Retirement Top-Up Plans: Popular Income Sources UK Survey
Author: Standard Life
Published: 2011/05/18 - Updated: 2026/01/29
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Life Insurance - Related Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This research presents findings from a Standard Life survey of 1,211 UK adults examining how people with pensions plan to supplement their retirement income. The data offers valuable insight into retirement planning strategies, revealing that 76% rely on state pensions, while others turn to inheritance (24%), rental properties (23%), or equity release (10%). For older adults and people with disabilities who may face unique financial challenges in retirement, this research highlights the importance of diversified income planning, particularly given that 7% of over-55s surveyed don't plan to retire despite having pension savings. The findings come from a reputable financial services provider with nearly 200 years of experience and provide practical context for understanding how different demographics approach retirement security - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Standard Life research has revealed the most popular retirement top-up plans for people who have saved into a pension. Alongside using other investments (43%), nearly a quarter (24%) are expecting inheritance will help fund their retirement, while others are planning equity release on their main home (10%), using rental income / sale of a property (23%) or using a partner or spouse's income (16%).
The research found that 7% of over-55s don't plan to retire or have a pension plan, even though they had been saving into a pension. Using the state pension or other state benefits (76%) was the favored choice of the majority of people. 23% of women are expecting to receive a retirement top-up from their spouse, while 13% of men make the same assumption.
Main Content
John Lawson, head of pensions policy at Standard Life said:
"Nearly half a million people in the UK over 55 are not planning to retire. This shows our attitudes towards retirement are changing, as people consider the implications of working and living longer than ever before. We know that many people want to continue working on their own terms, while some will want to start a new business or learn a new skill."
"Unfortunately, some may not have got their financial planning quite right. The realization of reaching 65 and having to fund another 30 years in retirement has made them rethink their future plans."
"Relying on certain sources of income, for example an inheritance, could leave you short changed, so seeking the right financial advice early on and taking practical steps to ensure you don't have all your eggs in one basket may prove a prudent move in later years."
To help support people when making investment decisions, Standard Life has recently launched a range of investment funds, called MyFolio**. The MyFolio funds are a family of carefully constructed risk-based portfolios that offer clients a choice of active and passive investment strategies across five risk levels. Three styles are available to suit each clients' investment philosophy:
- MyFolio Market Funds
- Standard Life MyFolio Funds
- MyFolio Multi-Manager Funds
Standard Life
Standard Life is a leading long term savings and investments company headquartered in Edinburgh and operating internationally. Established in 1825, Standard Life provides life assurance, annuities, investment funds, stocks & shares ISA, tax efficiencies, pensions including self-invested personal pensions (SIPP) company pensions and employer pensions, and investment management to over 6.5 million customers worldwide.
*All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,211 adults in the UK who are working and have a defined benefit, defined contribution pension and / or a personal pension. Fieldwork was undertaken between 26th-29th November 2010. The survey was carried out online.
**MyFolio can be accessed via both a Stocks and Shares ISA and Active Money Personal Pension. MyFolio is a family of carefully constructed risk-based portfolios, managed by Standard Life Investments. A committee oversees the fund research process and includes independent experts from outside the Standard Life group.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The landscape of retirement planning has shifted dramatically since this 2011 survey, yet the core challenge remains strikingly relevant today. What stands out isn't just the variety of income sources people consider, but the underlying anxiety these choices reveal - nearly half a million UK adults over 55 weren't planning to retire at all. This speaks to a deeper truth about modern retirement: the traditional model of stopping work at 65 with adequate savings has become more aspiration than reality for many. For individuals with disabilities or chronic health conditions, these planning challenges multiply, as healthcare costs and potential work limitations add layers of complexity. The warning against putting "all your eggs in one basket" resonates even more strongly now, particularly for those counting on inheritance or property values that can fluctuate unpredictably. Perhaps the most valuable takeaway is the reminder that retirement planning isn't a destination but an ongoing conversation - one that benefits from professional guidance and honest assessment of what financial security actually requires in an era where we're living longer than any generation before us - Disabled World (DW).Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Standard Life and published on 2011/05/18, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.