From the new state pension to the new lifetime allowance: Here’s everything you need to know about three pension changes taking place today
Callooh, callay: it's the day a raft of changes to the pensions regime come into force. A week after the last tranche came into effect.
Yep – on top of pension freedoms and various Isas, chancellor George Osborne has decided to make even more changes to the system. Confused? From the new state pension to the lifetime allowance, here's everything you need to know about changes coming into effect today.
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New state pension
This change replaces the current two-tier system of the basic state pension and the state second pension, with the new version starting at £155.65 a week.
This applies only to people who retire after today – according to Hargreaves Lansdown, 45 per cent of those reaching state pension age in the next five years will receive at least that amount.
Meanwhile, the contracting out system will be scrapped, meaning the 6.7m members of contracted out private sector defined benefit schemes and public sector occupational pension schemes will pay 1.4 per cent more national insurance – that's potentially another £37.31 a month.
Reduction in the lifetime allowance
The lifetime allowance will be cut from £1.25m to £1m – anything above that level will be taxed at 55 per cent, unless you secure protection for an alternative amount via individual protection or fixed protection schemes.
Tapered annual allowance
Under the current annual allowance rules, you can save up to £40,000 a year into your pension – including contributions from your employer and benefits built up under a defined benefits scheme.
From today, though, that limit will be cut for those with an income of over £150,000. According to Hargreaves Lansdown, the rate of reduction "is set at £1 for every £2 of income, bringing the annual allowance down to just £10,000 for anyone with an income of £210,000 or more".