Employee resource centre

No matter where you are, or where life takes you, we’re here to help you with the important things. Whether you’re a pension novice or veteran we’ve brought together the expertise and digital tools to support you in your Defined Contribution (DC) pension plan.

Want to know how to make an Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC)? Or maybe you’re starting to think about your retirement planning? Whatever stage you’re at – you’ve come to the right place.

Webcasts

Our team of experienced pension experts are committed to helping you access the information you need when you need it to make informed decisions about your future.

The member engagement team are delivering webcasts covering a range of topics to help you get the most out of your pension and understand all aspects of your pension benefits, on request from your employer.

Watch our webcast below so you can learn about your pension plan online.

Changes to how the future value of your pension fund is calculated

 

From 1 March 2021, Irish pension providers are changing the way to calculate the projections that appear on your Benefit Statements and on your online pension account. These changes are made in line with revised guidance from the Society of Actuaries in Ireland.

From that date, the projections will be more conservative and the estimated pensions shown will therefore be lower than has been shown to date.

It is important to note that this does not affect how much will be paid in, how your fund will grow or your actual benefits and options at retirement. This change only affects how we calculate the forecasts.

In the document here we take a look at what the main assumption changes are, and then examine what the likely impact on projected retirement outcomes may be with a few examples.

If you have further queries, you can contact the member engagement team on Empowermembers@irishlife.ie or call 01 704 1845

For general queries contact happytohelp@irishlife.ie or 01 704 2000, Lines open 9am - 1pm & 2pm – 5pm Monday to Friday

Updated product guides

We have also updated our product guides to reflect the projections changes.

   

Portal

Your online portal account allows for 24/7 access to all of your plan information online, view transactions, update contact details and download documents. It also houses a fantastic range of investment information specific to your plan in the investment centre section.

Log onto your online portal  now for 24/7 access.

If you haven’t signed up already, you can sign up now – watch this 30 sec video to help you get set up.

How to videos

We have a super selection of videos for you to watch, on demand, whenever it suits you.

  

  

  

Haven't quite found what you are looking for? Check out our full range of on demand videos here.

Frequently asked questions

To help you get the information you need, we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions from our customer below:

What happens if I move abroad?

 It doesn’t matter where in the world you are, it shouldn’t stop you from saving for your future. We deal with transfers abroad on an individual basis so please email code@irishlife.ie or phone 01 704 1845 and we will be happy to talk through this with you.

 

What if I change jobs?

 If you change jobs within two years qualifying service you may have some options; like a refund less tax, a transfer value or leaving the money invested. The rules around these options are specific to your company plan. After more than two years qualifying service in the pension plan, if you leave your current employer you will not have access to your pension fund until you retire. However, you will have some options for the retirement savings you have built up during your time with the company.

The rules around accessing your Retirement Plan benefits depend on your Qualifying Service. Qualifying Service means service completed as a member of the Plan. Similar service completed in another Company plan, or in another plan from which a transfer value has been paid, will also be counted as Qualifying Service.

Please refer to your member guide for more information or call us on 01 704 2000 or email Happytohelp@irishlife.ie quoting your member number.

 

What if I want to retire early?

If your employer and the trustees agree, you may retire early once you have reached age 50. However, your pension is designed to provide benefits at your Normal Retirement Age (NRA) and retiring earlier means you won’t have as much saved up for retirement than if you continued working and saving until your Normal Retirement Age (NRA).

Please read your member guide to find out more.

 

Are there any other additional benefits as part of my pension?

Your employer may also provide you with important benefits such as Life Cover and/or Income Protection while employed with them. Your employer will let you know what benefits are available to you or you may get more information from your HR department.

 

How can I transfer my previous pension benefits into my Irish Life plan?

If you're wondering how you can transfer your previous pension benefits into an Irish Life plan, click here.

The rules around transferring benefits from a previous pension plan into your Irish Life plan will depend on a number of factors.

 

What happens if I die?

If you die before you reach retirement age, your pension plan rules will determine what benefits will be made available to your dependants. This is known as a ‘death in service’ benefit. The benefit for each company is different so please check your member guide for specific details. 

 

Retirement Planning

Are you closer to retirement and want more information to help you start planning?                                      

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Our retirement centre covers all aspects of retirement planning including budget calculators, answers to frequently asked retirement planning questions as well as your options for life after work.

We have prepared a video for pension plan members who are close to retirement - click here or on the image below. 

To get access to the full video contact our Member Engagement Team at empowermembers@irishlife.ie or call us on 01 704 1845.

General Information

Still have questions? Our corporate pensions team are on hand to support you with questions regarding your workplace pension, you can email us at - happytohelp@irishlife.ie or call us on - 01 704 2000.

Financial Advice

If you’re at home and thinking about how you’ll draw down your pension but don’t know where to start, why not contact your financial advisor or if you do not have one you can request a call back from an Irish Life Financial Services Advisor by clicking here.