Is this a stupid idea?!!!

I understand your thoughts, and yes, it is a good idea to do the nice stuff because none of us know what is around the corner. Why not just take the 25% tax free? £8k is certainly sufficient for a good cruise for the two of you, this will leave the balance to hopefully accrue growth which you may well be glad of when you retire. We have a couple of very small pensions which give enough to pay for a nice break every year, not life changing amounts, but certainly life enhancing! Good wishes for your husband's recovery, and do take care of yourself as well.

Check the taxation situation. If you take more than the approved 25%, you can end up with the HMRC getting more of your pension than you do.

If your DH had bypass surgery he could end up outliving you.

Smileless2012

of the OP takes 25% of the total of her pension pot which equates to £8K then there is no tax to pay on the £8k.

Interesting. My pension provider didn’t allow me to take out the 25% tax free sum all at once. Just as well really. As a WASPI with only a small private pension as income for 6 years, I took out just enough of the taxable amount each year to keep under my tax allowance and so got the whole pot tax free.

Seize the day!! You have one life; you are getting older. My OH worked till 60, then got Parkinsons and got steadily iller - bang goes retirement fun - you do not know what is round the corner.

I would think it better to draw on OH pension first as his pot is bigger.
Does he have any occupational pensions? If OH has serious health issues and not able to work again then he may be able to claim the pension early through disability ... even from deferred pensions.
Whatever, get advice before you do anything. You should be entitled to a free consultion with the pensions advisory service.
But hopefully he makes a good recovery and you enjoy many years together.

You have to be really canny and seek financial advice.
I remember now, what I did. I was quite unwell and couldn't cope with it at the time. It was an additional pot I contributed to, because I knew my teacher's pension wouldn't be great and I too was a waspie.
On the advice of the financial adviser I took 25% and the rest was reinvested. I have made a fair bit of it back.

I have got a financial advisor coming next week to help me out, thanks everyone for your advice.