“One is the value for money of the ETV. The other is, doesit offer you additional options that you didn’t have under the defined benefit pension?” he explains. I've received an offer from an old employer's pension scheme, to enhance the transfervalue of mypensionpot by 25%. Howdoes taking your pensionaffect applying for benefits? In order to receive government benefits that are means-tested, you’ll need to meet a set of eligibility criteria. This criteria often considers how much income and capital you have. - The current transfervalue - because there might be a penalty to move. - Whether the pension is in a final salary or defined contribution scheme. Defined contribution pensions take contributions from both employer and employee and invest them to provide a pot of money at retirement. Howdoes serious ill health affectmypension? If you cannot work any longer due to sickness, you may be able to take your pension benefits early, even before the age of 55. Pension lifestyling is an automatic investment strategy built into many workplace defined contribution pension schemes.The effect runs forward through the entire retirement. How to Check Whether Lifestyling Is Running in Your Pension. Log into your workplace pension platform. Many workers have small pensionpots they've built up at different workplaces.