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When you purchase an annuity, the income you receive for the rest of your life is fixed at the point of purchase. The rate offered to you — expressed as an annual income per £100,000 of purchase price — depends on a combination of macroeconomic conditions, actuarial assumptions, and your personal circumstances. Understanding how providers calculate this rate empowers you to approach the open market with realistic expectations and to identify whether you may qualify for a higher income through an enhanced or impaired-life annuity.
The role of gilt yields
The single most important driver of annuity rates is the yield on UK government bonds, known as gilts. Annuity providers invest the premium you pay predominantly in long-dated gilts and high-quality corporate bonds, matching the expected duration of their liability — paying your income for as long as you live — against the income generated by the bond portfolio.
When gilt yields are high, annuity rates are higher, because the insurer earns more from the invested premium and can afford to offer a greater income. When yields are low — as they were throughout the 2010s following quantitative easing — annuity rates fell sharply, reaching historic lows around 2020.
The sharp rise in interest rates from 2022 onwards, as the Bank of England responded to inflation, drove a substantial recovery in annuity rates. By mid-2026, a healthy 65-year-old with a £100,000 fund can typically secure a level annuity of approximately £6,200–£7,000 per year, compared with around £4,500–£5,000 at the 2020 trough. These figures are indicative and vary by provider, product terms, and individual characteristics.
Mortality assumptions and the "mortality credit"
Annuity pricing also incorporates mortality statistics — specifically, how long, on average, people of your age and health profile are expected to live. Providers use data from the Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI), which produces periodic mortality improvement projections, alongside their own book experience.
The "mortality credit" is the implicit benefit annuity holders receive from pooling longevity risk. Those who die earlier than average effectively subsidise those who live longer. The annuity rate reflects the pooled expected cost of providing income across a cohort with similar characteristics to you.
Providers must price cautiously to ensure they remain solvent and meet Solvency II (now UK equivalent) capital requirements. The margin between the theoretical fair price of an annuity and the rate actually offered includes the insurer's profit margin, capital costs, and administration costs. Shopping around on the open market — using the open market option — can reduce this margin by finding the provider with the most favourable pricing for your specific profile.
Your age at purchase
Age is the most significant individual factor in annuity pricing. The older you are when you purchase, the higher the rate, because the insurer expects to pay income for fewer years. Rates are quoted per £100,000 of purchase price, so a 70-year-old will typically receive 20–30% more annual income than a 65-year-old buying the same product.
There is a persistent misconception that delaying annuity purchase always produces a higher rate. While rates do increase with age, your fund continues to be exposed to investment risk and longevity risk during any delay. The "breakeven" age at which delaying proves beneficial depends on the actual investment return achieved during the deferral period and the rate increase obtained. This calculation requires actuarial analysis and is not straightforward.
Single life versus joint life
A single-life annuity pays income only to you for your lifetime; a joint-life annuity continues to pay a proportion — typically 50% or 66% — to your spouse or civil partner after your death.
Joint-life annuities have lower initial rates because the insurer expects to pay income for a longer combined period. The reduction in rate depends on the age and gender of the dependent, with younger and/or female partners producing the largest rate reduction, as they are statistically expected to outlive the primary annuitant by a greater margin.
Level versus escalating annuities
A level annuity pays a fixed income throughout. An inflation-linked or escalating annuity increases annually by a fixed percentage (for example 3% per annum) or by the Retail Prices Index or Consumer Prices Index.
Escalating annuities start at a significantly lower initial rate — often 30–40% lower than the level rate — to compensate the insurer for the increasing income it will pay in future years. The breakeven point, at which the escalating annuity has paid more in total than the level version, is typically reached after 12–15 years.
For individuals concerned about the erosion of purchasing power, particularly over a long retirement, an escalating annuity provides real income protection. For those with shorter life expectancy or who have other inflation-hedged income sources (such as a defined benefit pension or a state pension), the level annuity's higher initial income may be preferable.
Guarantee periods
An annuity with a guarantee period continues to pay income to your estate or nominated beneficiaries for a minimum number of years — typically 5 or 10 — even if you die before the period expires. This provides protection against the perceived "loss" of the purchase price if you die shortly after buying.
Guarantee periods reduce the initial annuity rate modestly, as the insurer must reserve for the possibility of paying the guaranteed payments to beneficiaries. The reduction is most significant for younger purchasers and those with lower life expectancy, where the probability of the guarantee period being triggered is higher.
The underwriting process: health and lifestyle
Underwriting is the process by which an insurer assesses your individual health and lifestyle characteristics to determine whether you qualify for an enhanced rate. Every provider approaches underwriting slightly differently, but common factors assessed include:
Smoking status: Smokers typically receive 10–15% higher rates than non-smokers of the same age, reflecting shorter expected lifespan.
Body mass index (BMI): Overweight or obese individuals may qualify for modest enhancements, though the criteria vary by provider.
Medical conditions: Serious health conditions — including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, kidney failure, and many others — can qualify you for an "impaired life" or "enhanced" annuity with significantly higher rates. The enhancement depends on the severity of the condition and its impact on life expectancy.
Lifestyle factors: Occupation (some hazardous occupations are rated), alcohol consumption, and other lifestyle factors may be considered.
Postcode: Some providers use postcode-based mortality data, reflecting the fact that life expectancy varies significantly by region in the UK. Residents in areas with historically lower life expectancy may receive slightly higher rates.
Underwriting is typically conducted through a short health questionnaire and, for enhanced annuities, a more detailed medical questionnaire. Providers may request a GP report for complex cases.
It is essential to disclose health and lifestyle information accurately. Failure to disclose material facts can result in the annuity being voided or claims being denied.
The open market option
You have no obligation to purchase an annuity from the provider that holds your pension fund. The open market option (OMO) gives you the right to shop around and purchase from any FCA-regulated annuity provider in the UK.
Annuity rates can vary by 20% or more between providers for the same individual profile. Using an independent annuity broker or regulated financial adviser to search the market — and to ensure that your health and lifestyle profile is presented consistently to all providers — can materially improve the income you receive.
Pension Wise, the government guidance service, strongly recommends using the open market option. Despite this, a significant proportion of retirees still purchase annuities from their existing pension provider without shopping around.
Administration and product charges
Annuity rates quoted by providers are net of administration and profit margins. Unlike drawdown funds, there are no ongoing annual management charges deducted from an annuity — the income is simply paid as quoted. However, some enhanced annuity products or structured annuity variants may involve arrangement fees or adviser charges, which should be clearly disclosed.
Rates and the future
Annuity rates are not guaranteed beyond the quotation validity period, typically 30–60 days. If you are approaching retirement and considering an annuity, monitoring gilt yield movements can help you understand how rates are likely to change. A significant fall in gilt yields — for example, following a recession or an unexpected central bank policy change — would reduce the rates available.
Decisions about annuity purchase are irreversible and have lifetime implications. This guide explains the principles as of 2026 but does not constitute personal financial advice. Seek regulated advice before committing your pension fund to an annuity.
How Global Investments Can Help
Choosing when and whether to annuitise part or all of your pension is one of the most consequential retirement decisions you will make. Global Investments works with clients to assess the suitability of annuities within a broader retirement income strategy, using whole-of-market access and independent underwriting assessment to secure the best available rate for your circumstances. Contact our retirement income specialists to explore your options.
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Pension rules, tax rates and programme details change; verify current requirements with a qualified and FCA-regulated pensions adviser before acting. Pension transfers involving defined benefits over £30,000 require regulated advice.
