We’re making enhancements and changes to your workplace pension, which will help give you more flexibility for your pension savings and wider options at retirement under your existing pension plan.

WHAT ENHANCEMENTS AND CHANGES ARE BEING MADE?

WHAT ENHANCEMENTS AND CHANGES ARE BEING MADE?

  • Introducing integrated flexible access drawdown, including a range of Investment Pathways, within your existing workplace pension plan. You'll be able to access this from normal minimum pension age (currently age 55, increasing to age 57 from April 2028).
  • Ability to remain invested until age 99 - we're removing the requirement to buy an annuity at age 75, offering more flexibility to you at and in retirement.
  • Extended self-select fund range (Group Personal Pension plans only) - we're offering access to additional choices, including environmental, social and governance (ESG) options.
  • More transparent charges - we’re making changes to how we deduct charges from your plan, to help make the costs and charges clearer.
  • Rationalising our advice charge options - we'll be offering the most frequently used options. You can continue to instruct us to pay advice charges from your plan.

WHAT THE CHANGES MEAN FOR YOU

WHAT THE CHANGES MEAN FOR YOU

These changes will happen automatically and will be completed in different phases. We'll write to you to let you know when the changes have been made, confirming that your updated T&Cs have taken effect, what your updated plan number is and other important information. If you want to know exactly when the changes will happen for you, please contact us.

We’ve written to your employer to let them know about the changes.

  • Updated terms & conditions (T&Cs) -  you'll receive updated T&Cs, which will take effect once all the changes are completed. These will replace your existing T&Cs (previously known as Policy Provisions).  It’s important that you download and keep a copy with your other plan documents. The current T&Cs are below. They may change in the future.
  • Updated plan numbers - you'll receive an updated plan number, which should always be used when contacting Scottish Widows, after the changes have taken effect.
  • Bank account changes - we're changing the bank accounts we use to collect pension payments, which will result in a payment suspension period. If you make additional contributions to your pension plan, you won’t be able to do so during the suspension period. If you’re affected by this, a separate letter will be sent to you with exact dates and any actions required ahead of the suspension period.
  • Digital services - your digital services will be unavailable over the weekends the changes are being made. The table below provides details of these dates.
Upgrade Event Expected Completion Date Digital services unavailable on these dates Status Flexible Access Drawdown delivery

Phase 1
Completed 20th February 2023 Completed Completed Available
Phase 2 Completed 18th September 2023 Completed Completed Available
Phase 3 Completed 20th November 2023 Completed Completed Available

Updated 20th November 2023

TO FIND OUT MORE

HANDY GUIDES AND PRODUCT LITERATURE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A detailed range of questions and answers.

YOUR UPDATED TERMS & CONDITIONS

If you can’t access them, we have paper and other formats available. Please contact us to arrange this.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP

WE’RE HERE TO HELP

If after reading the frequently asked questions and relevant documents you‘re still unsure and want clarification about these changes, please contact us.

Log in to your digital services