Can a paid up personal pension plan be transferred into an employer scheme before retirement to boost the fund or does it have to be dealt with under the paid up plan to claim the benefits?
I don't think that personal pensions can be transferred into occupational schemes at all. Even if it was why bother since consolidating multiple pensions is not always a good idea and in any case you will get the benefits from each pension anyway?
I'm not suggesting that Bedlam should do this but, could he not transfer his Personal Pension fund to a PRSA and then transfer PRSA fund to the employer scheme?