All employers must now automatically enrol eligible workers into a workplace pension scheme and contribute to it. This is an easy way to start saving for retirement. Read on to find out what to expect from automatic enrolment.
- Your employer will probably enrol you in a workplace pension scheme
- Your employer will tell you what’s going to happen
- What happens next
- Your employer must let you opt out if you want
- What your employer can’t do
Your employer will probably enrol you in a workplace pension scheme
Your employer is legally required to enrol you into a workplace pension scheme and to make contributions to it if you:
- work in the UK
- are aged between 22 and State Pension age
- earn more than £10,000 each year
- are not already in a qualifying pension scheme.
Even if you’re not eligible for automatic enrolment, you still have the right to join a workplace pension scheme, if you ask.
And depending on your earnings levels, your employer might still be required to contribute to your pension if you join.
Your employer will tell you what’s going to happen
When you join, you will be told in writing exactly how automatic enrolment will affect you by your employer.
In many cases this will be done by letter, but some employers might use other methods, such as email.
Your employer will tell you:
- what type of pension it is
- when you’re being enrolled
- who operates the pension you’re being enrolled into
- how to opt out if you don’t want to join the scheme
- the level of contributions you and your employer will pay into the pension.
If you don’t meet all the criteria to be automatically enrolled, then your employer will tell you:
- that you have the right to join
- whether or not your employer will make contributions to your pension.
What happens next
If you’re being automatically enrolled, unless you want to opt out you don’t need to do anything.
Your employer will have to make at least the minimum required contributions into your pension.
You will usually have to pay in too – your contributions will be automatically taken from your pay packet.
If you aren’t eligible for automatic enrolment, then it’s up to you to decide on the next steps.
If you want to join a workplace pension scheme, you’ll have to tell your employer. They can’t refuse your request.
Your employer must let you opt out if you want
If you’re being automatically enrolled, the letter you receive from your employer will explain how to opt out of the pension.
In general, you’ll need to submit a form, but some pension schemes may allow for opting out online or by phone.
Your employer will tell you who you need to contact, but they’re not permitted to handle the process for you – for example, by giving you an opt-out form.
This is to prevent employers from encouraging their workers to opt out.
If you opt out within one month of joining, your employer will refund any money you’ve paid into the pension scheme.
If you opt out later, the money will usually stay in the pension scheme until you retire.
If you opt out, your employer is required to automatically enrol you into their pension scheme again every three years, assuming you remain eligible for automatic enrolment at that time.
What your employer can’t do
Your employer can’t opt out of their automatic enrolment duties. Also, while you have the right to opt out of your workplace pension, your employer can’t:
- Force or encourage you to opt out
- Treat you unfavourably for not opting out
The same principle applies during the recruitment process.
If you apply for a job, your prospective new employer can’t suggest you’re more likely to be hired if you opt out of their pension scheme.
This article is provided by the Money Advice Service.
