The current State Pension age is 66. But between 2026 and 2028, this will change to 67. This means that if you turn 67 on or after 6 April 2028, you will need to wait until your 67th birthday before you can claim your State Pension.
The minimum age that you can take your Unilever pension from will increase in April 2028 and the minimum age that you can apply to take your Unilever pension will be 57.
The normal pension age for the Unilever UK Pension Fund is usually 65 and currently the earliest you can apply to take your pension is from age 55.
If you turn 55 before 6 April 2028 and want to take your Unilever pension, you need to tell us at least 3 months before you plan to take it. That way, we can make sure that it is being paid before the minimum age increases.
If you are 55 or 56 before 6 April 2028 and we are not paying you your Unilever pension before 6 April 2028 you will need to wait until you are 57 before you can take it.
It can take some time to process retirement choices. So if you are thinking of retiring in the next 2 years, we’d recommend that you start thinking about your options now.
If you have Final Salary or DB Career Average Plan benefits and you take them earlier than age 65, we will usually reduce your pension to allow for the fact that we’ll pay it for longer.
Plan your retirement
Deciding when to retire and how you’d like to use your benefits is a big decision and we’d recommend that you talk to a financial adviser. As a Unilever UK Pension Fund member, you can get financial advice at a preferential rate from Origen Financial Services. Origen are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Find out more about the Unilever UK Pension Fund financial advice service.
You may be able to take your Unilever pension earlier if you are seriously ill
If you become seriously ill and in Unilever’s opinion can no longer work, you may be able to take your pension earlier than 55, or 57 from 2028.
To do this, your condition must mean that in Unilever’s opinion:
- You can no longer do your job or a job that’s similar
- Your ability to do paid work is severely impaired, and
- Your illness is permanent or means that you are permanently incapacitated
You may need to provide medical evidence to demonstrate this.