Lifetime Isa vs pension

Find out how lifetime Isas work and how much money you can put into them. We compare lifetime Isas with more traditional ways of saving for your retirement.
Paul Davies

Should I use a lifetime Isa instead of a pension?

Lifetime Isas launched in April 2017, and, if you're under 40, offer an alternative to traditional personal pensions and Sipps.

You can open lifetime Isa if you're aged between 18 and 40. Any savings you put into it before your 50th birthday will get a 25% bonus from the government.

Until you hit 50, you can add up to £4,000 a year - and if you did pay in £4,000, you'd get a £1,000 bonus from the government.

If you're not getting pension contributions from an employer, saving in a lifetime Isa may be your best option.

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What are the different types of lifetime Isa?

There are cash lifetime Isas, which will pay interest, and stocks and shares lifetime Isas where you could benefit from investment growth.

The lifetime Isa allows you to continue to make contributions and receive the bonus up to the age of 50.

You can withdraw the money at any time, but if you do so before you turn 60, the government will take 25% of the total amount you withdraw as a penalty. This means you'll lose the government bonus you've accrued on the money, plus any interest or growth.

This is because the savings are designed to be used as retirement income after the age of 60.

Find out more in our guide to lifetime Isas.

Lifetime Isa vs pension

The lifetime Isa now offers a real alternative to younger people who might otherwise save into a personal pension or a self-invested personal pension (Sipp).

You might want to save into both - and the government has stressed that the lifetime Isa is not a replacement pension but rather an additional savings vehicle.

Which? compares the main pros and cons of the two options, below.

The lifetime Isa is likely to be the best option for you if:

You don't get the benefit of an employer pension contribution (for example, you are self-employed) and you want to supplement retirement savings and you've made the maximum contribution via your workplace pension.

If you need early access to all your retirement money in an emergency (doing so will see you lose the government bonus and growth on the bonus, and incur a 5% penalty or you might want to temporarily borrow some money without charge, provided it is fully repaid, then a lifetime Isa could fit the bill.

The traditional personal pension is likely to be the best option for you if:

You are in a workplace pension to which your employer contributes - under auto-enrolment rules your employer will contribute at least 3% or you want to access your money at age 55 (rising to 57 in 2028) rather than having to wait until you turn 60.

If you're a higher-rate taxpayer (and therefore qualify for pension tax relief at 40%, or 41% in Scotland) and you are likely to be paying a lower rate of tax in retirement (say 20%) than you did in work, a traditional pension is the better solution for you.

How much will I get from a Lifetime Isa?

Our table shows the return of the different options if you make a contribution of £1,000. It includes no investment growth or interest, and assumes that you pay basic-rate tax in retirement which is deducted from pension withdrawals.

Initial contribution of £1,000
Contribution typeReturn
Auto-enrolled pension (1% tax relief, 3% employer contribution)£1,600
Lifetime Isa£1,250
Sipp (without employer contributions)£1,000
Standard Isa£1,000
Lifetime Isa (early withdrawal)£937.50

The returns on the lifetime Isa assume that you make the contributions before the age of 50 and take the retirement money when you are aged over 60. Personal pensions and Sipps are accessible from age 55 (rising to 57 in 2028).