Combined UK Retirement Income Calculator
See your total retirement income from all sources: State Pension, workplace pension (DB), and personal pension (DC). Compare against PLSA Retirement Living Standards.
Tax year 2026/27 ·
Get a quick estimate of your combined retirement income from State Pension, workplace pension (DB), and personal pension (DC).
Understanding Your Retirement Income
State Pension
- • Full new State Pension requires 35 qualifying years of National Insurance
- • Minimum 10 qualifying years needed to receive any State Pension
- • State Pension Age is currently 66, rising to 67 and 68 for younger people
- • Check your actual forecast at gov.uk
Defined Benefit (DB) Pensions
- • Common in public sector (NHS, Teachers, Civil Service) and some private schemes
- • Provides a guaranteed income based on salary and years of service
- • Usually increases with inflation (capped at 2.5% or 5% depending on accrual date)
Defined Contribution (DC) Pensions
- • Includes workplace auto-enrolment pensions, SIPPs, and personal pensions
- • Your pot grows based on contributions and investment returns
- • Typically accessed via drawdown (flexible withdrawals) or annuity purchase
- • A 3.5% withdrawal rate is often cited as sustainable over a long retirement
PLSA Retirement Living Standards (2024)
The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association defines three lifestyle benchmarks based on the annual expenditure needed to achieve each standard of living.
Minimum
£13,400
single | £21,600 couple
Covers all basic needs plus some flexibility
Moderate
£31,700
single | £43,900 couple
More financial security and flexibility
Comfortable
£43,900
single | £60,600 couple
Financial freedom and regular luxuries
Source: PLSA Retirement Living Standards
Detailed DB Pension Calculators
For more detailed projections of your specific DB scheme, use our dedicated calculators:
How this calculator works
The calculator adds three income streams at your chosen retirement age: your
State Pension (qualifying years ÷ 35 × the full rate), your DB
pension income as you enter it, and an income from your projected DC pot using a
sustainable withdrawal rate. The total is compared against the PLSA Retirement
Living Standards benchmarks shown above.
- All figures are in today's money; DC growth uses a real (after-inflation) return.
- Income tax on pension income is not deducted — the comparison is on gross income, as the PLSA standards are net-of-tax lifestyle costs.
- DB inflation caps, spouse benefits, and annuity pricing are not modelled.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Benefit and pension rates 2026/27 — State Pension rates
- PLSA — Retirement Living Standards — lifestyle benchmarks
- GOV.UK — Check your State Pension forecast — use your official forecast for the State Pension input
Full formulas and worked examples for every calculator are on our methodology page.
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Important: This calculator provides estimates for illustration purposes only. Actual pension values depend on scheme rules, investment performance, and future policy changes. This is not financial advice. Consider consulting a qualified financial adviser for personal recommendations.
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