Your employer must automatically enrol you in a workplace pension. Describe your situation and get instant guidance on your pension rights.
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What you need to know
Employers are legally required to automatically enrol eligible workers into a workplace pension scheme. You are eligible if you are aged between 22 and State Pension age, earn more than £10,000 per year, and work in the UK. Your employer must enrol you without you having to ask — it should happen automatically, usually within three months of starting work.
The minimum total pension contribution is 8% of qualifying earnings (earnings between approximately £6,240 and £50,270 per year). Of this, at least 3% must come from your employer. You contribute the remaining 5% (though you receive tax relief on your contribution, which effectively reduces your personal cost). Many employers offer enhanced contributions above the legal minimum.
You have the right to opt out of your workplace pension within one month of being enrolled. If you opt out you will be refunded any contributions made. However you will miss out on your employer's contributions and tax relief, which is effectively free money. Your employer must re-enrol you every three years even if you have previously opted out.
If your employer goes into administration or becomes insolvent, your defined contribution pension pot is generally protected as it is held separately from the company's assets. Defined benefit (final salary) pensions have additional protection via the Pension Protection Fund (PPF), which may cover up to 90% of the promised pension.
If you have a dispute about your workplace pension, contact your employer or pension provider first. If unresolved you can contact The Pensions Ombudsman (free, independent) who can investigate and make binding decisions. The Pensions Regulator enforces employer compliance with auto-enrolment duties.
The full new State Pension is £221.20 per week (2024/25). You need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits to receive the full amount. You can check your State Pension forecast on GOV.UK and see if there are any gaps in your National Insurance record that you can fill by paying voluntary contributions.
This guidance is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify current figures and legislation on GOV.UK or seek professional advice for your specific situation.
Pension Credit is one of the most unclaimed benefits in the UK — around 1 in 3 eligible pensioners do not claim it. It tops up your weekly income if you are over State Pension age and on a low income.
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