Pension Bridge Gap Calculator
Compare the cost between retirement and pension access with savings projected from your own inputs.
Each month: V = (V + C) × (1 + r/1200), where r is the annual percentage and C is contributed at the start of the month. Bridge cost = annual spending × max(0, access age − retirement age). Uncovered cost = max(0, cost − V); a negative signed gap indicates surplus.
Use one currency for all amounts. No growth during bridge spending, inflation, tax, other income or spending after access is modelled. Enter your scheme’s actual access age: this tool does not determine eligibility, dates, legal ages or State Pension entitlement. Growth is your scenario, not a forecast. Accessible savings must exclude money locked in a pension.
Calculation stays in your browser; this is a planning estimate, not financial advice.
- Bridge length
- Bridge cost
- Projected savings at retirement
- Signed gap (cost − savings)
- Uncovered cost
A QUICK WALKTHROUGH
How to use this tool
- Enter whole nonnegative ages with current age ≤ retirement age. The saving period is (retirement age − current age) × 12 whole months, at most 12,000 months to bound browser work. If access age is no later than retirement, bridge length and cost are zero. With zero saving months, projected savings equal current savings.
- Each month: V = (V + C) × (1 + r/1200), where r is the annual percentage and C is contributed at the start of the month. Bridge cost = annual spending × max(0, access age − retirement age). Uncovered cost = max(0, cost − V); a negative signed gap indicates surplus.
- Use one currency for all amounts. No growth during bridge spending, inflation, tax, other income or spending after access is modelled. Enter your scheme’s actual access age: this tool does not determine eligibility, dates, legal ages or State Pension entitlement. Growth is your scenario, not a forecast. Accessible savings must exclude money locked in a pension.
Method and boundaries
Each month: V = (V + C) × (1 + r/1200), where r is the annual percentage and C is contributed at the start of the month. Bridge cost = annual spending × max(0, access age − retirement age). Uncovered cost = max(0, cost − V); a negative signed gap indicates surplus.
Bridge length
Enter whole nonnegative ages with current age ≤ retirement age. The saving period is (retirement age − current age) × 12 whole months, at most 12,000 months to bound browser work. If access age is no later than retirement, bridge length and cost are zero. With zero saving months, projected savings equal current savings.
Method and boundaries
Use one currency for all amounts. No growth during bridge spending, inflation, tax, other income or spending after access is modelled. Enter your scheme’s actual access age: this tool does not determine eligibility, dates, legal ages or State Pension entitlement. Growth is your scenario, not a forecast. Accessible savings must exclude money locked in a pension.
Input and result snapshot
Calculation stays in your browser; this is a planning estimate, not financial advice.
GOOD TO KNOW
Common questions
Does the tool decide when I can access my pension?
No. Supply the access age confirmed for your own scheme. Ages are whole years; dates, legal exceptions and pension eligibility are outside this calculation.