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Reduce work pension contribution

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Hi,

I currently pay 5% to my pension at work. Is it possible to reduce this to 3% and then go back to 5% again at a later date?

Thanks

Comments

  • Almost certainly.

    Ask your employer.

    But it may mean you get lower matching contributions, so could prove to be a very expensive way to "save" money.
  • jem16
    jem16 Posts: 19,636 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    avfc82 wrote: »
    Hi,

    I currently pay 5% to my pension at work. Is it possible to reduce this to 3% and then go back to 5% again at a later date?

    Thanks

    That depends on the type of pension it is. If it is a Defined Benefit pension, the answer is more than likely to be no.
  • avfc82
    avfc82 Posts: 83 Forumite
    jem16 wrote: »
    That depends on the type of pension it is. If it is a Defined Benefit pension, the answer is more than likely to be no.

    How would I know if it's a "Defined Benefit pension"?
  • kangoora
    kangoora Posts: 1,193 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    avfc82 wrote: »
    How would I know if it's a "Defined Benefit pension"?

    Often referred to as 'Final Salary' pensions. If your pension on retirement is based upon your salary x (times) the amount of years you worked for the company then it is a Defined Benefit pension

    Or you could just ask your HR, payroll or pension company the same question :)
  • atush
    atush Posts: 18,731 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I'd carefully before doing this, even if you can. AS usually people always have a better reason not to increase again. Or just forget to.

    If you lose employers contributions it is a Hugely Bad idea.

    5% of your salary after tax relief isn't very big so you wont save that as your contributions would then have tax and NI taken off.

    Better to economize elsewhere first- have you done a spending diary? Many people waste a lot w/o knowing it. such as 80-100 a month on fancy coffees, or over 100 buying sandwiches.

    Have you MSE'd all your other outgoings? Such as insurance, utilities, phones etc?
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