How to access pension (not state) ?

Mac12345

Hi I think I must be spectacularly obtuse and therefore need a lot of help! I now live overseas. I am 58, so not eligible for state pension yet. When I worked in the UK I paid into my various employers pension schemes. I have recently read that after 55 one can access this money? Not sure if this is true. I have no idea how to go about it, if I am able to get any money now. Please can anybody help/advise as to how to find out. Or, how do I find out if I only contributed to the state pension? If there is any cash available to me now it would be really useful. Sorry to be so thick. Thank you.

xylophone

You can get a state pension forecast here
https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

When I worked in the UK I paid into my various employers pension schemes. I have recently read that after 55 one can access this money? 

Do you have a list of the pension schemes?

Were they Defined Benefit or Defined Contribution?

If DB, you will need to consult your scheme booklet or if you no longer have it, contact the Administrator to check when you can access the pension.

It may well be possible at age 55 but if the Normal Pension Age of the scheme is 60/65, there will almost certainly be an actuarial reduction.

If DC, it is likely that you can access the pension now but you will need to check your options with the provider.

Albermarle

This UK govt website has some useful info 
https://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/

Brynsam

Mac12345 said:

Hi I think I must be spectacularly obtuse and therefore need a lot of help! I now live overseas. I am 58, so not eligible for state pension yet. When I worked in the UK I paid into my various employers pension schemes. I have recently read that after 55 one can access this money? Not sure if this is true. I have no idea how to go about it, if I am able to get any money now. Please can anybody help/advise as to how to find out. Or, how do I find out if I only contributed to the state pension? If there is any cash available to me now it would be really useful. Sorry to be so thick. Thank you.

First find out what you've got where. Don't be tempted to pay anyone to 'help' you trace your pensions when you can easily do it yourself, free. Start here: https://www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details

Mac12345

Thank you all for taking to time to reply and supply links and info. I will try to check with the information you have provided. I can check the state pension easily enough. I am not at all sure about the other. 

[Deleted User]

When checking your schemes if there is any tax free cash available remember this may not be tax free in the country you live in, it may be treated as income.