Maybe you’re thinking about taking out a pension. Our main pensions page includes information on how we protect different types of pension products - as our protection does vary. It can be difficult to understand at first as pensions are complicated, but if you're stuck, you can contact us for help.
We can't give you advice on your choices, but we can help you with questions about our protection and compensation limits.
Thinking about getting financial advice?
If you’re going to seek financial advice, and the adviser is authorised by the FCA, we can protect you if things go wrong. This means if the adviser goes out of business and you’ve lost money because of the bad advice they gave you, we may be able to compensate you up to £85,000.
We also have some useful questions(pdf 215KB) that you can ask any provider if you’re considering taking out a pension with them. They’ll help you find out if FSCS can protect your money and, if so, how much. This is an important part of any financial decision.
If you need general advice about any money matters, including pensions, visit MoneyHelper– its support and guidance are free.
Answer - Final salary pension schemes are generally covered by the Pension Protection Fund.
Your final salary pension is known as a 'defined benefit' scheme. These are protected by the Pension Protection Fund. But if you're thinking of changing your pension, your new pension may not be protected. It’s up to you to find out what protection your pension has. To find out, follow the ‘Check’ steps below.
If you’re going to seek financial advice, and the adviser is authorised by the FCA, we can protect you if things go wrong. This means if the adviser goes out of business and you’ve lost money because of the bad advice they gave you, we may be able to compensate you up to £85,000.
Thinking about getting financial advice?
Step 1
If you're considering getting some financial advice about your pension, search theFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA) registertocheck that it authorises yourfinancial advisor.
Step 2
If you're considering switching your pension or taking out a new one, search theFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA) registertocheck that it authorises your newpension provider.
Step 3
Use ourkey questions(pdf 215KB) toask any pension providerabout your FSCS protection.
Answer - Defined contribution work pension schemes are structured in different ways, so you’ll need to check whether you’re FSCS protected or not.
Your defined contribution workplace pension could be set up to be trust-based, contract-based, or group-based. FSCS protection would depend on how your particular scheme was set up.It’s up to youto find out what protection your pension has.
VisitMoneyHelperto learn more about this type of pension.
If you've already retired, and used the funds from a defined contribution workplace pension scheme to buyan annuity from a UK-regulated provider, FSCS protects this at 100%.
If you’re going to seek financial advice, and the adviser isauthorised by the FCA, we can protect you if things go wrong. This means if the adviser goes out of business and you’ve lost money because of thebad advicethey gave you, we may be able to compensate you up to £85,000.
Thinking about getting financial advice?
Step 1
Ask your employerabout your particular defined contribution workplace pension scheme to find out if it’s FSCS protected. Or if you know the pension provider, ask them if your pension is FSCS protected.
Step 2
If you're considering getting some financial advice about your pension, search theFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA) registertocheck that it authorises yourfinancial advisor.
Step 3
Use ourkey questions(pdf 215KB) toask any pension providerabout your FSCS protection.
Answer - If your FCA-regulated SIPP provider fails, funds are generally ring-fenced. Shortfalls may be FSCS protected up to £85,000.
If your SIPP provider fails, the funds are generally safe as they're ring-fenced and can't be used to pay creditors. Shortfalls in assets or money may be covered by FSCS up to £85,000.
If a firm that provided a product within the SIPP failed, FSCS may still be able to protect your money. The level of protection depends on the type of product.Investments,insurance products, orcash in a deposit accountall have different protection levels.
Individual SIPPs vary, andit’s up to youto find out what protection your pension has. To find out, follow the ‘Check’ steps below.
If you’re going to seekfinancial advice, and the adviser isauthorised by the FCA, we can protect you if things go wrong. This means if the adviser goes out of business and you’ve lost money because of thebad advicethey gave you, we may be able to compensate you up to £85,000.
Thinking about getting financial advice?
Step 1
If you're considering getting some financial advice about your pension, search theFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA) registertocheck that it authorises yourfinancial advisor.
Step 2
If you're considering switching your pension or taking out a new one, search theFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA) registertocheck that it authorises your newpension provider.
Step 3
Use ourkey questions(pdf 215KB) toask any pension providerabout your FSCS protection.
Answer - FSCS protection for your type of personal pension depends on the type of its investments.
If your personal pension provider fails, the funds are generally safe as they're ring-fenced and can't be used to pay creditors. Shortfalls in assets or money may be covered by FSCS up to £85,000.
If a firm that provided a product within the personal pension failed, FSCS may still be able to protect your money. The level of protection depends on the type of product.Investments,insurance products, orcash in a deposit accountall have different protection levels. If your pension is structured as a 'contract of long-term insurance', protection may be 100%.
Individual personal pensions vary, andit’s up to youto find out what protection your pension has. To find out, follow the ‘Check’ steps below.
