UK Retirement Planner

What this planner does

The Compare Drawdown Retirement Planner is a free tool that projects your retirement income year by year from defined contribution pensions, defined benefit pensions, the State Pension, ISAs and other income you enter. It applies 2026/27 UK income tax rules, can allow for inflation, and shows whether the plan meets the after-tax income you set in each year.

It is an illustration, not financial advice. It does not tell you what to do; it shows what your own figures and assumptions add up to.

What it covers

• Year-by-year income projections to the age you choose, with charts showing where the money comes from each year.
• The State Pension from your State Pension age, worked out from your date of birth. State Pension age is rising from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028, and is 67 for people born between 6 March 1961 and 5 April 1977 (check yours on GOV.UK). The full new State Pension is £12,548 a year for 2026/27; you can enter your own forecast.
• Defined benefit (final-salary) pensions entered as a yearly amount from the age they start.
• Defined contribution pots projected to retirement at your chosen growth rate, including monthly contributions. Tax-free cash is worked out from the projected pot: 25%, capped at £268,275 (the Lump Sum Allowance), taken up front or as 25% of each withdrawal.
• Pension withdrawals are grossed up so each one covers its own income tax, including the personal allowance taper above £100,000.
• ISAs modelled tax-free, with a choice of withdrawal order: ISAs first, or pension up to your personal allowance first.
• 2026/27 income tax bands: Personal Allowance £12,570, basic rate to £50,270, higher rate to £125,140, additional rate above. Scottish income tax rates are available as an option.
• Stress tests: a 20% market fall, living five years longer, lower growth and higher inflation.
• Income goals based on the Pensions UK Retirement Living Standards (formerly PLSA), May 2026, which are after-tax figures. One person: Minimum £13,900, Moderate £32,700, Comfortable £45,400 a year. Two people: Minimum £22,500, Moderate £45,400, Comfortable £62,700 a year.

Who it's for

Anyone who wants to see whether their retirement savings could fund the retirement they want. It is particularly useful if you have several pension pots, a mix of defined benefit and defined contribution pensions, or ISAs alongside your pensions.

Most private pensions can be accessed from 55. That rises to 57 on 6 April 2028, unless you have a protected pension age (GOV.UK); the planner flags a retirement age below your minimum.

No account is needed to start. Progress is stored in this browser. An optional account lets you save the plan across devices. We never sell or share the data you put into it.

How long it takes

Most people complete a first plan in 5 to 10 minutes. You'll need rough figures for: current pension pot size(s), expected State Pension (check your forecast on GOV.UK), any defined benefit entitlements, ISA balances, and your target yearly retirement income. You can always refine the figures later.

After you have a plan

The output is a year-by-year income table plus charts showing how the parts add up over time, the income tax each year and in total, and what is left in your pension and ISAs at each age. If the projection shows a shortfall, the planner shows the years affected so you can test different figures, such as a later retirement age or a different income goal.

Free, impartial guidance on your pension options is available from Pension Wise if you are 50 or over.

Get started

Start the planner on this page. No sign-in is required. Create an optional account only if you want to return on another device. Already a member? Your existing plans will load automatically when you sign in.