How Do I Find Out If My Employer Is Paying Into My Pension

Understanding how workplace pensions work

Under the UK’s auto-enrolment rules, most employees are automatically enrolled into a workplace pension scheme when they meet certain criteria. Employers and employees both pay into the pension, and the government adds tax relief to help savings grow.

Your employer is responsible for setting up the scheme, deducting your contributions from pay, and sending both their share and yours to the pension provider each month.

By law, employers must contribute a minimum of 3% of your qualifying earnings, while employees pay at least 5%, bringing the total minimum to 8%. Many employers choose to pay more as part of a staff benefits package.

Signs your employer should be contributing

You should normally be receiving pension contributions from your employer if you:

Earn more than £10,000 per year (and are aged between 22 and State Pension age)

Work under a UK employment contract

Have not opted out of auto-enrolment

If you meet these conditions, your employer must make regular payments to your pension scheme.

Checking your payslip for pension deductions

Your payslip is the first place to check. It should clearly show:

The amount of your pension contribution deducted from your salary

Your employer’s contribution amount (if included)

The name of your pension scheme or provider

If you cannot see any pension details or deductions, ask your payroll or HR department for clarification. Sometimes the employer contribution is not shown separately but should still appear in your pension account.

Using your pension provider’s online account

Most workplace pension providers, such as NEST, The People’s Pension, Aviva, or Scottish Widows, allow you to log in online. Once logged in, you can view your balance, contribution history, and the date of the last payment received from your employer.

If the most recent contribution appears to be missing, remember there can sometimes be a short delay between payroll processing and the funds appearing in your pension account. Normally, contributions should show up within a few weeks of payday.

Asking your employer or HR department

If your online pension account or payslip does not make things clear, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask your employer directly. Contact your HR or payroll team and ask for:

Confirmation of which pension scheme you’re enrolled in

The dates and amounts of recent employer contributions

Any delays or errors that might have affected payments

Employers are required to provide this information, and most will resolve any issues quickly once they are aware.

Contacting your pension provider

If you suspect that contributions are missing or not being paid correctly, you can contact your pension provider directly. Give them your personal details and ask for a record of all contributions received in the past 12 months.

If the provider confirms that some months are missing, you can then take the information back to your employer to investigate. Keep written records of all communication in case the issue needs to be escalated later.

What to do if payments are missing

If you find that your employer has not been paying contributions when they should, there are several steps you can take:

Speak to your employer first. Errors can happen in payroll or during a scheme change, and many are fixed quickly once identified.

Contact The Pensions Regulator. If your employer refuses to resolve the issue, you can report them online to The Pensions Regulator, which oversees workplace pension compliance.

Check with your pension provider. They may also report non-payment to The Pensions Regulator if they notice missing contributions.

Employers who fail to pay pension contributions can face enforcement action and financial penalties.

Understanding your pension contribution timeline

Employers have strict deadlines for making pension payments. Contributions must be paid to the provider by the 22nd day of the month following the payroll date (or the 19th if paying by cheque).

For example, if you’re paid on 30 June, all contributions for that pay period should reach your pension provider by 22 July at the latest. If payments are consistently delayed, that could indicate a compliance issue worth reporting.

Keeping track of your pension records

It’s good practice to keep your own pension records to make monitoring easier. Keep copies of your payslips, employer communication, and any pension statements. Most pension providers send annual statements showing how much has been contributed and how your savings are performing.

If you move jobs or change schemes, make sure you note down the old pension provider’s name and policy number so you can trace it later.

Common reasons for missing contributions

Missing or delayed contributions don’t always mean misconduct. Common causes include:

Administrative errors when setting up new employees in the pension system

Payroll software glitches

Incorrect pension scheme settings or contribution rates

Delays in transferring money to the pension provider

These can usually be corrected once identified. However, consistent non-payment or avoidance should be reported.

The role of The Pensions Regulator

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) is responsible for ensuring employers comply with auto-enrolment rules. They have powers to investigate, demand repayment, and issue fines to employers who fail to pay.

If you make a report, TPR will review the case and contact your employer if necessary. You can also remain anonymous if you wish.

Tax relief and contributions

When your employer pays into your pension, you also benefit from tax relief. This means that some of the money that would have gone to HMRC as income tax instead goes into your pension. If contributions are missing, you could be losing not only your employer’s payments but also this valuable tax boost.

Checking regularly helps ensure you’re receiving the full benefit you’re entitled to.

What if you’ve opted out or changed jobs

If you opted out of your workplace pension, your employer will have stopped making contributions. You can opt back in at any time by contacting your employer.

If you’ve recently changed jobs, check whether you were automatically enrolled into your new employer’s scheme. There may be a short gap before contributions start while payroll is updated.

Practical tips to stay on top of your pension

Check your payslip every month for pension deductions

Log in to your pension account regularly to review payments

Keep all statements and correspondence in a safe place

Ask HR to confirm your contribution percentage and payment dates

Act quickly if something looks wrong

By staying proactive, you can ensure your retirement savings stay on track and that your employer is meeting their obligations.

Final thoughts

Most employers handle pension contributions correctly, but it’s always wise to check. Your pension is a key part of your long-term financial wellbeing, and regular monitoring helps you protect it.

By reviewing your payslips, logging into your pension account, and asking questions when something doesn’t add up, you’ll have peace of mind that your employer is paying what they should.

If you ever suspect otherwise, you have clear rights and straightforward ways to get the issue resolved.