pension annual allowance - how to calculate with multiple pensions

UncleGeee

I am trying to understand how to calculate if I have exceeded the pension annual allowance, I'm hoping someone can advise.
I have accumulated 6 pensions over the years, with 5 deferred (3 DB and 2 DC) plus 1 active DC.
I think last year my pension contributions may have exceeded the £60k annual allowance so I'm trying to check.
I contacted one of the pension schemes (providing both one DC and one DB pension) to ask for valuation for each of the last several years to check if I have exceeded the £60k cumulatively.

They replied that as my pensions are deferred the contribution to the annual allowance is zero :-"Please note that as you are not an active member of the Scheme, you are known as a deferred member of the Scheme. You do not have contributions being paid in therefore the pension input amount is not applicable as it is based on the last 5 years"

But is this true ? Because surely both the DC and DB pensions change in value every year, and so count towards the cumulative £60k limit?
Or did I misunderstand how this works and only contributions into active schemes count towards the annual allowance, so all deferred pensions can be ignored even though they changed in value ?
I've probably completely misunderstood the situation, if anyone can put me right I'd be very grateful ! 
 

dunstonh

The annual allowance is a contribution allowance.   Not a valuation allowance.

hugheskevi

You can read all about it at this HMRC link.

Grumpy_chap

UncleGeee said:

I am trying to understand how to calculate if I have exceeded the pension annual allowance, I'm hoping someone can advise.
I have accumulated 6 pensions over the years, with 5 deferred (3 DB and 2 DC) plus 1 active DC.
I think last year my pension contributions may have exceeded the £60k annual allowance so I'm trying to check.
I contacted one of the pension schemes (providing both one DC and one DB pension) to ask for valuation for each of the last several years to check if I have exceeded the £60k cumulatively.

They replied that as my pensions are deferred the contribution to the annual allowance is zero :-"Please note that as you are not an active member of the Scheme, you are known as a deferred member of the Scheme. You do not have contributions being paid in therefore the pension input amount is not applicable as it is based on the last 5 years"

But is this true ? Because surely both the DC and DB pensions change in value every year, and so count towards the cumulative £60k limit?
Or did I misunderstand how this works and only contributions into active schemes count towards the annual allowance, so all deferred pensions can be ignored even though they changed in value ?
I've probably completely misunderstood the situation, if anyone can put me right I'd be very grateful ! 
 

It is as you say towards the end of your post "only contributions into active schemes count towards the annual allowance"