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Although the idea of continuing to work until your late-60s or early-70s may appear distant, it can offer numerous advantages for your mental and physical health. Additionally, it might enhance your financial situation in the future, guaranteeing that you will have sufficient funds throughout your retirement.

Currently, the retirement ages are already on the rise. The present retirement age for both men and women is 66, and it will increase to 67 by the year 2028. Depending on your desired retirement age, this may already put you in your late-60s. Currently, individuals have the ability to obtain their workplace or personal pension at the age of 55, although this age requirement is gradually increasing. Starting in 2028, individuals will be required to reach the age of 57 in order to access the pension freedoms.

If you choose to continue working as usual until that time, work on a part-time basis, or retire gradually, there are six compelling reasons why you might contemplate postponing the commencement of your pension.

1. The duration of your life is getting longer.
   According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, the average life expectancy for males aged 65 in the UK in 2020 is 19.7 years, while women may expect to live for another 22 years. This implies that pension savings will need to endure for more than twenty years from the point at which the State Pension becomes available, and for over thirty years from the time when workplace and personal pensions can be accessed.

Relying on your retirement income for 20-30 years can be a significant duration, particularly if you have not accumulated sufficient savings over your career. The delay in initiating your pension withdrawals directly correlates with an increase in the duration of time your pensions will endure. Our online pension calculator allows you to determine your retirement income based on various retirement ages.

Pension life expectancy tables
Utilizing a convenient tool provided by the ONS, you have the ability to compute your life expectancy by utilizing national averages. Subsequently, you will gain a more accurate understanding of the duration for which your pension will require to sustain you. Based on your projected lifespan, it may be advisable to contemplate postponing the commencement of your pension.

2. Your pension has a greater amount of time to accumulate growth.
   Deciding to continue working and contributing to your pension or leaving your money untouched after retirement might yield significant long-term rewards by keeping your pension invested for as long as feasible. Compound interest, for instance, grows gradually over time and has the potential to transform a modest savings account into a substantial sum if left undisturbed.

Furthermore, whenever you do access your pension, you will be eligible for increased payouts since it will not need to be stretched out over a long period of time. Flexi-access drawdown is a beneficial choice if you want to allow your savings to grow in value for a longer period. With this option, you can withdraw lump amounts as needed while keeping the remaining portion of your pension invested in a diversified portfolio of shares, cash, and bonds.

Opting to maintain your pension investment can prove advantageous, especially if you are approaching retirement amidst an economic recession and have witnessed a decline in your pension funds. Based on your specific situation, you may choose to retain your savings as investments until the markets rebound and your balance increases.

3. Prior to transitioning to more secure assets, you have the opportunity to optimize your investment potential.
   Upon nearing retirement, certain pension plans may automatically reduce investment risk by reallocating the assets in which you have invested. Shares and commodities are intricately connected to market performance. While they can be lucrative investments in the early stages of one's career, they can become increasingly precarious as retirement approaches. In the event of a sudden downturn in the markets, your pension balance may be impacted, and there may not be sufficient time for it to rebound before your retirement.

However, if you choose to delay your retirement, you have the opportunity to optimize your investments for a few additional years. Typically, individuals transition their investments to cash or fixed interest assets 5-10 years prior to retirement. It is advisable to proactively reach out to your pension provider well in advance to inquire about the possibility of adjusting your investments.

PensionBee's Tailored Plan provides the option to invest your money in a way that adjusts according to your life stage, gradually shifting your funds into more secure assets as you near retirement.

4. Your company will continue to contribute to your pension fund.
   If you persist in your employment, your employer will often be legally obligated to continually contribute to your pension through Auto Enrolment. Starting from April of this year, you will be required to contribute a minimum of 3% of your yearly wage, while your employer will be obligated to contribute at least 2%.

Starting in April 2019, there will be an increase in employee contributions to 5% and employer contributions to 3%. For each additional year you work after 2019, your company will contribute an additional 3% of your salary to your workplace pension.

5. Tax relief on pension payments will be provided until the age of 75.
   By consistently making the minimum required contributions to your pension, along with the contributions from your employer, you will also continue to benefit from tax reduction. In the 2023/2024 tax year, employees have the right to request tax reduction on pension payments of up to £60,000 or 100% of their yearly income.

The tax relief you receive is directly connected to the amount of income tax you pay.

The tax relief you receive is directly associated with the amount of income tax you pay. Basic rate taxpayers receive a tax credit of 25%, resulting in an additional £25 being added by HMRC for every £100 they contribute to their pensions. Individuals who fall into the higher rate drift boss tax bracket can receive an additional 20% deduction when filing their tax returns, while those in the top rate tax bracket can claim a deduction of 25%.

6. Delaying the receipt of your State Pension can increase the amount of money you get.
   Due to the typical delay of roughly ten years between the availability of your employment or personal pension and the State Pension, it is possible that you may not require the State Pension when it becomes accessible. Consider deferring your State Pension if you receive retirement income from other sources or are currently employed.

Postponing your State Pension by a short period of time could lead to an increase in your weekly State Pension amount, or even a one-time payment. The eligibility for the amount you will get is contingent upon the specific time at which you attain the State Pension age.

If you attained State Pension age prior to 6 April 2016, your State Pension will augment by approximately 1% for every 5 weeks you postpone, resulting in a cumulative rise of 10.4% for each complete year. The standard State Pension for the year 2023/24 amounts to £156.20 per week or £8,122.4 per year. By deferring your pension for a single year, your State Pension will increase to £172.44 every week, which amounts to £8,966.88 annually.

If you attained State Pension age prior to 6 April 2016, you may be eligible for a one-time payment if you begin receiving State Pension after delaying it for at least 12 months. This will encompass an interest rate that is 2% higher than the base rate set by the Bank of England.

If you have recently attained the age at which you are eligible to receive the State Pension, you will experience a smaller rise in your pension amount. This is because the new State Pension is already larger than the basic State Pension mentioned earlier. By deferring your State Pension by 9 weeks, you can expect a gain of approximately 1%, which accumulates to a total of 5.8% for each full year.

If you are entitled to the new State Pension of £203.85 per week or £10,600.20 per year in 2023/24, deferring your pension for one year will result in an increase to £215.67 per week or £11,214.84 per year. If you have attained State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016, you will not qualify for a one-time payment.

If you are in receipt of housing benefit or pension credit, it is important to be aware that any additional pension income you get may have an impact on these benefits. However, if you attained State Pension age before to 6 April 2016 and meet the eligibility criteria for receiving a one-time payment, your benefits will remain unaffected.

What is the maximum duration for which I can postpone receiving my State Pension?
It is possible to begin postponing your pension even if you have already been receiving it, and you have the option to defer it for any desired duration.

If you are approaching retirement and considering keeping your workplace or personal pension fund invested, it is advisable to promptly consult with your pension provider. Certain pension systems may have limitations or levy penalties if you modify your retirement date, whereas others may not provide this as a choice. If this is the situation, you may wish to contemplate transitioning to an alternative scheme or pension provider that offers greater flexibility.