What is Pension Wise?
Pension Wise is a free government service that offers free, impartial guidance. It outlines the options for people with defined contribution pensions.
About the appointment

During a Pension Wise appointment, a specialist will talk you through your options for taking your pension money.
Your appointment will last around 45 to 60 minutes.
The specialist will:
- explain your pension options
- explain how each option is taxed
- tell you what your next steps are.
Before you book
You can get free guidance from Pension Wise if:
- you’re aged 50 or over, and
- have a UK-based defined contribution pension – not a final salary or career average pension.
Answers to the questions below are all on our website:
Choose between telephone or face-to-face appointments
Whether you choose to have your Pension Wise appointment by phone or face-to-face, you will receive the same service and guidance.
However, there are only a limited number of face-to-face appointments, which can mean longer wait times. It’s best to book in for a face-to-face appointment if you have an accessibility requirement that means a telephone appointment isn’t suitable.
To book a face-to-face appointment please call us (or ask someone you trust to call on your behalf) on 0800 138 1585 between 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday. If you’re outside the UK, call +44 20 3733 3495.
If you’re happy to continue with a telephone appointment instead, please click the button below to book a time and date that’s suitable for you.
If a face-to-face or phone appointment isn’t suitable, you can explore online options for using your pension pot.