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UK Pension Drawdown Explained: Flexi-Access, UFPLS, Tax and Beneficiaries

Pension drawdown UK 2026: how flexi-access drawdown works, the 25 per cent tax-free lump sum, tax bands on withdrawals, MPAA rules and the lifetime...

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Chandraketu Tripathi
Finance Editor, Kaeltripton
Published 17 May 2026
Last reviewed 17 Jun 2026
✓ Fact-checked
UK Pension Drawdown Explained: Flexi-Access, UFPLS, Tax and Beneficiaries

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Pension drawdown (flexi-access drawdown) allows you to keep your pension pot invested and withdraw income flexibly from age 57. The first 25% of the pot can be taken as tax-free cash (up to the Lump Sum Allowance of £268,275). Remaining withdrawals are taxed as income at your marginal rate. Once you take flexible income, the Money Purchase Annual Allowance drops to £10,000. All drawdown providers must be FCA-authorised (FCA, HMRC, Money and Pensions Service, 2026).

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Chandraketu Tripathi
Finance Editor · Kaeltripton.com
Chandraketu (CK) Tripathi, founder and lead editor of Kael Tripton. 22 years in finance and marketing across 23 markets. Writes on UK personal finance, tax, mortgages, insurance, energy, and investing. Sources: HMRC, FCA, Ofgem, BoE, ONS.

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