Help Centre for Employers
- Resource Library
- Collateral
- Help Articles
- Setting Up
- Signing Up
- About Auto Enrolment
- About NOW: Pensions
- Scheme Administration
Resource Library - Collateral
Collateral - Introduction
This section offers you a full guide to everything you need to know about Auto Enrolment and your responsibilities, whether you are an employer, payroll bureau or an adviser.
This section contains an interesting collection of policy findings, reports and white papers.
Documents in this section will help you sign up to the NOW: Pensions scheme, set up your Direct Debits and help with communications.
Find out how to login, verify company details, employer/admin role account setup, postponement decisions and importing employee data in this section.
These resources will guide you through everything you need to know about NOW: Pensions and what we offer to our clients and members
Everything an employee needs to know about auto enrolment and the NOW: Pensions scheme can be found here. Including some useful templates for to help you communicate with them.
This section contains everything you need to know about managing your NOW: Pensions Gateway site.
This section includes logging in for the first time, creating additional users for the site, verifying client’s details, setting up client’s payroll details, importing client data, retrieving opt in and opt out data and viewing, amending employee Data and much more.
Resource Library - About auto enrolment
This section offers you a full guide to everything you need to know about Auto Enrolment and your responsibilities, whether you are an employer, payroll bureau or an adviser.
An Employee’s Guide to Auto Enrolment
A straightforward and easy-to-read guide to auto enrolment into a workplace pension which explains auto enrolment from an employee’s perspective. |
brochure | |
An introduction to auto enrolment
A guide to help explain the rules and regulations around auto enrolment including summary of auto enrolment, eligibility of a workforce (eligible jobholders, entitled workers and non-eligible jobholders), timings, member costs and postponement. |
brochure | |
Step by step guide to auto enrolment
This step by step guide will help you understand what is expected of you and how employees may be affected. The steps are broken down into the following categories: Staging/duties start dates and planning, Scheme selection, Scheme design and contributions, Payroll integration, Assessing workers, Postponement, Communications, Record keeping and reporting. |
brochure | |
Member booklet
Welcome to the NOW: Pensions Trust, your workplace pension scheme. Our member booklet will help you understand your workplace pension and the importance of saving for your retirement. It also explains where your money is invested, how tax relief on your pension contributions works, the charges we make, how to transfer pension savings in, and what you can do with your money when you retire. |
brochure | |
Understanding auto re-enrolment
This document describes the process an employer must follow roughly every three years from their staging/duties start date. |
brochure | |
PowerPoint: Introducing your workplace pension
A presentation for employees which welcomes them to the scheme, explaining charges, contributions, additional voluntary contributions, opting out and more. You can present this to employees when they first join the scheme. |
template | |
3 minute guide to NOW: Pensions
An introduction to NOW: Pensions briefly detailing our key services, investment proposition and presenting our Board of Trustees. |
brochure | |
Initial and ongoing employer duties
A two page document displaying an employer’s roles and responsibilities, post their auto enrolment staging/duties start date including information on postponement, the first payroll file submission and information required for the declaration of compliance with The Pensions Regulator. |
brochure | |
For members: What can you do with your pension pot
Changes to pension regulations mean that you have several ways to take your money. If you’re aged 55, or older, you can take your pension savings without having to buy an annuity. Our helpful leaflet contains information about the pension choices available to you through the NOW: Pensions Trust and guidance about the things you need to think about when deciding what to do with your pension savings. |
brochure |
Resource Library - Reports & white papers
This section contains an interesting collection of policy findings, reports and white papers.
Pensions Policy Institute report: An international comparison of employer and employee contributions in DC Pensions Schemes
This report, published by the Pensions Policy Institute, commissioned by NOW: Pensions, explores different factors related to, and country experiences of, employer/employee contribution balances, comparing the UK to countries that have nationwide automatic enrolment schemes. |
reports | |
Pensions Policy Institute report into automatic enrolment changes
This report, published by the Pensions Policy Institute, commissioned by NOW: Pensions, examines the impact of removing the auto enrolment trigger and the “qualifying earnings” bands. |
reports | |
Value for money – Assessing value for money in defined contribution default funds
This report published by the Pensions Institute, explores whether the cost of membership offers value for money to the ‘average’ member. It looks at preliminary quantitative and qualitative findings of Caveat Venditor and provides fresh analysis. |
reports | |
Pensions 2022 – A vision of the future
“Pensions 2022 – a vision of the future” is a white paper report that brings together the views of eleven industry experts and commentators on what they hope the world of pensions will look like in 2022 – ten years on from the introduction of auto enrolment – and what they believe needs to happen to make their vision a reality. |
whitepapers | |
Policy of Social Responsibility in Investments – NOW: Pensions Trust
The Policy of Social Responsibility sets out the principles and policies adopted by NOW: Pension Trustee Limited in investing the assets of NOW: Pensions Trust. |
videos |
Resource Library - Signing up
Documents in this section will help you sign up to the NOW: Pensions scheme, set up your Direct Debits and help with communications.
