Can I cash in a small pension?
Andrew Mccoy
Updated on January 19, 2026
When you first become entitled to your pension, many pension providers offer the opportunity to convert the whole (100%) of a 'small' pension into a one-off cash payment. This is known as 'trivial commutation' and the cash received as a 'trivial commutation lump sum'.
What can I do with a very small pension?
When it comes to dealing with small pension pots there are really 5 options.
- #1 – A refund of pension contributions for short service.
- #2 – Consolidating small pension pots into one.
- #3 – Trivial lump sum.
- #4 – Small lump sums.
- #5 – Winding up.