A UK based defined benefit pension is a pension plan in which the amount of pension you receive is based on a formula that takes into account your salary and length of service.

Under this plan, the employer guarantees a specific amount of retirement benefit to the employee upon retirement, regardless of how the underlying investments perform. The amount of the benefit is usually calculated as a percentage of the employee’s salary at the time of retirement, multiplied by the number of years of service with the company.

The employer is responsible for funding the plan and making the necessary contributions to ensure that the plan can meet its obligations to pay benefits to retirees. Because of the guarantee provided to the employee, defined benefit pensions are often considered more secure and predictable than other types of retirement plans.

In the UK, most defined benefit pensions are subject to regulation by the Pensions Regulator, which sets standards for funding, investment, and governance of these plans. Additionally, the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) was established to provide a safety net for members of defined benefit pension plans in the event that their employer becomes insolvent and the plan is unable to pay its obligations.