Individuals who had a benefits value on 5 April 2006 of over £1.5 million could use primary protection to reduce or eliminate the chance that a lifetime allowance charge will apply. The amount of tax-free cash they built up before 6 April 2006 could also have been protected. The tax-free cash is protected as a monetary amount if it exceeded £375,000 (25% of the lifetime allowance on 6 April 2006). The amount payable after 6 April 2006 is the amount of tax-free cash available on 5 April 2006 indexed in line with increases to the lifetime allowance. Since 6 April 2012, this increase factor is 1.2 (£1.8m/£1.5m), despite the current lifetime allowance being £1,073,100.
Primary protection had to be applied for by 6 April 2009.