Existing customers

• How often should I review my contributions?

  You should regularly review the amount that you contribute to your pension and your attitude to risk.

  • Changing personal financial circumstances
    Remember to take account of any increases to your basic salary and any bonuses or overtime payments that you may receive. By overlooking this additional income, you risk increasing the gap between the standard of living that you enjoy today and the lifestyle that you will enjoy in your future retirement.

  • Changing your plans for the future
    Remember to review the contributions that you make alongside any changes that you may want to make to your future retirement plans.
    For example, most people would find it a daunting prospect to spend 40 years of their lives at work, so it should come as no surprise that many would like to cut this short by taking early retirement. If that is the case, higher contributions may be needed as you will be saving for retirement for a shorter amount of time.

  • Beating the effect of inflation
    It's also important to think about the future buying power of your pension. The contributions that you currently make may provide an adequate income in today's terms, but they may not offset the potentially harmful effects of inflation between now and when you take your benefits.

  To help offset the effects of inflation, you can ask for your contributions to automatically increase.

• Where can I find the details on how my plan works?

  This will be in the Key Features Document you received when you took out the plan. If you no longer have this, you can click here to access the latest version of this document.

• How do I change my contributions or pay in a lump sum?

  Contact Legal & General on 0845 6030142 or contact your local branch and arrange to speak to a Senior Financial Consultant who will be happy to review your arrangement with you.

• How can I keep up to date with the progress of my pension?

  Each year, you'll receive a statement on the progress of your Legal & General Stakeholder Pension. This will give you all the information that you'll need to review your pension plan. Your annual statement will include:

  • A contribution summary - This will list your contributions and the amount of tax relief which has been claimed on your behalf from HM Revenue & Customs.
  • Valuation of the investments held in your pension - This will show the total value of investments at the start and end of the year.
  • An illustration of your future pension benefits - an estimate of the income which you might receive at your selected retirement date assuming that any regular contributions you make will continue to be paid until then. Your illustration will allow for the future effects of inflation. This means that you can see how much your future pension is likely to be worth in today's terms.

  By comparing your estimated future pension income, as illustrated in today's terms, with your current income and everyday expenses you can decide for yourself whether your pension is on track to meet your future pension needs.

• How can I find out what my state pension will be?

  The Government's Pension service will be able to help you. Go to their website at www.thepensionservice.gov.uk for full details.

• How do I notify you of a name/address change?

  If you need to change your personal details please write to: Legal & General Retail Investments, Administration Team, BNY Mellon House, Ingrave Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 8TG.

  If you change your name for example through marriage/divorce then Legal & General will need to see evidence in the form of a marriage certificate or deed poll.

• When can I take my pension?

  Until 5 April 2010, you'll be able to take your benefits at any time between ages 50 & 75. From 6 April 2010, the earliest age at which benefits can be taken other than on ill health grounds will increase to 55 and the latest age will remain at 75.