Pension basics

Defined benefit

A pension that calculates retirement income using its scheme rules.

All Pensions Editorial TeamPublished Updated 1 min read

General information, not personal financial advice. Sources checked 2026-10-03. No independent specialist review is claimed.

What it means

Income commonly depends on salary and service. Scheme rules determine the calculation; it is not simply the balance of an invested personal pot.

Sources: GOV.UK: Types of private pensions

An example

A fictional annual income estimate of £1,200 belongs in an income record. It cannot be added to an £18,000 pot as though both were balances.

Use it in your pension list

Keep the term beside the original source, rather than using it to fill a gap in your knowledge. If the scheme wording is different, save the wording and ask for clarification. An unknown field is easier to correct than a confident guess.

Sources & review

Next scheduled review: 2027-04-03. Provider details can change sooner. Use the official website for the current contact route.

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