If you can answer Yes to the following questions you may qualify for Enhanced Annuities
Do you smoke 10 cigarettes or more each day?
Are you currently taking any medication?
Have you ever been hospitalised for any medical condition?
Examples of some of the conditions that may qualify
Picking the best annuity rate or checking if you qualify for Enhanced Annuities could give your pension a significant lift.
There are significant differences in the performance of the worst and best annuity rates and the advice of an independent financial adviser should be sought to ensure you get the best annuity rate.
Many people assume that they have to buy an annuity from the company that has held their pension. This is not the case, as you have the right to shop around for the best annuity rates when you retire – it’s called the Open Market Option (OMO). Worryingly, figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show that 61 per cent of people who bought an annuity in 2007 did not shop around in this way.
An annuity converts a lump sum (usually a pension fund) into a regular income that will last as long as you live. The income is taxable and the amount that you get each year will depend on the size of your fund, the best annuity rates UK the annuity company offers, your gender, age and health, and the type of annuity that you opt for. You are allowed to take up to a quarter of your pension fund as a tax-free lump sum and most convert all of your remaining pension fund into an annuity before the age of 75.
Which Annuity?
Most people opt for a conventional lifetime annuity, but there are several options to pick from. The best annuity rates can have the following options:
Checklist
Follow these tips to get the best annuity rates UK: