LIC Pension Plans Retirement Planning Guide

Build guaranteed monthly income for retirement. Plans compared with pension amount examples.

✍️ By Team Lic Calculator 🔍 Reviewed by Haresh Hirapara (20+ yrs in Insurance) 📅 Updated: August 2026 ✅ Expert Verified
📌 Quick Answer

Two-phase strategy: (1) Working years: Build corpus with Jeevan Anand/Labh (maturity at 55-60). (2) At retirement: Convert to monthly pension via Jeevan Shanti or Saral Pension. For ₹50L corpus at age 60: approximately ₹30-40K/month guaranteed pension for life. These are approximate estimates.

The 2-Phase Retirement Strategy

📈
Phase 1: Build Corpus
Age 25-55
Endowment / Jeevan Anand / Labh → Lump sum at maturity
→
💰
Phase 2: Monthly Pension
Age 55-60 onwards
Annuity plan → Guaranteed income for life

LIC Pension / Annuity Plans Compared

FeatureJeevan Shanti (850)Saral Pension (862)Jeevan Umang (745)
TypeAnnuity (deferred/immediate)Annuity (immediate)Whole Life + Income
PaymentSingle / RegularSingle premiumRegular (15-30 yr PPT)
Pension StartsDeferred or immediatelyImmediatelyAfter PPT
Pension Rate~7-9% of purchase price~6-8%8% of SA annually ✅
Death BenefitDepends on optionPurchase price returnedSA + Bonus ✅
Best ForLump sum at retirementSimple, guaranteed pensionStart early, lifelong income

*Approximate annuity rates. Actual rates vary by age, plan, and annuity option chosen. Check with LIC for current rates.

Annuity Options — Which to Choose?

A
Life Annuity (Pension for Life)

Highest pension amount. Pension stops on death — nothing returned to family. Best if you have other assets for family.

B
Life Annuity with Return of Purchase Price ⭐

Slightly lower pension. On death, full purchase price returned to nominee. Most popular option — you get pension AND family gets money back.

C
Joint Life Annuity

Pension for both spouses. After primary annuitant's death, spouse continues to receive pension. Good for couples.

D
Guaranteed Period (5/10/15/20 yr) + Life

Pension guaranteed for fixed period even if you die early. After guaranteed period, pension continues for life.

Worked Example — Monthly Pension

💰 How Much Pension from ₹50L Corpus?
Annuity Option~Annual Rate~Monthly PensionOn Death
Life Annuity Only~9%~₹37,500Nothing
Life + Return of PP ⭐~7.5%~₹31,250₹50L returned
Joint Life~7%~₹29,167Spouse continues
10-yr Guaranteed + Life~8%~₹33,333Min 10 yr guaranteed

*Approximate rates for age 60, ₹50L purchase price. Actual annuity rates vary by LIC's prevailing rates. Monthly pension = annual annuity / 12.

Complete Retirement Portfolio — The LIC Way

🎯 Recommended Portfolio (Start at Age 30)
ComponentMonthlyMaturity/Corpus at 60Purpose
LIC Jeevan Anand (₹15L SA)~₹7,875~₹30-33LGuaranteed + lifelong cover
PPF (₹1.5L/year)~₹12,500~₹1.0-1.2CrTax-free, guaranteed
EPF (employer)Auto-deducted~₹50-80LBase retirement
NPS/MF SIP~₹5,000~₹50-70LGrowth component
TOTAL~₹25,375/month~₹2.3-2.8 Crore₹1.5-2L/month pension

₹2.5Cr at age 60 → convert to annuity at 7.5% → approximately ₹1.56L/month pension for life. Plus EPF pension. These are approximate projections. Actual amounts depend on returns and LIC rates.

⚠️ Tax Note: Pension income from annuity is fully taxable under your income tax slab. Unlike LIC maturity which is tax-free (10(10D)), annuity pension is treated as regular income. Plan your tax strategy accordingly. PPF corpus withdrawal is tax-free. Consult a tax advisor.

💡 Expert Tip (Haresh Hirapara): Most people make the mistake of buying only LIC endowment for retirement — the maturity gives a lump sum, but no regular income. My recommended strategy: (1) Age 25-30: Start Jeevan Anand/Labh + PPF — these build your corpus. (2) Age 55-60: Convert LIC maturity + PPF withdrawal into Jeevan Shanti or Saral Pension for guaranteed monthly income. (3) Choose the "Life Annuity with Return of Purchase Price" option — you get pension AND your family gets the money back on your death. Also, don't forget Jeevan Umang (745) if you start early — 8% of SA every year after PPT is like a built-in pension. Consult a financial advisor for a personalised retirement plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are LIC pension plans?+
Annuity plans that provide guaranteed monthly income for life after retirement. Key plans: Jeevan Shanti (850), Saral Pension (862), Jeevan Akshay (857). Also Jeevan Umang (745) for regular income. You invest lump sum or regular premium, LIC pays pension for life.
How much pension from ₹50L?+
Approximately ₹30,000-37,500/month depending on annuity option. Life only: ~₹37.5K. Life + return of PP: ~₹31.25K. These are approximate for age 60. Actual rates depend on LIC's prevailing annuity rates. Consult LIC for exact quotes.
Best LIC plan for retirement?+
Combination: Jeevan Anand/Labh during working years (build corpus) → Jeevan Shanti/Saral Pension at retirement (convert to monthly income). Or Jeevan Umang (745) for built-in 8% annual payout. See our Best Plan by Age. Consult a financial advisor.
Annuity vs endowment for retirement?+
Endowment builds corpus (lump sum). Annuity converts corpus into regular income. Use endowment during working years, annuity at retirement. Endowment = savings phase. Annuity = income phase. Consult a financial advisor.
Is LIC pension taxable?+
Yes, pension income is fully taxable under your income tax slab. Unlike maturity (tax-free under 10(10D)). Premium qualifies for 80CCC deduction. NPS has extra 80CCD(1B) benefit. Plan tax strategy carefully. Consult a tax advisor.
When to start retirement planning?+
Age 25-30. Starting at 25 with ₹5K/month → ~₹1Cr+ by 60. Starting at 40 needs ₹15-20K/month for the same. Power of compounding makes early start critical. Combine EPF + PPF + LIC + NPS. Consult a financial advisor.
⚠️ Disclaimer

This article is for educational and informational purposes only. LIC-Calculator.com is not affiliated with LIC of India. Pension rates, annuity amounts, and retirement projections are approximate based on publicly available information. Actual annuity rates depend on LIC's prevailing rates at the time of purchase. For official information, visit licindia.in.

This is not financial advice. Please consult a certified financial advisor for personalised retirement planning.

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