Just Pension Reviews, Transfers, Drawdown and More

Just Group (often branded as "Just") is a leading UK specialist in the retirement income market. Unlike general pension providers that focus on accumulating a "pot," Just specialises in the decumulation phase - helping you turn your hard-earned savings into a secure, lifelong income.

As of 2026, Just Group is undergoing a significant transition following its acquisition by Brookfield Wealth Solutions, but its core mission remains the same: providing certainty in later life through annuities, care funding, and innovative "blended" retirement solutions.

If you are wondering whether Just are the right pension provider for you, get in touch below and one of our independent financial advisers (IFAs) will review this for you.

Who is Just Group?

Just Group was formed from the merger of Just Retirement and Partnership Assurance. They are not a high-street bank; they are a specialist insurer and retirement expert. They are particularly famous for their medical underwriting, which often allows them to pay higher income rates to people with even minor health conditions or lifestyle factors (like smoking or high blood pressure).

Just Group Retirement Products

Just focuses on products that provide security and predictability:

1. Guaranteed Income for Life (Annuities)

Just is a market leader in Pension Annuities. If you want the peace of mind that your income will never run out, a Just annuity is a primary option.

• Enhanced Annuities: Because Just asks detailed health questions, 6 in 10 people could qualify for a higher income than standard "off-the-shelf" quotes.

• Flexible Options: You can choose to have your income increase with inflation, provide for a spouse after you die, or include a "guarantee period."

2. Secure Lifetime Income (SLI)

This is a modern "hybrid" product. It allows you to hold a guaranteed income stream inside a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). It gives you the security of an annuity while keeping the flexibility of a drawdown plan.

3. Care Plan (Immediate Needs Annuity)

For those moving into residential care, Just offers specialised plans that provide a guaranteed regular payment directly to the care provider for the rest of your life, helping to protect the remaining estate from being exhausted by care costs.

4. Lifetime Mortgages (Equity Release)

Just is also a major provider of equity release, allowing homeowners over 55 to release tax-free cash from their property to supplement their retirement income or fund home improvements.

Find out more about their lifetime mortgages in our guide to Just’s equity release range.

Putting a Pension into Drawdown with Just

While Just is famous for annuities, they also facilitate Income Drawdown, often in partnership with other platforms.

• Blended Strategy: In 2026, Just’s "Fixed Term Investment" (available on platforms like Fundment) allows you to secure a guaranteed return for a set period (e.g., 5 or 10 years) while the rest of your pot remains invested for growth.

• Flexibility: You can take your 25% tax-free cash and then choose how much taxable income to withdraw each year.

• The Drawdown Safety Net: You can move your drawdown funds into a Just annuity at any time if you decide you want more certainty later in life.

Alternatives to Drawdown

• Standard Annuity: Swapping your entire pot for a fixed lifetime income.

• Fixed-Term Annuity: Getting a higher guaranteed income for a specific number of years (useful as a "bridge" to the State Pension).

• UFPLS: Taking occasional lump sums directly from your pension pot.

Reviewing an Existing Just Pension or Annuity

If you already have a Just Group product, a periodic review is vital:

1. Equity Release Health Check: If you have a Just "Lifetime Mortgage," a review can determine if you are eligible for an "additional advance" or if current 2026 interest rates make a switch beneficial.

2. Annuity "Value Protection": Many people forget they have "Value Protection" on their annuity. A review ensures your beneficiaries are aware of how to claim a lump sum if you pass away early.

3. Consolidation: If you have multiple small pensions, a review can determine if combining them to buy a larger Just annuity would trigger a better "bulk" rate.

Transferring To and From Just Group

Transferring INTO Just

To buy a Just annuity or Secure Lifetime Income, you must transfer your pension cash from your current provider (like Nest, Aviva, or a workplace scheme).

• Open Market Option: You have the legal right to move your money to Just to get a better rate than your current provider offers.

• Speed: Just is integrated into the Origo electronic network, meaning transfers typically complete in 10 to 20 days.

Transferring OUT of Just

• Annuities are Permanent: It is critical to know that once you buy a lifetime annuity, it is irreversible. You cannot transfer it away or "cash it in" later.

• Drawdown/Investment Transfers: If you hold a Just investment-linked product (like their Fixed Term Investment), you can generally transfer the value to another provider once the term ends or subject to surrender conditions.

Pros, Cons, and Customer Reviews (2025-2026)

The Pros

• Expert Underwriting: High probability of getting more income if you have any health issues.

• Innovation: Leading the way in "blending" annuities with drawdown.

• Award-Winning: Named "Company of the Year" at the 2025 Financial Adviser Service Awards.

The Cons

• Complexity: Their products often require professional advice to understand fully.

• Inflexibility: Once a lifetime annuity is started, you are locked in for life.

What Customers are Saying

"The team at Just worked hard over the festive season to complete my additional advance. The telephone service cannot be faulted." — Trustpilot Review, Jan 2026

"I took my IFA’s advice to use Just for my annuity and haven't regretted it. The payments are regular and I know exactly what's coming in every month." — Member Review, Dec 2025

How Our IFA Service Can Help

Just Group is an "intermediary-focused" company, meaning many of their best rates and hybrid products are only available via an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). At Money Help Desk, we connect you with experts who specialiae in Just's unique offerings.

Our IFA service helps you by:

1. Whole-of-Market Annuity Search: We compare Just against the entire market to ensure their "enhanced" quote is actually the best one for you.

2. Health Optimisation: We help you complete the Retirement Health Form accurately to ensure you get every penny of extra income you're entitled to.

3. Hybrid Modeling: We show you how to use Just’s Secure Lifetime Income to get the best of both worlds: a guarantee and growth.

4. Equity Release Advice: Ensuring that releasing property wealth with Just doesn't negatively impact your State Benefits or inheritance plans.

Get started here for a free, no-obligation with an independent financial adviser who specialises in Just’s product range and can offer impartial advice about whether they’re the right pension provider for you.