We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide

Friend has 2 'workplace pensions'???

Hi all.
Very briefly, a friend mentioned to me today that he has 'two workplace pensions'. When I asked him what he meant, he said "I have the company one that I signed up to when I joined up and the other one which is a workplace pension'. I asked what he meant as the one he signed up to when he joined the company was his workplace pension and he said "The other one is the one that you have to join and I can't opt out'.

Please can I as if anyone has any idea what he could mean?

Comments

  • "The other one is the one that you have to join and I can't opt out'.

    State Pension. If you're earning enough you can't avoid paying the National Insurance :p
  • enthusiasticsaver
    enthusiasticsaver Posts: 16,253 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Maybe he makes AVCs on top of his occupational pension?
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free Wannabe, Budgeting and Banking and Savings and Investment boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
    Save £12k in 2026 Challenge £12000/£2000
    365 day 1p Challenge 2026 £667.95/£110
    Click on this link for a Statement of Accounts that can be posted on the DebtFree Wannabe board: https://lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php
  • xylophone
    xylophone Posts: 45,912 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Perhaps there was originally a DB scheme which is closed and he now contributes to a DC Scheme?

    Perhaps an old DC scheme was closed and an auto enrolment compatible scheme opened?
  • Unless he originally paid into a company pension scheme and then the company started an auto enrolment scheme and he either thinks he has one of these too or he was mistakenly enrolled into this also and so does have 2 schemes
  • Unless he originally paid into a company pension scheme and then the company started an auto enrolment scheme and he either thinks he has one of these too or he was mistakenly enrolled into this also and so does have 2 schemes

    Why would that be a mistake though?
    Can't you have 2?
    Goals
    Save £12k in 2017 #016 (£4212.06 / £10k) (42.12%)
    Save £12k in 2016 #041 (£4558.28 / £6k) (75.97%)
    Save £12k in 2014 #192 (£4115.62 / £5k) (82.3%)
  • buel10
    buel10 Posts: 470 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    Finally got it, my friends:
    One pension contribution was 'EE' and the other was 'ER'. Obviously I explained to my friend that one was Employer contribution and the other was Employee contribution. Drama over ;)

    Sorry for the confusion.
  • buel10 wrote: »
    Finally got it, my friends:
    One pension contribution was 'EE' and the other was 'ER'. Obviously I explained to my friend that one was Employer contribution and the other was Employee contribution. Drama over ;)

    Sorry for the confusion.
    TBH what you originally described does seem somewhat common. I have come across people who were in one pension scheme when they joined. Then auto-enrolment came along and a new scheme was started and they are in both now!
  • Ask to see the schemes handbooks
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 353.6K Banking & Borrowing
  • 254.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 455.1K Spending & Discounts
  • 246.6K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 603K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 178.1K Life & Family
  • 260.6K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.