Who should be auto enrolled? | Help and support

I’m employed by an agency. Do I need to be auto-enrolled?

archie.homer — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 15:02:12 +0000

In most cases the answer to this question will be yes. If you have a contract to perform work or services for an agency, then you’ll be eligible for auto- enrolment in your agency’s scheme (this depends on your earnings level and age). However, sometimes agencies provide workers who are genuinely self-employed and such workers are excluded from being enrolled under the rules.

If you’re not sure whether the auto-enrolment requirements apply to you, please contact your agency.

For more information see The Pensions Regulator assessing the workforce.

I work part-time. Do I need to be auto-enrolled?

archie.homer — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 15:02:11 +0000

You must be treated the same as a full-time worker. So, you’ll be assessed according to your age and earnings on your employer’s duties start date and every time the payroll is run.

For more information see The Pensions Regulator assessing the workforce.

I’m a casual worker. Do I need to be auto-enrolled?

archie.homer — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 15:02:11 +0000

You must be treated the same as a full-time worker. So, you’ll be assessed according to your age and earnings on your employer’s duties start date and every time the payroll is run.

For more information see The Pensions Regulator assessing the workforce.

I’m on a zero hours contract – do I need to be automatically enrolled?

archie.homer — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 15:02:11 +0000

If you’re on a zero hours contract, you’ll need to be assessed on your age and how much you’re paid (just like anyone else). Your employer might postpone the date you’ll be put into a workplace pension for a period of up to 3 months and if so:

If your contract of employment ends before the end of the postponement period, your employer doesn’t have to auto-enrol you at the end of your contract. However, you can contact your employer and ask to join the scheme during this period.
If you’re re-employed, your employer can use postponement again, but only if any previous postponement period has finished.

I’m a director and the sole employee of my company, do the automatic enrolment rules apply to me?

archie.homer — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 15:02:10 +0000

There’s a general exemption from auto-enrolment for all company directors. The effect of this is that a company may still choose to auto-enrol its directors (and, if it does, all of the usual duties will apply) but it’ll not be required to do so.

If you’re the director of a company with no other employees, you’ll now need to notify The Pensions Regulator that you’re not an employer and so have no automatic duties. To do this click here.

For more information see The Pensions Regulator assessing the workforce.

I’m a self-employed contractor/consultant. Do I have to be automatically enrolled?

archie.homer — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 15:02:10 +0000

No. Genuine self-employed contractors/consultants are normally excluded from the auto- enrolment requirements. In order to work out whether you fall under this category, these type of individuals can send a substitute in their place or are carrying on a business undertaking – ie:

by taking on financial risk
supplying tools/equipment
establishing their own working arrangements
being paid a fixed fee based on completion
not being integrated into the employer’s organisation.

For more information see The Pensions Regulator assessing the workforce.

I’m a non-UK national. Do I have to be automatically enrolled?

archie.homer — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 15:02:09 +0000

Auto-enrolment duties apply equally to a non-UK national as well as to a UK national, as long as the employee is working or ordinarily working in the UK.

For more information see The Pensions Regulator assessing the workforce.

I work abroad but I’m on a UK payroll. Do I have to be automatically enrolled?

archie.homer — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 15:01:37 +0000

If you’re not working in the UK, your employer will need to identify whether you ‘ordinarily’ work in the UK. The most important factor is where you’re based. Your employer will need to assess:

where you begin and end your work
where your head office is
where your private residence is, or is intended to be
whether you pay National Insurance contributions in the UK
what currency you’re paid in.

Will I get put into a pension scheme automatically?

archie.homer — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 15:01:35 +0000

If you’re aged between 22 and the age you’ll get your State Pension, and earn more than £10,000 a year / £833 a month / £192 a week, you’ll be auto-enrolled by your employer. And both you and your employer will have to contribute to your pension savings.

If you’re aged at least 16 and under 75, earn above the lower earnings level for qualifying earnings (currently £6,240 each year or £120 per week), but below the earnings trigger for auto-enrolment (currently £10,000 each year or £192 per week) or – aged at least 16 and under 22, or between the State Pension age and under 75, and earn above the earnings trigger for auto-enrolment, which is currently £10,000 each year or £192 a week – you won’t be auto-enrolled by your employer. However, you can choose to opt in and pay contributions, and if so, your employer will also have to contribute.
If you’re age 16-74 and you earn less than £6,240 a year / £520 a month / £120 a week, you won’t be auto-enrolled by your employer. You’re still ‘entitled’ to join but you wouldn’t be entitled to any contributions from your employer.