Our autistic daughter is unlikely to benefit from a pension we invested in for her - what should we do about it? Steve Webb replies

In the early life of our youngest daughter, we invested several thousand pounds in a stakeholder pension for her. Steve Webb replies: I was sorry to read your concerns that financial plans you made for your daughter when she was small might turn out to be to her disadvantage. The first main group of benefits helps to meet the additional costs of disability and includes things like Personal Independence Payments, Attendance Allowance, and Disability Living Allowance. For as long as you are receiving one of these benefits purely on the basis of your own contributions (known as 'contributions-based' ESA or JSA), then money in a pension would have no impact. The rules on capital (that is, the money still sitting in the pension pot) depend on your age. So, at this point, it is possible that even untouched money in a pension could reduce or eliminate income-related benefits your daughter was receiving. He is ready to answer your questions, whether you are still saving, in the process of stopping work, or juggling your finances in retirement. He is now a partner at actuary and consulting firm Lane Clark & Peacock. Please include a daytime contact number with your message - this will be kept confidential and not used for marketing purposes. It includes links to Steve's several earlier columns about state pension forecasts and contracting out, which might be helpful.