Not sure if you're being enrolled in a pension, what your employer must contribute, or what to do if something seems wrong? This guide covers auto-enrolment, pension rights and what you're entitled to.
Want to opt out, or not sure you should have been enrolled? Read Can I Opt Out of My Workplace Pension? for who must be enrolled, opting out within a month for a refund, joining or rejoining, and what your employer cannot do.
Is your pension with Nest? Read Can I Opt Out of My NEST Pension? for how to opt out of Nest, finding your opt-out date, Nest charges and what happens to your pot when you leave a job.
Has your employer gone bust? Read What Happens to My Pension If My Employer Is Insolvent? for who the Pension Protection Fund protects, how much it pays, the assessment period, pension pots and pension money your employer did not pay in.
In England, Scotland and Wales, the Pensions Act 2008 says employers must automatically enrol eligible workers into a qualifying workplace pension and make minimum contributions. Eligible workers are:
If you earn more than £6,240 but not more than £10,000 a year, you can ask to join and your employer must enrol you and pay in. If you earn £6,240 or less, you can ask to join, but your employer does not have to pay in.
Your employer must provide a pension scheme, enrol you automatically, pay their contributions on time, give you information about the scheme, and not encourage or induce you to opt out.
Minimum contributions are calculated on qualifying earnings — the band between £6,240 and £50,270 per year (2026/27):
| Contributor | Minimum % |
|---|---|
| Employer | 3% |
| Employee | 5% (including tax relief) |
| Total | 8% |
Many employers and schemes contribute more than the minimum. Check your payslip to see how much is going in and whether your employer is contributing correctly.
You have the right to opt out of your workplace pension within 1 month of being enrolled. If you opt out in time, any contributions you have made will be refunded. However, you also lose your employer's contributions for that period.
Every 3 years, your employer must re-enrol all eligible workers who have opted out. You can opt out again, but the cycle repeats. Opting out permanently costs you significant long-term retirement savings and employer contributions — think carefully before doing so.
The new State Pension (for those reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016) is currently £241.30 per week (2026/27 rate). You need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits to receive the full amount. 10 qualifying years is the minimum to receive any State Pension.
Check your State Pension forecast at gov.uk/check-state-pension. If you have gaps in your NI record, you may be able to pay voluntary Class 3 contributions to fill them.
Your payslip should show your pension contribution being deducted. If you're eligible and nothing is showing, ask your employer why.
Log into your pension scheme's online portal (NEST, People's Pension, Aviva etc.) and check both your and your employer's contributions are going in correctly.
If your employer isn't paying into your pension, report to The Pensions Regulator at thepensionsregulator.gov.uk or 0345 600 0707.
gov.uk/check-state-pension shows how much you're on track to receive and flags any gaps in your NI record.
If you have gaps that will reduce your State Pension, you can pay voluntary Class 3 NI contributions. Deadlines apply — get advice from HMRC.
The Pensions Regulator: 0345 600 0707 | thepensionsregulator.gov.uk
Money and Pensions Service: moneyandpensionsservice.org.uk
Citizens Advice: 0800 144 8848
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