Glossary

We know pensions can use a lot of jargon so here we have set out some of the terms commonly used in pensions and provided a definition.

Active member

An employee who is currently paying into and building up benefits in their employer's pension scheme.

Actuary

Professional advisers who calculate financial risks, the statistical likelihood of these risks happening and the impact they may have. The Actuary carries out regular valuations of the Scheme to see how it's performing and whether there is enough money being paid in (assets) to cover the cost of paying pensions out (liabilities).

Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs)

AVCs (or APCs) are additional payments you can make into an arrangement to increase your overall retirement savings. You choose where to invest your money from a range of funds and the money you pay in gets tax relief in the same way as your normal Scheme contributions (subject to limits).

Annual Allowance (AA)

This is the maximum amount you can save into all of your pension arrangements combined each tax year before tax is charged on any excess. The Annual Allowance is currently £60,000 for the 2023-24 tax year.

However, a lower 'Tapered Annual Allowance' applies to high-earning pension savers and may affect those with a taxable income of more than £260,000.

A lower allowance of £10,000 may also apply if you've taken money out of your pension pot. This is known as the 'Money Purchase Annual Allowance'.

You can find more information on the Annual Allowance on the government website.

Annuity

A series of payments made at regular intervals for an agreed period - often for the life of the person purchasing the annuity. Pension scheme members often choose to purchase an annuity by means of an insurance policy once they retire, although they're no longer obliged to.

Beneficiary

Someone who will receive benefits from the Scheme following your death. Your beneficiaries are likely to include a partner or children (if any). However you can name any people or organisations to receive a lump sum payment if you die before claiming your pension (or within five years of taking it) by completing your nominations.

Benefits

Any payments made on behalf of your pension, including tax-free lump sums, pension payments and death benefits.

Benefit statement

A statement or estimate showing a member's expected benefits from their pension scheme.

Civil partner

A person who has entered into a civil partnership with their same-sex partner.

Contributions

The money you pay into your pension scheme or into your APCs (Additional Personal Contributions).

Crystallisation

'Crystallisation' and 'crystallise' are the legal terms for taking your benefits. Your benefits will crystallise when you start taking them, when you die, or when you transfer them to an overseas registered pension scheme. A transfer to a UK-registered pension scheme does not count as crystallisation.

Deferred member

A person who is no longer paying into their employer's pension scheme, but who still has benefits in it that they haven't yet taken payment of.

Defined benefit (DB) schemes

In DB schemes, the amount of income a member receives when they retire depends on the rules of the scheme and will be percentage of their salary multiplied by the number of years of service that counts towards their pension. The most common DB schemes are final salary schemes.

Defined Contribution (DC) Schemes

In DC schemes, the amount of contributions paid by the member and employer is set, but the amount of income received on retirement is not and depends on investment market performance. They're also known as 'money purchase' schemes.

The DC section of ZPen is called ZCashBuilder.

Dependant

Someone who relies to some extent on your income. Your partner and children are usually considered dependants, but you may have others.

Early retirement

Taking the benefits from your pension scheme before you reach your Normal Retirement Age.

Eligible child

Eligible children, including adopted children, are under 18 or 23 and in full-time education. This can include dependant step-children who are living with you when you die.

The Trustee also has discretion to pay a pension to an adult disabled child who is financially dependant on you when you die.

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the organisation responsible for regulating advice on pensions and registering firms and individuals.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

GDPR is a data protection law that was introduced in 2018, replacing the Data Protection Act 1998.

His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

UK government department responsible for collection of taxes, payment of some State benefits and prevention of organised financial crime.

Ill-health retirement

When a member retires for medical reasons before reaching the Scheme's Normal Retirement Date.

Independent Financial Adviser (IFA)

Independent Financial Advisers (IFA) are professionals who offer independent advice on financial matters. You can find more information on choosing an IFA on the MoneyHelper website.

Inflation

The rate of increase in prices over a given period of time.

Lifetime Allowance (LTA)

This is the maximum amount of pension savings that you can make before you retire across your pension arrangements - not including the State Pension - before tax is charged on any excess. The LTA increased from £1,073,100 on 6 April 2020 and will remain at £1,073,100 until 2026.

You can learn more about the LTA on the government website.

Lump sum

A cash payment available to pension scheme members, usually at retirement. It is currently tax-free.

Member

A person who, having joined a pension scheme, has built up pension benefits under a scheme.

Money purchase pension

Another term for defined contribution (DC) schemes.

National Insurance contributions

Money taken from your pay by the government, which is used to fund the State Pension and other State benefits.

Normal Pension Age (NPA)

The earliest age at which a member can usually receive full pension benefits.

Normal Retirement Age (NRA)

The age at which employees in a certain role usually retire.

Pension

A savings plan that is designed to be held until retirement age and looked after by Trustees.

Pension benefits

A general term for monies paid from a pension scheme.

Pension input period (PIP)

A period of time, aligned to the tax year, over which a member's contributions to (or benefits built up in) a pension are measured against the Annual Allowance.

Pension scheme administrator

The person or company that runs a pension scheme and carries out certain legal requirements. For example, paying certain tax charges to HMRC.

Pensionable earnings

The part of your earnings that qualify for the calculation of pension benefits and define the amount of contributions you pay.

Personal pension

A registered pension scheme that is independent of your employer.

Retirement

The period that occurs after an individual has stopped working in paid employment and takes their pension benefits.

State Pension

The pension paid to UK citizens by the government when they reach State Pension age.

State Pension age (SPA)

The age you start to receive your State Pension benefits. You can work out your State Pension age using the gov.uk calculator.

Summary Funding Statement

A report that tells you the financial position of your scheme at the time of its actuarial valuation or annual funding update. It also provides the main reasons for any changes in funding position and, if the Section is in deficit, it shows the agreed recovery plan.

Trustee

An individual or group responsible for governing a pension scheme.

Valuation

An assessment of a scheme's performance over a given timeframe - every three years for defined benefit schemes - to compare funds being paid in against funds being paid out.

Your Pension - Your Future