Auto-Enrolment FAQ

What is happening?

Employees may be aware that with new legislation every employee who earns more that £8,105 p.a. (£9,440 from April 2013) will be automatically enrolled into a pension scheme. This process will commence on 1 March 2013. 

What does this mean for you?

This initiative will not affect individuals who are members of existing schemes (eg USS,OSPS, NHSPS). All new employees joining after 1 March will continue to be automatically enrolled into a pension scheme. Anyone who is eligible and who is not contributing to a pension scheme on 1 June 2013 will be automatically enrolled. 

To be eligible for automatic enrolment, an individual needs to meet the following criteria:

• they are not in a qualifying pension scheme;
• they earn more than £8,105 p.a. (£9,440 from April 2013);
• they are aged 22 and over but are under state pension age;
• they work or usually work in the United Kingdom.

What happens if you don’t want to be in a pension scheme?

You can decide if you want to remain in the pension scheme once you have been automatically enrolled. Although the law requires you to opt out within one calendar month of being automatically enrolled in order to receive a full refund of your contributions, USS and OSPS does so if opting out within three months of enrolment. An exception to this may apply to individuals who already have two years scheme membership.

How do you opt out?

If you don’t want to be in the pension scheme, you can opt out by following the instructions on the joining letter that you will receive from the scheme; or

Following the instructions on the relevant scheme’s website:

USS

If you are on an academic or academic-related pay scale, you are automatically a member of USS (Universities Superannuation Scheme).

For further information on the USS Pension Scheme, please refer to the USS Scheme Guide.

OSPS

If you are on a pay scale other than academic or academic-related (e.g. clerical and library; ancillary, parks and gardens;) you are automatically a member of OSPS (University of Oxford Staff Pension Scheme).

For further information on the OSPS Pension Scheme please refer to the OSPS Joining page.

Who can you ask if you have a question?

If you have any questions you can contact the appropriate team in the Pensions Office. Or alternatively, email ox.autoenrolment@admin.ox.ac.uk

I’m not a University employee. Will I be affected?

As well as employees of all types the auto-enrolment duties also cover short-term casual staff, casual or irregular teachers, personal services consultants, invigilators and examiners. 

The duties do not apply to anyone working for another employer e.g. agency workers, contract service workers, inward secondees and self-employed contractors.

Auto-enrolment will apply to colleges later in 2013.