Project your pot at retirement, the 25% tax-free lump sum, an estimated drawdown income, and how the current State Pension adds to it.
Your current pot compounds at your expected growth rate, and your monthly contributions (employee + employer combined) are added and compounded the same way. At retirement, UK rules let you take up to 25% as a tax-free lump sum; the rest stays invested and can be drawn down. This calculator estimates a sustainable annual income from the remaining pot using the commonly-cited 4% rule — withdraw roughly 4% of the pot per year, adjusted for inflation, without excessive risk of running out.
The full new State Pension is £241.30/week (£12,547.60/year) for 2026/27, protected by the triple lock (rising each year by the highest of average earnings growth, inflation, or 2.5%). You need 35 qualifying National Insurance years for the full amount — fewer years mean a proportionally reduced pension. State Pension age is currently 66, rising to 67 for most people retiring in the coming years.
Someone aged 30 with a £15,000 pot, contributing £400/month (combined) at 5% average annual growth, retiring at 67: their pot grows to roughly £607,000. Taking the 25% tax-free lump sum (£151,800) leaves £455,400, generating about £18,200/year under the 4% rule — plus the £12,548 State Pension, for a total estimated £30,765/year in retirement income.