Who Pays My COPE Pension

Find out who pays your COPE pension and how to access it. Learn how COPE works, when payments begin, and how to trace your contracted out pension.

Who Pays My COPE Pension?

If you have seen a COPE figure in your State Pension forecast, you may be wondering who is responsible for paying this part of your retirement income. COPE stands for Contracted Out Pension Equivalent, and while it is mentioned by the government, it is not paid by the State.

This article explains what COPE is, who pays the related pension benefits, and how you can track down any payments you may be entitled to.

What is COPE?

COPE stands for Contracted Out Pension Equivalent. It is an estimate of how much pension income you are expected to receive from a workplace or private pension scheme that replaced part of your Additional State Pension during the time you were contracted out.

Between the late 1970s and April 2016, some people were members of pension schemes that were contracted out of the Additional State Pension. Instead of building up extra State Pension, your workplace scheme promised to provide a similar level of pension income. The COPE figure helps explain this.

Is COPE a separate pension?

No. COPE is not a pension scheme or a separate payment. It is simply an estimate used to show you how much pension income your workplace or personal pension might provide, based on your contracted out years.

It is not paid by the government, and you will not receive a payment labelled COPE.

Who pays my COPE pension?

Your COPE pension is paid by the pension scheme you were contracted out into. This is usually:

  • A workplace pension scheme, such as a defined benefit (final salary) scheme

  • A private or personal pension provider, if you were self-employed or contributed to a personal pension

  • A public sector pension, such as the NHS Pension Scheme, Teachers’ Pension Scheme, or Local Government Pension Scheme

These providers took over the responsibility of paying a portion of your retirement income in exchange for you being contracted out of the Additional State Pension.

When will I receive my COPE pension?

Your COPE-related pension income will be paid when you reach the normal pension age set by the scheme you were contracted out into.

This is typically:

  • 60 or 65 for defined benefit workplace pensions

  • 55 or later for defined contribution pensions (rising to 57 from April 2028)

  • It may be later if you choose to defer taking your pension

To receive this income, you must contact the pension scheme or provider directly and arrange to draw your benefits when eligible.

How do I find out who is paying my COPE pension?

If you are unsure which provider holds your contracted out pension, you can:

  1. Use the Pension Tracing Service at www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details

  2. Contact former employers to ask which pension scheme you were enrolled in

  3. Check old payslips or letters for pension scheme names and contact details

  4. Speak to a financial adviser if you need help locating or consolidating old pensions

Once you locate the provider, you can ask for a pension statement or retirement forecast.

What should I do if I cannot find the provider?

If you are unable to trace the scheme responsible for paying your COPE-related pension, contact:

  • The Pension Tracing Service for free help

  • The Pensions Ombudsman if you are having difficulty accessing information

  • MoneyHelper, which provides free guidance on pensions

It is important to take action early, especially as you approach retirement age.

Does COPE reduce my State Pension?

COPE itself is not a deduction. However, your starting amount under the new State Pension system may be lower than the full rate if you were contracted out. This is because you were expected to receive part of your retirement income from another pension scheme.

The full new State Pension for the 2024 to 2025 tax year is £221.20 per week. If your forecast is lower, it may be due to COPE.

Final thoughts

Your COPE pension is paid by the workplace or personal pension scheme you were contracted out into, not by the government. COPE is an estimate provided in your State Pension forecast to show how much income you might expect from that scheme.

To receive your COPE pension, you must contact the scheme provider and arrange to access your pension benefits when eligible. If you are unsure who holds the pension, use the Pension Tracing Service or seek help from a financial adviser.