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Auto enrolment in NEST?

dream_on
dream_on Posts: 13 Forumite
Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
Hi,
I retired from my NHS post in August, taking my lump sum, pension £16,910 per year. I obtained another job in NHS salary £27.000 for 18 months taking me to state pension age. I'm not sure if I will retire full time at that point. I have received a booklet telling me I have been auto enrolled in NEST
Is this a good thing to continue? How would I know how much my employer (NHS) is contributing? It says I can put extra money in which I can afford as my salary plus pension is more than I was earning full time. Would this be a good idea?
I am 61 and have complied with the NHS pension rules.
I am not sure which tax bracket I am now in.
Thanks

Comments

  • dunstonh
    dunstonh Posts: 120,033 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Is this a good thing to continue?

    yes. The alternative is turning down free money.
    How would I know how much my employer (NHS) is contributing?

    Either read the documentation supplied or ask your employer.
    t says I can put extra money in which I can afford as my salary plus pension is more than I was earning full time. Would this be a good idea?

    Depends on your financial needs and objectives. It could be but it may not be.
    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). The comments I make are just my opinion and are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice and you should not treat them as such. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.
  • Your_Hero
    Your_Hero Posts: 883 Forumite
    dream_on wrote: »
    Hi,
    I retired from my NHS post in August, taking my lump sum, pension £16,910 per year. I obtained another job in NHS salary £27.000 for 18 months taking me to state pension age. I'm not sure if I will retire full time at that point. I have received a booklet telling me I have been auto enrolled in NEST
    Is this a good thing to continue?
    Free money, why not?
    How would I know how much my employer (NHS) is contributing?
    It should tell you. The minimum they must pay is 1% of your salary currently (rising to 3% ultimately). But your employer may be paying more.

    Currently, an absolute minimum of 2% total contribution must be paid (e.g. 1% from employer, 1% from you).
    I am not sure which tax bracket I am now in.
    Thanks
    Your pension + your employment income makes you a higher rate tax payer (40%). So it would be a good idea to pay more into the pension.
    Stephen Covey once said that "when you teach once, you learn twice". That is the primary reason for my participation on the forums as an IFA.

    Although I strive to provide accurate information in my posts, there may be the odd time when I fail. Yes I know it's hard to believe but even Your Hero can make mistakes. Apologies in advance.
  • Quote:
    Originally Posted by dream on View Post
    Hi,
    I retired from my NHS post in August, taking my lump sum, pension £16,910 per year. I obtained another job in NHS salary £27.000 for 18 months taking me to state pension age. I'm not sure if I will retire full time at that point. I have received a booklet telling me I have been auto enrolled in NEST
    Is this a good thing to continue?
    Free money, why not?

    Quote:
    How would I know how much my employer (NHS) is contributing?
    It should tell you. The minimum they must pay is 1% of your salary currently (rising to 3% ultimately). But your employer may be paying more.

    Currently, an absolute minimum of 2% total contribution must be paid (e.g. 1% from employer, 1% from you).

    Quote:
    I am not sure which tax bracket I am now in.
    Thanks
    Your pension + your employment income makes you a higher rate tax payer (40%). So it would be a good idea to pay more into the pension.
    Thank you, so if I put enough money into NEST i don't pay 40% tax?
    How much would I need to put in? Sorry, never had to deal with this before
  • Enough to bring you down to Basic rate tax, i.e. £31,866 plus your personal allowance (£10,000 still I assume).

    Without knowing your other income it's hard to say. But assuming nothing else, the minimum you should pay is about £2,000 gross, which is £1,600 net. Claim a further £400 tax rebate by phoning/writing to HMRC (don't need to complete self-assessment if this is all).

    But NEST currently has an annual contribution limit of £4,600, so it really depends on what your and your employer's contributions are.
    Stephen Covey once said that "when you teach once, you learn twice". That is the primary reason for my participation on the forums as an IFA.

    Although I strive to provide accurate information in my posts, there may be the odd time when I fail. Yes I know it's hard to believe but even Your Hero can make mistakes. Apologies in advance.
  • dream_on
    dream_on Posts: 13 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Thank you, so if my total income is a maximum of £45000 I could put extra £3500 in, assume nhs put 1% equals £270 and they take 1% £270 out of my salary before I get it?

    Haven't any confidence in payroll at present since its external now to local organisation, had lots of issues re processing pension etc so any advice welcome :)
  • Your_Hero
    Your_Hero Posts: 883 Forumite
    edited 2 November 2014 at 2:12PM
    Sounds about right. Ideally, if you don't need the pension income (if £27,000 is enough to live on anyway), either pay most/all of that into the pension. It will just be spent if you don't. Alternatively, you could open a NISA with some of the income and diversify the products you have.
    Stephen Covey once said that "when you teach once, you learn twice". That is the primary reason for my participation on the forums as an IFA.

    Although I strive to provide accurate information in my posts, there may be the odd time when I fail. Yes I know it's hard to believe but even Your Hero can make mistakes. Apologies in advance.
  • Hi.

    I'm temping but my temp job recruitment agency will automatically enrol me into pension from mid-january. I think under new government rules. Just wanted advice - about whether it is worth putting extra money in or pulling the money out totally (if that is easy to do). I know very little about this subject. Think I may be start things myself earlier before automatic enrolment - not sure though. This is just a temp job and it very likely may even end in January.

    Just wanted some advice as I know so little about this all.... thank you.

    It is with NEST.
  • dunstonh
    dunstonh Posts: 120,033 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Hi.

    I'm temping but my temp job recruitment agency will automatically enrol me into pension from mid-january. I think under new government rules. Just wanted advice - about whether it is worth putting extra money in or pulling the money out totally (if that is easy to do). I know very little about this subject. Think I may be start things myself earlier before automatic enrolment - not sure though. This is just a temp job and it very likely may even end in January.

    Just wanted some advice as I know so little about this all.... thank you.

    It is with NEST.

    answered on your triplicate post https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5141858
    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). The comments I make are just my opinion and are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice and you should not treat them as such. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.
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