Where to start...

Alexland

TheGardener wrote: »

Her NI contributions are actually pretty much full although the amounts per year vary quite a lot.

Good but even small gaps could be worth plugging if they are stopping her getting a qualifying year.

Flying_Dodo

TheGardener wrote: »

She checked at work today but they said the administration involved for her to join now with just 3 months remaining on her contract was pointless.

Mmm - that's just a cop-out by her employer. The auto-enrolment procedure for any scheme is generally very automated. They just don't want to have to pay their money in for her! In fact that sort of comment is specifically not allowed, as employers can't be seen be encouraging opt-outs. She should have been automatically included in the scheme from the commencement of employment.

atush

TheGardener wrote: »

Thanks for all you replies. Simplicity of management is a key factor.
She checked at work today but they said the administration involved for her to join now with just 3 months remaining on her contract was pointless. She can't be that unusual these days in only being able to access short term contract work? I sort of wondered if there was some sort of simple portable pension pot you carried around to each employer but that seems unlikely from what folk have said.
Her NI contributions are actually pretty much full although the amounts per year vary quite a lot.
She has promised that she will join whatever work place pension is available with the next contract but based on her previous work history - if the future is more of the same its going to get increasingly difficult to keep track of multiple tiny pension pots.

She doenst need to keep track- if she arranges transfer to the next or to a personal pension after leaving.

It is a shame she took so long to join, but really they can do it in a month so may be putting her off to save money. Esp should she stay there. Not even sure if legally they can say no? with auto enrollment etc.

xylophone

https://worksmart.org.uk/work-rights/pay-and-contracts/pay/am-i-entitled-workplace-pension

http://help.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/faq/general/Temporary-Staff

TheGardener

xylophone wrote: »

https://worksmart.org.uk/work-rights/pay-and-contracts/pay/am-i-entitled-workplace-pension

http://help.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/faq/general/Temporary-Staff

This is really helpful. After a frank conversation based on this tread - it turns out she did opt-out last year:mad:
So now I (and a reality check on life post 68 years old without a personal pension.) have her attention, she is going to op-in to her works pension despite the short contract and try and 'carry it round with her' in future.
Thanks for all the replies

atush

(and a reality check on life post 68 years old without a personal pension

Glad you are helping her. But why didnt anyone help you? 68 and no P pension?

badmemory

atush wrote: »

Glad you are helping her. But why didnt anyone help you? 68 and no P pension?

This is normal if you had a job which didn't have a pension. I didn't have one until my early 50s when I was not well paid. It & also annuity rates tanked just before I was due to take it - aged 72 I am taking it & it is nearly the same as it would have been just before I was 65.

enthusiasticsaver

Well done on drawing this to her attention. Extremely unwise to opt out of WPS. Very short term thinking but I bet there are others like her.

TheGardener

atush wrote: »

Glad you are helping her. But why didn't anyone help you? 68 and no P pension?

Sorry - I do have a pension, I didn't mean to imply I did not. But another relative does not and is living on state pension and benefits - I family chat was a great wake up call - My niece is well aware of how much another uncle struggles.