Joining a workplace pension

All employers must provide a workplace pension scheme. This is called 鈥榓utomatic enrolment鈥�.

Your employer must automatically enrol you into a pension scheme and make contributions to your pension if all of the following apply:

  • 测辞耻鈥檙别 classed as a 鈥榳orker鈥�
  • 测辞耻鈥檙别 aged between 22 and State Pension age
  • you earn at least 拢10,000 per year
  • you usually (鈥榦rdinarily鈥�) work in the UK (read the if 测辞耻鈥檙别 not sure)

When your employer does not have to automatically enrol you

Your employer usually does not have to automatically enrol you if you do not meet the previous criteria or if any of the following apply:

  • you鈥檝e already given notice to your employer that 测辞耻鈥檙别 leaving your job, or they鈥檝e given you notice
  • you have evidence of your lifetime allowance protection (for example, a certificate from HMRC)
  • you鈥檝e already taken a pension that meets the automatic enrolment rules and your employer arranged it
  • you get a one-off payment from a workplace pension scheme that鈥檚 closed (a 鈥榳inding up lump sum鈥�), and then leave and rejoin the same job within 12 months of getting the payment
  • more than 12 months before your staging date, you left (鈥榦pted out鈥�) of a pension arranged through your employer
  • 测辞耻鈥檙别 from an EU member state and in an
  • 测辞耻鈥檙别 in a limited liability partnership
  • 测辞耻鈥檙别 classed as a 鈥榙irector鈥� without an employment contract and employ at least one other person in your company

You can usually still join their pension if you want to. Your employer cannot refuse.

If your income is low

Your employer does not have to contribute to your pension if you earn these amounts or less:

  • 拢520 a month
  • 拢120 a week
  • 拢480 over 4 weeks

What happens when 测辞耻鈥檙别 automatically enrolled

Your employer must write to you when you鈥檝e been automatically enrolled into their workplace pension scheme. They must tell you:

  • the date they added you to the pension scheme
  • the type of pension scheme and who runs it
  • how much they鈥檒l contribute and how much you鈥檒l have to pay in
  • how to leave the scheme, if you want to
  • how tax relief applies to you

Delaying your enrolment date

Your employer can delay into a pension scheme by up to 3 months.

In some cases they may be able to delay longer if they鈥檝e chosen either:

Your employer must:

  • tell you about the delay in writing
  • let you join in the meantime if you ask to

What your employer cannot do

Your employer cannot:

  • unfairly dismiss or discriminate against you for being in a workplace pension scheme
  • encourage or force you to opt out
  1. Step 1 Check when you can retire

  2. and Check how much pension you could get

  3. Step 2 Increase your pension

    You might be able to increase the amount you get if you delay your pension.

    1. Find out about delaying your pension

    You might be able to pay voluntary contributions to fill in gaps in your National Insurance record (such as, from when you were not working or claiming benefits).

    1. Check if you can pay voluntary National Insurance contributions

    For advice about increasing your workplace or private pension, speak to a financial adviser.

  4. Step 3 Check what other financial support you could get

  5. Step 4 Decide when to retire