How to make sure you claim all your pension entitlements

It’s important to make sure you get the income that you are due when you retire, says Ruth Jackson-Kirby.

Old lady with a laptop © Getty Images
A few small extras could add up
(Image credit: © Getty Images)

As retirement approaches, you may feel like there is little left to do to increase your pension. You’ve saved for years and now it is time to turn your pension fund into income. But there are a few tips that might be able to increase how much you get.

If you’ve already retired and have a final-salary company pension, be aware that you might be due compensation for the way that your scheme calculated benefits for members who were contracted out of the state earnings related pension scheme (Serps) between 1990 and 1997.

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Ruth Jackson-Kirby

Ruth Jackson-Kirby is a freelance personal finance journalist with 17 years’ experience, writing about everything from savings accounts and credit cards to pensions, property and pet insurance.

Ruth started her career at MoneyWeek after graduating with an MA from the University of St Andrews, and she continues to contribute regular articles to our personal finance section. After leaving MoneyWeek she went on to become deputy editor of Moneywise before becoming a freelance journalist.

Ruth writes regularly for national publications including The Sunday Times, The Times, The Mail on Sunday and Good Housekeeping, among many other titles both online and offline.