Are Auto-Enrolment pension contributions set to go up?

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In January this year I mentioned that the then Minister for Pensions was openly discussing the need for an increase in the minimum level of Auto-Enrolment pension contributions.

This topic did not feature in the election debate on pensions, yet now that the dust has settled on a new majority administration Conservative government, and indeed a new Pensions Minister in the form of Dr Ros Altmann, I suspect that this subject will soon rise towards the top of the agenda again.

With this in mind, we asked more than 200 Jelf Employment Seminar delegates (mostly senior HR and Finance professionals) how they would view a further increase to the auto-enrolment contribution rates. It’s fair to say that the results of the survey (which can be seen via this link) proved something of a surprise, with a large level of employer support for any increase.

These findings have been widely reported in the employee benefits and HR media over the last few weeks, but for those looking for some additional thoughts on this topic I would refer you to my article on the Mindful Money website which can be read here.

So, on this evidence at least, it appears that there will be limited opposition to such a move from employers. Time will tell if and when the new government look to progress this issue further.

Best regards

Steve

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About the author

Steve Herbert is an award-winning thought leader on Pensions and Employee Benefit issues. His principal aim is better communicating the value and usage of employee benefits to employers. This he has achieved through many (highly successful) seminar series over the last decade, and his regular and widely read blog posts on the subject. He also acts as a judge in HR and Employee Benefits industry awards, article writer, and product innovator. Steve is a regular contributor to DWP forums and compulsive responder to formal Government Consultations on pension and employee benefit issues. He is occasionally accused of making employee benefits interesting.