Check whether your defined benefit pension is protected by the PPF if your employer becomes insolvent — how much you would receive, how the process works, and what to do now.
↓ Try the Checker NowThe Pension Protection Fund (PPF) protects members of defined benefit pension schemes if their employer becomes insolvent. It pays 100% of pension for those at or above scheme pension age and 90% (subject to a cap) for those below.
The PPF levy is paid by eligible schemes. If your scheme enters the PPF assessment period, your pension payments continue at reduced levels while the assessment is completed.
Key areas covered: Pension Protection Fund, defined benefit, employer insolvency, PPF levy, assessment period. Checked against official sources.
While your scheme is being assessed for PPF entry, payments continue but often at a reduced level reflecting PPF compensation rates rather than your original scheme benefits — this period can take some time, so it's worth understanding what to expect financially rather than assuming payments will remain unchanged throughout.
The distinction between 100% protection at scheme pension age and 90% (subject to a cap) below it can significantly affect your actual outcome — understanding which category you fall into helps you plan realistically for what the PPF will actually provide compared to your original scheme entitlement.
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Our guidance covers many common situations, but complex or high-stakes cases need professional advice. For employment issues, contact ACAS in England, Wales and Scotland (0300 123 1100) or the Labour Relations Agency in Northern Ireland (03300 555 300). For free general advice, contact Citizens Advice (England 0800 144 8848, Wales 0800 702 2020), Citizens Advice Scotland (0800 028 1456) or Advice NI (0800 915 4604). For urgent housing problems in England, Shelter can help on 0808 800 4444.
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Tip: Tell us your age, your pension type (final salary or career average), your expected pension amount, and whether your employer has become insolvent.
Include whether your pension is final salary or career average, or a pension pot, what has happened to your employer and when, whether you had reached your scheme pension age or were already getting your pension at that date, and whether money taken from your pay for your pension was not paid in.
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What does the Pension Protection Fund cover?
The PPF only protects defined benefit pensions, such as final salary and career average schemes. A pension pot (defined contribution), such as Nest, is not covered by the PPF.
When does the PPF step in?
When your employer is insolvent and its defined benefit scheme cannot pay at least what the PPF would.
How much does the PPF pay?
It pays 100% if you had reached your scheme's normal pension age when the assessment period started, or were getting an ill-health or survivor's pension. Most other members get 90%. There is no longer a cap on PPF compensation.
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Directed and published by Matt Thompson, founder of UK Work Rights. Guidance checked against GOV.UK, ACAS and legislation.gov.uk. This is general rights guidance, not legal advice.
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