J99
"The sound advice is to commute for the simple reason that your gratuity is tax free - your pension is not"
If you look at the number of pounds of future pension payments you surrender per pound of extra lump sum gained, I think you will find that aspect has been taken care of. The sound advice is to consider carefully when you most need the money, and how you would intend to use it. Commuting may be a good idea, or a bad one. It all depends on your aspirations.
Regards
Ginseng