How we check our numbers

Pension figures go out of date quickly. This is the process every guide and calculator goes through before it is published, and again whenever the rules change.

Our sources

We take rules and rates from primary sources first:

• GOV.UK, including HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions;
• government policy papers, legislation and HMRC newsletters;
• MoneyHelper, the government-backed guidance service.

When we use research or analysis from elsewhere, such as the Retirement Living Standards or a firm's worked example, we name it and link to it. Each guide lists its sources at the end.

How a guide is checked

1. Every number is traced to the page it comes from, and the link is kept.
2. Every worked example is calculated in code, not by hand, and the result is compared with the figures in the text.
3. Calculators are tested against the official examples where they exist. For instance, the State Pension age calculator reproduces the dates in the GOV.UK timetable notes.
4. Each page shows the date its figures were last checked.

Who we rely on

We are not a regulated adviser, so we don't give our own opinions on what you should do. Where a guide needs a judgement, such as how much you can safely take from a pension each year, we report what recognised experts say and link to it:

• Government and regulators: HMRC, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Financial Conduct Authority and the Pension Protection Fund.
• Free, impartial guidance: MoneyHelper and Pension Wise, both backed by the government.
• Independent research: the Retirement Living Standards, the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) and published research from investment firms such as Morningstar and Rathbones.

Our latest full check

On 8 October 2026 we re-checked every figure and claim on the site against these sources. We corrected five statements that were less precise than the official guidance, added expert sources to every guide, and removed one tip we could not find support for.

When the rules change

We re-check affected pages after every Budget and every April, when most rates change. Pages likely to be affected by an upcoming announcement carry a notice saying so.

How we use AI tools

We use AI writing and coding tools to help draft text, write calculator code and spot inconsistencies. They are never the source of a figure. Every rule and number is checked against the official source before publication, and the person who runs the site is responsible for everything published.

Expert review

We are arranging for a qualified financial planner to review our guides. Until a page has been reviewed, it is marked as checked against GOV.UK and HMRC, not as reviewed by an adviser. We will name the reviewer on each page they review.

Corrections

If you spot an error, tell us through the contact page. We fix factual errors promptly. If a correction changes a figure that readers may have relied on, we add a note at the end of the page saying what changed and when.