Help if your employer fails to pay into your pension

You can usually check your pension statement online or by asking your pension provider for a copy. Study it carefully to make sure there are regular payments in.

The amounts might not match the pension deductions on your payslip, as they depend on how tax relief is added (the amount you would normally have paid in Income Tax).

For example, your pension statement will usually show higher amounts than your payslip if the pension provider adds the tax relief.

If you’re worried the amounts are different, ask your employer to explain the method they use. 

For more information, see our full guide about tax relief on pension contributions. 

After you’re paid, your employer must usually pass your contribution to your pension scheme by the 22nd of the following month, or 19th if they pay by cheque.  

Your employer will also agree a set date with the pension provider to pay:

• their employer contributions, including if they pay into a personal or stakeholder pension for you (usually one you set up yourself), and

• any contributions you make by salary sacrifice. 

Your employer should be able to tell you this date.

Your employer must automatically contribute to your pension if you’re between the ages of 22 and your State Pension ageOpens in a new window, and earn more than £10,000 a year.

If you’re aged between 17 and 75 and earn £6,240 to £10,000 a year, you’ll need to ask your employer to join a pension scheme. If you do, they must contribute. 

If you earn less than £6,240 a year, you can still ask to join the pension scheme, but your employer can choose whether to contribute.

For more information, including how much your employer must pay in, see our guide How pension auto-enrolment works. 

If you notice missing or late pension contributions, tell your employer. It’s best to do this in writing so you can keep track of everything. 

They should investigate what has happened and explain how they’ll make any payments you’re owed.

You can also ask for compensation if you’ve lost out financially because of the mistake, or it’s taken you time and effort to resolve the problem. 

If your employer has stopped trading, you can claim any missed pension contributions in the 12 months before they closed from the National Insurance Fund. 

This will usually be done for you by your pension administrator or those responsible for dealing with your employer’s closure.

For more help, see our guide What happens to your pension if your employer goes out of business.

If you’re unhappy with the way your employer handled your complaint, or if they haven’t responded after eight weeks, you can complain to The Pensions OmbudsmanOpens in a new window

The Pensions Ombudsman will investigate your complaint for free, looking at the facts without taking sides. Your employer must do whatever they decide, which could include paying:

• all missing pension contributions, and

• compensation for stress, inconvenience, lost investment growth or interest.

If your missing payments are 90 days late or more, your pension provider or trustees must report your employer to The Pensions Regulator. You should be told when this happens.

If you don’t get any notice of this happening, you can also report missing payments to The Pensions RegulatorOpens in a new window yourself. 

The Pensions Regulator will look at your concern and decide what it needs to do to put things right, including telling your employer to pay your contributions and pay them a fine.

You might be contacted for more information, but you usually won’t be told the outcome of your complaint.