Withdraw from your pension in one place

PensionBee combines your old pensions into one easy-to-manage plan so you can withdraw with ease when the time comes*. Get started in minutes and make retirement planning simpler.

*Start withdrawing from age 55 (rising to 57 by 2028).

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Sign up to our flexible pension plan for the self-employed and contribute as much or as little as you like, as often as you like.

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Find out how you can use your pension to invest in environmentally friendly businesses at the forefront of the transition to a low carbon economy.

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Pensions explained

Pension Withdrawal

Income drawdown charges

Income drawdown gives those nearing retirement the flexibility of accessing their pension as and when they need to, while keeping the rest of their funds invested during retirement. The cost of pension drawdown can vary greatly, depending on the provider you choose, so it’s wise to look for any fees.

How does drawdown work?

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No matter how big or small your pension pot, drawdown enables you to withdraw up to ^{_corporation_tax} of your money tax-free. You’ll also have the ability to manage the frequency and value of future withdrawals.

However, with greater flexibility comes more risk and you’ll need to calculate how long your fixed and varied income is likely to last, before considering external factors such as market performance and life expectancy.

To find out if drawdown is the right pension product for you, there are several independent drawdown tools that can help you assess how long your income could last. You can also get free and impartial guidance from government-run service, Pension Wise.

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How much does pension drawdown cost?

The cost of pension drawdown can vary greatly, depending on the provider you choose. Some fund managers will charge a flat-fee for each withdrawal, others may require a percentage of the pension fund for ongoing management, while a few will charge based on a combination of the two.

If you choose a plan that charges a percentage of your fund, it’s possible for this fee to decrease over time as the overall size of your pension reduces, however this isn’t guaranteed.

Pension drawdown charges can include, but are not limited to:

set-up/administration fees;
fees on the withdrawal of a tax-free lump sum (up to ^{_corporation_tax});
fees on each additional withdrawal;
tax charged on each additional withdrawal (this will be charged at your usual rate of ^_basic_rate, ^_higher_rate or ^{_additional_rate} depending on your tax threshold*);
transfer fees/exit charges (applicable if you need to move your pension pot to a new provider to set-up drawdown); and
fees for ongoing fund management.

*Income Tax rates ^{_current_tax_year_yyyy_yy} (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)

Income Tax Band	Your income	Income Tax rate
Your personal allowance	Up to ^{_personal_allowance_top}	^{_personal_allowance_top}
Basic Rate	^{_basic_rate_bottom} - ^{_higher_rate_bottom}	^_basic_rate
Higher Rate	£50,271 - ^{_lower_earnings_limit},140	^_higher_rate
Additional Rate	Over ^{_lower_earnings_limit},140	^{_additional_rate}

Income Tax rates ^{_current_tax_year_yyyy_yy} (Scotland)

Income Tax Band	Your income	Income Tax rate
Your personal allowance	Up to ^{_personal_allowance_top}	^{_personal_allowance_rate}
Starter Rate	£12,571 - £15,397	^{_corporation_tax_small_profits}
Scottish Basic Rate	£15,398 - £27,491	^_basic_rate
Intermediate Rate	£27,492 - £43,^{_state_pension_age}2	^{_scot_intermediate_rate}
Higher rate	£43,^{_state_pension_age}3 - £75,000	^{_scot_higher_rate}
Advanced rate	£75,001 - ^{_lower_earnings_limit},140	^{_additional_rate}
Top rate	Over ^{_lower_earnings_limit},140	^{_scot_top_rate}

Before committing to any product, it’s important to conduct a pension charges comparison to see which drawdown product may be best suited to your needs. You may find that different fee structures come with benefits such as access to advice or greater investment diversity. Different products may also have additional charges and penalties for early exit so it’s worth researching your options thoroughly.

Drawdown costs from PensionBee

With PensionBee’s drawdown product unlocking your pension is hassle-free, with no hidden charges. For a fair annual fee, your money will be managed and kept safe by one of the world’s biggest money managers – BlackRock, State Street and HSBC – and made available as soon as you reach the age of 55 (rising to 57 from 2028).

PensionBee charges no drawdown fees, unless you decide to make a full withdrawal of your pension within one year of your first transfer. If your pot has been with PensionBee for less than a year and you wish to withdraw it in full, then a full withdrawal fee of £150 applies. This fee will also be charged should the value of your account be less than the £150 fee at the point of withdrawal.

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Risk warning

As always with investments, your capital is at risk. The value of your investment can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest. This information should not be regarded as financial advice.

Last edited: 12-05-2025