS NOW AS IM NOT SURE KEEPING THEM IN THE PENSION PLAN WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO ME AS THERE ARE TOO MANY CHANGES NOW.

DO YOU PAY TAX AND NI ON THE LUMP SUM OR JUST ON THE PENSION BENEFITS. IM PLANNING TO KEEP ON WITH ROYAL MAIL UNTIL I CAN LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT SO AT LEAST WILL STILL GET A WAGE.
Baldrick is correct in saying that only your NRA65 benefits will be reduced assuming you take your pension at 60.
You don't pay any tax or NI on the lump sum.
You don't pay NI on pension payments.
You pay tax on your pension in the same way as you pay tax on your income now. So under 65's currently have a personal tax allowance of £6,475(going up to £7,475 in April 2011), everything earned above that is taxable.
Links to all RM pension related websites are here
postie59
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 19
Joined: 26 Jan 2009, 20:05
Gender: Male

Re: PENSION HELP PLEASE

Post by postie59 »

Thanks for your help guys. Im going to stay on with royal mail but only till i try and get something part time so dont think it would be worth my while staying in the pension scheme. will have a think about it tho.