Under current UK pensions tax law, you can generally access a private or workplace pension from age 55 until 5 April 2028. From 6 April 2028, the normal minimum pension age is legislated to rise to 57, subject to protected pension age rules and scheme-specific exceptions. Some people keep the right to access a particular scheme earlier, but this depends on that scheme's rules and is not automatic.

The rule and the date

The normal minimum pension age is the earliest age at which you can take benefits from a UK registered scheme without an unauthorised payments tax charge, unless you retire due to ill health. The Finance Act 2022 legislated to raise it from 55 to 57 with effect from 6 April 2028.

It applies to UK registered pension schemes, including personal pensions, SIPPs and workplace defined contribution and defined benefit schemes. It does not apply to the State Pension, which has its own separate age. The government has stated that members of the firefighters, police and armed forces public service schemes are not affected by the increase.

Who may be caught by the change

If you will be 55 or 56 on or after 6 April 2028, the change may affect you. The broad position is:

  • If you reach 55 before 6 April 2028, you may be able to access your pension from 55. But if you have not started taking benefits from a scheme by 6 April 2028 and are still under 57, you may have to wait until 57 for that scheme unless you have a protected pension age.
  • If you were born on or after 6 April 1973, you will generally be 57 before you can access a scheme that has no protection.

Scheme rules can also set a later age, so check your own scheme.

Protected pension age

Some members keep the right to take benefits from a scheme before 57. HMRC's Pensions Tax Manual sets out the conditions:

  • before 4 November 2021, you had a right under the scheme to take a pension or lump sum before 57
  • that right was unqualified, meaning you did not need anyone's consent
  • on 11 February 2021, the scheme rules included provision to pay benefits before 57

Protection works scheme by scheme. You might have a protected pension age in one pension and not in another. The protected age is the age at which you could take benefits under those rules, which is not necessarily 55.

Transfers can affect protection

If you move a pension with a protected pension age to another scheme, the protection may be lost. HMRC guidance says it can be kept on a block transfer that meets the conditions. On certain individual transfers it can also be kept, but it then applies only to the transferred funds and the income arising from them. New money added later does not get the earlier age.

This matters for expats considering consolidating pensions, moving to a different UK scheme that accepts non-residents, or transferring overseas. Moving to another UK platform is not always available, as a provider's decision may also reflect the regulatory requirements of the country where you live. Ask your existing scheme in writing whether you have a protected pension age before you request any transfer.

Read more in our guide to drawing a UK pension abroad, or UK pension options for British expats in the UAE.

Worked example

Illustrative example only, not a real client.

Mark was born in October 1972 and lives in Spain. He has two UK pensions. Assuming the scheme rules otherwise allow access at 55 and no ill health exception applies:

  • He turns 55 in October 2027, before the change, so he may be able to take benefits from either pension from then.
  • If he leaves one pension untouched past 6 April 2028 and it has no protected pension age, he may not be able to take it until he turns 57 in October 2029.
  • His other pension confirms in writing that he has a protected pension age of 55. He can generally still take that one at 55, as long as he does not transfer it in a way that loses the protection.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming everyone born before a certain date can always take benefits at 55.
  • Transferring a pension without asking whether it has a protected pension age.
  • Confusing private pension access age with State Pension age.
  • Taking an early payment through an arrangement claiming to "release" pensions before the minimum age, which can trigger heavy tax charges.

A regulated financial adviser can help. Get in touch for a free introduction.

Sources and further reading

Last reviewed: October 2026. Tax year: 2026/27 (UK). Jurisdictions covered: UK. Rates, legislation and guidance change, so recheck before relying on this. Rules can differ between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; tax residence is fact-specific; treaty outcomes depend on residence, domicile or nationality provisions; examples are simplified and omit reliefs, costs, exchange rates and anti-avoidance rules. This is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Take advice in the relevant country before acting.