"Expect higher rates if you have smoked for the past 10 years"
If you have been smoking ten or more cigarettes a day for the past 10 years, providers offer enhanced rates of up to 30% more than the standard level annuity rates. The older you are the higher the enhancement with the highest rates of 30-40% extra being paid to people in their 70's where annuity escalation is added.
About smoker annuities This applies to both a pension and purchased
life annuity. There are a number of factors relating to
health or lifestyle that mean an individual could benefit
from an enhanced annuity, resulting in a significant increase
in the pension income or income from a lump sum in retirement.
Although these people may be very healthy today, due to these
factors their life expectancy is less than that of the norm.
If the annuitant smokes 10 or more cigarettes per day (or
3 ounces of cigarette tobacco per week) and has done so for
the past 10 years, they can receive enhanced rates from
a life company. Enhanced rates do not apply to annuitants
that smoker pipes or cigars. If after being accepted on the
enhanced terms the annuitant gives up smoking, the pension
income will still continue at that rate for the rest of the
annuitant's life.
The follwowing table shows the smoker enhancement over the standard annuity rates. The enhancement increase with the age of the annuitant and for level rates can be as high as 25% for males and 31% for females at 75 years of age. Where escalation is included the extra annuity income can be as high as 31% for males and 40% for females at 75 years of age.
Level annuity enhancement
Age
Male
Female
Joint
55
9%
8%
4%
65
17%
18%
7%
75
25%
31%
14%
3% escalation annuity enhancement
Age
Male
Female
Joint
55
15%
16%
6%
65
24%
26%
9%
75
31%
40%
16%
Annuity table - the annuity enhancements
shown above are based on a purchase price of £100,000
and should be used as a guide only. For annuities specific to your circumstances you should complete
the free
annuity quote.
If the annuitant has suffered ill health in the past that
has reduced their life expectancy relative to the mortality tables, then again enhanced rates could be payable. If it
is the annuitant's spouse that has suffered ill health, is
a smoker or is overweight then whether pension annuities or
a purchased life annuities the life companies could pay a
higher income based on a joint life annuity.
In addition life companies also consider the lifestyle and
location of the annuitant. In particular, it the annuitant
has been a manual worker for most of their working life of
live in a particular part of the country, enhanced annuities could be payable. Before qualifying for enhanced terms it
is likely that the life company will ask for General Practitioners
Report (GPR) from the annuitant's doctor to verify the medical
conditions before an enhanced income can be paid.
At retirement the individual can use a pension fund to buy an annuity and has the option to use an open market option to search for the highest pension annuity. Once you have purchased an annuity it cannot be changed, so learn more about annuities, compare annuity rates and before making a decision at retirement, secure a personalised pension annuities quote offering guaranteed rates.
Annuity rates table - smokers
The smoker enhanced rates shown below are only examples. For
the full tables try the following;
The above are examples of the rates available. Click the following for the full standard tables and other annuity options.
Annuity rate notes: The above example table shows the best open
market option pension annuity rates for smoker single and joint annuitants based on:
Purchase price of £100,000 - this assumes an original pension fund of £133,333 and after the
tax free lump sum of £33,333 has been taken;
Annuity rates are payable monthly in arrears and show the gross income (before deduction of tax);
Level annuity rates pay the same income per month for the whole of the annuitants life;
Level annuity rates + 50% spouse pay the same income per month for the whole of the annuitants life and on death, pays 50% of the income to your spouse for the whole of their life;
Annuity rates are for single males and single females from the ages of 50 to 75 years.
No medical enhancements are included in these rates.
The annuity rates table is only a guide as rates
change frequently. Please request a free
annuity quote for an accurate income for your retirement annuity.
12-month trend 2012
For all annuitants retiring in August 2014 aged between 50 to
75 and purchasing a single or joint life level annuity, they
have seen a decrease in the income payable when compared to
rates 12 months ago in August 2013.
The following tables show the latest smoker rates compared to last
year (follow the link for conventional rates showing a 12-month trend). It is based on an original pension fund of £133,333
and after the tax free lump sum has been taken, £100,000
is used to purchase an annuity. The difference between the two
years is shown in pounds sterling per annum. The percentage
is the change from the annuity rate paid last year.
SINGLE, level annuity
Single Rate Change
50% Joint Rate Change
55
£144
2.4%
60
£165
2.5%
65
£206
2.8%
70
£164
2.0%
75
£261
2.6%
55
£76
1.4%
60
£129
2.2%
65
£116
1.8%
70
£129
1.8%
75
£131
1.5%
Annuity table - the annuity rate
changes are based on £100,000 in July 2011
compared to July 2012. For annuities specific
to your circumstances you should complete the free
annuity quote.