If you’re going to seekfinancial advice, and the adviser isauthorised by the FCA, we can protect you if things go wrong. This means if the adviser goes out of business and you’ve lost money because of thebad advicethey gave you, we may be able to compensate you up to £85,000.
Thinking about getting financial advice?
Step 1
If you're considering getting some financial advice about your pension, search theFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA) registertocheck that it authorises yourfinancial advisor.
Step 2
If you're considering switching your pension or taking out a new one, search theFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA) registertocheck that it authorises your newpension provider.
Step 3
Use ourkey questions(pdf 215KB) toask any pension providerabout your FSCS protection.
Answer - Without knowing more, we can't tell you what protection you have.
You'll need to do some research using the organisations below.
If you’re going to seekfinancial advice, and the adviser isauthorised by the FCA, we can protect you if things go wrong. This means if the adviser goes out of business and you’ve lost money because of thebad advicethey gave you, we may be able to compensate you up to £85,000.
Thinking about getting financial advice?
Step 1
Go toMoneyHelperand read up on the different types of pensions available. Its advice is free and impartial.
Step 2
Find out from your pension providerwhat type of pension you have.
Step 3
Come back and checkyour FSCS protection once you know more about your pension.
Answer - Good news. Our annuity protection is 100% with no upper limit.
Our annuity protection is 100% with no upper limit. Your annuity must be with aPRA-authorised insurer, as shown on theFCA register,and it must be classed as a ‘contract of long-term insurance’ to be eligible for FSCS protection.
If you’re unsure if your annuity is a ‘contract of long-term insurance’, ask your provider. Use ourkey questions(pdf 215KB) to help.It’s up to youto find out what protection your pension has.
If you’re going to seekfinancial advice, and the adviser isauthorised by the FCA, we can protect you if things go wrong. This means if the adviser goes out of business and you’ve lost money because of thebad advicethey gave you, we may be able to compensate you up to £85,000.
Thinking about getting financial advice?
Step 1
Check your annuityis a 'contract of long-term insurance'.
Step 2
SearchtheFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA) registerto make sure your provider is authorised in the UK.
Step 3
Use ourkey questions(pdf 215KB) toask any pension providerabout your FSCS protection.
Answer - Depending on how your investments are structured, you have varying levels of FSCS protection.
If your lump sum is saved as cash with aUK bank, building society,orcredit union- for example in a normal savings account - you're protected up to £85,000. Remember that the limit applies to each banking licence, and some banks share a licence across different brands. This will affect how much of your money we can protect. Use ourbank and savings protection checkerto check your accounts are covered.
If you’ve re-invested some of your pension pot to provide an income (known as ‘pension drawdown’), then FSCS may protect your money under ourinvestment cover.
This type of product doesn’t provide a guaranteed income, and FSCS can’t protect you if your investments simply don’t perform as you'd hoped. We can only step in if the provider has failed and they acted negligently in some way.
If you’re going to seekfinancial advice, and the adviser isauthorised by the FCA, we can protect you if things go wrong. This means if the adviser goes out of business and you’ve lost money because of thebad advicethey gave you, we may be able to compensate you up to £85,000.
Thinking about getting financial advice?
Step 1
If you're considering getting some financial advice about your pension, search theFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA) registertocheck that it authorises yourfinancial advisor.
Step 2
If you're considering switching your pension or taking out a new one, search theFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA) registertocheck that it authorises your newpension provider.
Step 3
Use ourkey questions(pdf 215KB) toask any pension providerabout your FSCS protection.
Answer - Depending on how your investments are structured, you have varying levels of FSCS protection.
Our annuity protection is 100% with no upper limit. Your annuity must be with aPRA-authorised insurer, as shown on theFCA register,and it must be a ‘contract of long-term insurance’ to be eligible for FSCS protection. If you’re unsure if your annuity is a ‘contract of long-term insurance’, ask your provider. Use ourkey questions(pdf 215KB) to help.
Many people use their lump sum to pay off their mortgage or treat themselves to a dream holiday. If instead, you choose to invest or save it, you may be protected by ourinvestmentsordepositscover, up to £85,000.
If you’re going to seekfinancial advice, and the adviser isauthorised by the FCA, we can protect you if things go wrong. This means if the adviser goes out of business and you’ve lost money because of thebad advicethey gave you, we may be able to compensate you up to £85,000.
Thinking about getting financial advice?
Step 1
If you're considering getting some financial advice about your pension, search theFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA) registertocheck that it authorises yourfinancial advisor.
Step 2
If you're considering switching your pension or taking out a new one, search theFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA) registertocheck that it authorises your newpension provider.
Step 3
Use ourkey questions(pdf 215KB) toask any pension providerabout your FSCS protection.