What belongs in the bridge
Use assets available before pension access, such as ISAs and taxable investments. Keep emergency cash distinct and do not include your home unless you have a specific, realistic plan to release its value.
Free UK calculator · Private on your device
Could you fund the years before accessing your pension?
Estimate the accessible capital and monthly investing required between your target date for stopping work and your expected pension-access age.
What the calculator estimates
- Bridge capital required at your target date
- Projected accessible investments at that date
- Any modelled bridge shortfall
- Monthly accessible investing required
What it deliberately excludes
Tax on withdrawals, investment sequence risk, State Pension, defined-benefit income, changing spending, later-life care and product charges are not modelled.
How the bridge is modelled
Fund the gap that a large pension cannot cover.
The calculator estimates the capital needed at the target date to support level monthly spending until pension access, using the real return entered. It separately projects accessible assets and contributions to that date and compares the two.
For example, targeting work becoming optional at 55 with pension access at 57 creates a two-year bridge. The tool tests that period without assuming the pension can be accessed early.
Stress-test three uncertainties
- Lower the assumed return after fees and inflation.
- Increase spending to include irregular costs and tax.
- Move the target date or pension-access date independently.
Most registered-pension savers cannot normally access benefits before the normal minimum pension age. The government states that this generally rises from 55 to 57 on 6 April 2028, while protected ages, scheme rules and ill-health exceptions may differ.