Pension Changes - Auto Enrolment

Auto enrolment is essentially a new compliance function for your company and as your Trade Association we want to make sure you are in the best place to deal with the issues it presents, which is why we asked Andrew Botterill, Managing Director of Tenet Employee Benefits Solutions to come to Conference and give you a very brief ‘heads up’ on the essence of the legislation and challenges. 
  
 
The key points we want to make sure you are aware of -
 
You will all have a staging date assigned to you determined by the number of employees on your PAYE scheme as at April 2012.

2015 onwards will be the turn of the employers with 50 employees or less as at April 2012.

You will receive a notification of your staging date 1 year before staging with reminders subsequently.

You will need to establish a qualifying workplace pension scheme as at your staging date.

You will need to assess your workers (not necessarily just your employees) each time you pay them and drop them into 1 of 3 categories.

Each category has a separate list of communications which must be sent within certain time periods.

If you identify eligible employees – those between ages 22 and 65 earning over £10,000 (as at 2014/15 tax year) you must automatically put them into your pension scheme and make a deduction – the company must also pay a contribution.

You must notify the pension provider of your eligible employees – they will collect contributions and issue an opt out notice to the employee – if the employee notifies the provider within 6 weeks that they do wish to opt out then they and the company get a refund.

Individuals who do opt out must be re-enrolled every 3 years.

You must keep records.

You have decisions to make regarding the definition of pensionable salary and contributions.

There are also options around phasing contributions up to October 2018 and you can use a facility called postponement to manage resources and costs – (you cannot postpone your staging date although you can apply to bring it forward)
 
Things to bear in mind
 
Auto enrolment is potentially complex – in all likelihood you will need some kind of help
The most significant problem everyone faces is capacity – with over 40,000 companies staging this year and 130,000 companies in first quarter 2016, presents all participants with problems of finding an appropriate pension scheme, setting up your payroll, complying with your employer duties and getting someone to help you without paying the earth.  
 
Tenet can assist you with all aspects of your auto enrolment project management.

In September 2012 Tenet launched their Auto Enrolment Solution for Financial Adviser Member Firms, which provides us with the expertise and processes required for successful Auto Enrolment delivery. 

The key credentials of Tenet Employee Benefit Solutions (TEBS): 
 

Established in 1995 
Based in Henley on Thames and Leeds
Provide administration and consultancy services on the full spectrum of employee benefits, not just Auto Enrolment
Have delivered Auto Enrolment for 70 Companies and some 8000 Employees across the UK to date
Appointed to the DWP Intermediary Focus Group in 2013
Appointed to The Pension Regulator Auto enrolment user group 2014
One of 2 Intermediaries appointed to The Pension Regulator Auto Enrolment User Group
TRACS – a state of the art Auto Enrolment software system 
 
They also offer a reservation service that will ensure you have resource and expertise available when you need it and provide you with what you need to know – this would normally cost £350 +VAT however for SPA members the cost will be £200 +VAT, designed principally for last quarter 2015 and 2016/17 stagers   
 
Please find the TEBS Brochure below, along with a link to the Website:
   
http://www.tenetebs.co.uk/media/tebs/index.html
 
http://www.tenetebs.co.uk/
 
Please contact Andy Staveley on 07751 126374  to find out more details
 
Please note our address and telephone number has changed
 
Andrew Botterill                                             
Managing Director
Tenet Employee Benefit Solutions
First Floor
The Clubhouse
Badgemore Park
Henley on Thames
RG9 4NR
Tel:           0113 239 5325