UCL Human Resources - Pension auto enrolment

Pension Auto Enrolment

The government has introduced auto enrolment regulations effective from 1 October 2012 (for large employers) to encourage greater employee participation in workplace pensions. UCL will be applying a Postponement period from its staging date of 1 March 2013 and will begin to auto enrol its qualifying employees with effect from 1 June 2013.

UCL's Commitment to its Employees

UCL is committed to providing access to a pension scheme if you are under age 75 and work in the UK. UCL must by law continue to maintain your membership of a pension scheme that meets the governments standards; and If your membership of the scheme ends (and it is not because of something you do or fail to do), UCL must by law put you into another scheme that meets the government standards.

Existing Members of a Pension Scheme

You will not be automatically enrolled if you are already a member of a UCL Pension Scheme:

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS)
Superannuation Arrangements of the University of London (SAUL)
National Health Service Pension Scheme (NHSPS)

UCL Pension Schemes are all qualifying pension schemes which means that they meet or exceed the government’s new standards.

Non Members of a Pension Scheme

If you are not a member of a Pension Scheme (USS/SAUL/NHS) because you:

Have previously Opted Out of a scheme
Have not joined a pension scheme
Are employed on an As and When contract or engaged on a casual basis
Have Fixed Protection and have withdrawn from making further scheme contributions
Have been re-employed following retirement from USS, SAUL or NHSPS

It is important that you read the applicable section in this document which will explain how Auto Enrolment will affect you.

Previously Opted Out or not a member of a Pension Scheme

If you are a Regular Contractual Employee and are under state pension age, UCL will automatically enrol you from 1 June 2013 into the Career Average Revalued Earnings section of :

SAUL – If you are employed on a grade 1 - 6
USS – If you are employed on grade 6b or above

This applies even if you have previously withdrawn from membership of one of the schemes. You have the right to join USS or SAUL before 1 June 2013 (please see the Opting-In Section).

If you are over State Pension Age https://www.gov.uk/calculate-state-pension but under age 75 you will not be automatically enrolled into USS or SAUL. This is because you do not meet the criteria set by the government. However, you have the right to join the scheme if you want to (Please see the Opting-In section).

You can choose to opt out of the scheme if you want to (please see the Opting-Out section).

As and When Employee /Casual Worker

If you are an As and When Employee /Casual Worker, your earnings will be assessed and you will be automatically enrolled into a pension scheme if your earnings exceed the Auto Enrolment earnings threshold (earnings over £786* per month *2013/2014 tax year).

You can choose to opt out of the scheme if you want to (please see Opting-Out section).

If your earnings are less than £786 per month* you will not qualify to be auto enrolled. However, your earnings will continue to be monitored should your earnings qualify you for auto enrolment at a later date. Similarly, if you are under age 22 or over state pension age and below age 75 you will not qualify for automatic enrolment. However, you have the right to join SAUL if you want to (please see Opting-Out section).

Fixed Protection

Under the legislation employees who have withdrawn from contributing to a UCL pension scheme to negate any further relevant accrual of benefits will be re-enrolled from 1 June 2013. Employees in this position have the option of withdrawing/opting out of the scheme in June 2013 to retain Fixed Protection.

Employees with Fixed Protection should contact Pension Services by email to pensions@ucl.ac.uk before 1 June 2013 to notify Pension Services if they wish to withdraw from the scheme within the first month of re-enrolment.

Further Communications related to the preservation of Fixed Protection will be issued by Pension Services.

Re-Employed Following Retirement

USS apply an age related pension percentage contribution rate to employees who are in receipt of a USS pension; this rate is in addition to the standard contribution rate.

Opting-In

If you want to join USS or SAUL now, please contact Pension Services by e-mail to pensions@ucl.ac.uk or in writing stating that 'I confirm I personally submitted this notice to join a workplace pension scheme'.

Opting-Out

You can choose to opt out of the scheme if you want to, but if you stay in you will have your own pension which you get when you retire. UCL and you will pay into USS or SAUL every month. The government will also contribute through tax relief.

If you are auto enrolled into a UCL Pension Scheme, further details will be sent to you including a section on opting out of the scheme.

Further Information

Further information on UCL Pension Schemes and Auto Enrolment can be found on:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/pensions - UCL Pension Services
https://www.gov.uk/workplace-pensions - Department for Work and Pensions
http://www.saul.org.uk - SAUL
http://www.uss.co.uk – USS
http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions - NHS
http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/automatic-enrolment.aspx – The Pensions Regulator
http://www.gov.uk/browse/working/workplace-personal-pensions – Workplace Pensions