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Workplace pension – what it is

A workplace pension is a way of saving for your retirement arranged through your employer. It is sometimes called a ‘company pension’, an ‘occupational pension’ or a ‘works pension’.

How this affects you

Your employer will enrol you into a workplace pension if you:

• are not already in a pension at work
• are aged 22 or over
• are under State Pension age
• earn more than £8,105.00 a year
• work in the UK

Your employer will write to you to explain how the changes affect you.

• Employers' workplace pension obligations

You can choose to opt out of this pension, if you want to. But if you stay in you’ll have your own pension, which you get when you retire.

If you’re already in a pension at work and it meets the government's new standards, this will not affect you.

Find out more about who this affects.

• Workplace pensions - how your situation affects you

• Special circumstances and your workplace pension

When this is happening

When you will be enrolled depends on the size of the organisation you work for. Very large employers are doing it first, in late 2012 and early 2013. Other employers will follow sometime after this, over several years. Your employer will give you the exact date nearer the time.

Why this is happening

People are living longer. You could be retired for twenty years and you need to think about how you’ll fund it.

The State Pension is a foundation for your retirement. But if you want to have more when you retire, you may want to consider contributing to a workplace pension. The full basic State Pension in 2012/13 is £107.45 per week for a single person.

The government is getting employers to enrol their workers automatically into a workplace pension so it's easier for people to start saving.

• State Pensions - an introduction

Benefits of staying in a workplace pension

A pension is a way of saving money to provide you with an income when you retire. There are many benefits to having a pension at work.

Your employer will pay into it. This contribution from your employer means your pension can build up more quickly than if you were saving for your retirement on your own.

The government will also pay into it, in the form of tax relief. This means some of the money you earn, instead of going to the government as income tax, now goes into your pension instead.

Your workplace pension belongs to you, even if you leave your employer in the future.

As your employer will automatically enrol you into this pension, it’s a hassle free way of saving while you earn.

Being in a workplace pension is an important step towards giving yourself the lifestyle you would like in later life.

A note about the earnings figure

Please note the earnings figure listed above, (£8,105.00 a year) may change each April. If it does, this page will be updated.

How much you, your employer and the government will pay in

Find out how much you, your employer and the government will pay in.

• Employer and government payments to workplace pensions

You’re not sure if staying in a pension is right for you

Find out what to do if you’re not sure if staying in a workplace pension is right for you.

• You're not sure if a workplace pension is right for you

How safe are pensions

If you’re not sure how safe your workplace pension is, find out more.

• Safety of workplace pension schemes

More useful links

• DWP Workplace Pension Information Line

• Saving for retirement

• Information for employers Opens new window