How to get your pension contributions refunded

You can usually choose to have your pension contributions refunded if you leave the scheme within:

• 30 days of joining a defined contribution pension

• two years of joining a defined benefit pension.

Personal pensions are defined contribution, but you might be able to ask for a refund after 30 days if your provider’s cooling off period is longer.  

You can use our tool to find out your pension type or ask your provider.

If you’re not eligible for a refund or don’t ask for one within the time limit, your money will stay in the pension scheme. 

Your provider will continue to manage your pension for you until:

• you’re able to take the money or 

• you ask to transfer your pension to a new provider.    

The earliest you can take a pension is usually age 55 (57 from April 2028), unless you need to retire early due to poor health.

For more information, see our guide What happens to my money if I leave a pension or opt out?

If you ask for a refund of your pension contributions, you’ll only get back the money you’ve paid in. 

This means you’ll lose any extra money that might have been paid in by your employer, including contributions you’ve made using salary sacrifice (they count as employer contributions).

Tax will also be taken off the refunded amount before you receive it. This will be: 

• 20% tax for refunds up to £20,000  

• 50% tax above this. 

If you set up the pension yourself, your provider might also hold some money back to cover their investment costs.

If you’d like your pension contributions refunded, ask your pension provider what information they need. This often means completing a form.

Your provider will check you’re eligible and arrange for any payment to be made.

If you run into any problems, you can complain. For more information, see our guide How to complain about a problem with your pension.