If you worked in the UK and left behind a pension plan when you took up residence in another country, the pension proceeds can usually be transferred to your new home. There are two major exceptions: The first is the old age or state pension and the second is any unfunded pension plan (often provided by the Public Sector e.g. National Health Service, Teachers, Civil Service, Police, Military). If you qualify, these pensions can be paid to you in Canada but cannot be transferred out of the UK as a lump sum.
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Some pension amounts are defined as “Trivial” and you can cash them in.
Right now, but subject to change, if the total lump sum value of your UK Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution pension plans is £30,000 or less you can withdraw the Defined Benefits amounts in cash and bring it to Canada.
If you live in Canada and intend to retire there too, there is little value of having a UK pension that allows you to take a tax free lump sum.
Many UK pension plans allow the beneficiaries to make a withdrawal of 25% on reaching the retirement age. In the UK that 25% lump sum is not taxed. Unfortunately, most withdrawals from a pension plan are taxable for Canadian residents.