Direct Debit Instruction for contributions
A form for employers to complete and return to NOW: Pensions with instructions for their bank to pay for deducting contributions. |
form | |
Direct Debit instruction for charges
A form for employers to complete and return to NOW: Pensions with instructions for their bank to pay for deducting charges, if applicable. |
form | |
For employers: Guide to signing up to the NOW: Pensions scheme
This document outlines the online sign up process. It explains the steps that need to be taken, the information you will need to get started and what NOW: Pensions has to offer. |
brochure |
Resource Library - Employer site set up
Find out how to login, verify company details, employer/admin role account setup, postponement decisions and importing employee data in this section.
Guide to Common Errors and Warnings
This guide highlights some of the most frequent errors (in no particular order) encountered when uploading payroll files the NOW: Pensions Gateway and provides guidance to overcome these issues should they arise. |
brochure | |
Guide to Employee Action File
This document sets out the specification for the file format and content relating to the Payroll interface that will be provided by NOW: Pensions at the beginning of the pay cycle. |
brochure | |
Auto enrolment duties for new businesses
The NOW: Pensions guide for to enrolment duties for new employers. Any business that first employed staff on, or after 1st October 2017 has auto enrolment duties as soon as they employ someone for the first time. |
brochure | |
Gateway Member Matching Guide
The NOW: Pensions Gateway matching guide to help you check over the data in your pensions data file, and cross reference this with the data already held in our database. |
brochure | |
NOW: Pensions Gateway user guide
The NOW: Pensions Gateway provides employers with a simple and modern interface to manage pension submissions for their employees. |
brochure | |
Your data files explained
This guide has been created to help you understand what a good file looks like so you understand how some errors happen and why they can cause problems. |
brochure |
Resource Library - About NOW: Pensions
These resources will guide you through everything you need to know about NOW: Pensions and what we offer to our clients and members
NOW: Pensions features and benefits | brochure | |
NOW: Pensions Gateway key features
The NOW: Pensions Gateway makes auto enrolment administration a breeze. |
brochure | |
Why NOW: Pensions for Employers
Whether you have one worker or hundreds, NOW: Pensions provides a simple way to set up and manage your auto enrolment pension. Find out more great reasons to work with NOW: Pensions. |
brochure | |
Auto enrolment costs and charges
A two page document explaining some of the costs that may be associated with setting up a pension scheme, how to keep costs down and how much it costs to use NOW: Pensions. |
brochure | |
An introduction to auto enrolment contributions
The NOW: Pensions contribution models are designed to cater for all requirements, from those that want to comply with the legislation at minimum cost to those that want to offer their employees an enhanced benefit. In this document we outline your options. |
brochure | |
For employers: Guide to signing up to the NOW: Pensions scheme
This document outlines the online sign up process. It explains the steps that need to be taken, the information you will need to get started and what NOW: Pensions has to offer. |
brochure | |
The NOW: Pensions auto enrolment solution
This document providers a short introduction into who we are and what we have to offer. Information around getting started with auto enrolment, scheme set up, ongoing management, and associated costs are all covered. |
brochure | |
The NOW: Pensions investment approach
Information about NOW: Pensions investment proposition covering our investment strategy, philosophy and management. A useful document in gaining more information on how your money is being managed. |
brochure | |
For members: Your pension’s key features
We explain what auto enrolment into a workplace pension is, how it works and how pension savings are invested for members of the NOW: Pensions Scheme. We also set out administration costs and charges related to your pension scheme. |
brochure | |
A member’s guide to investments
We explain how NOW: Pensions manages members’ pension savings and how we invest employer and employee contributions. We also explain how our Diversified Growth Fund and Retirement Countdown Fund work, including the growth phase, the protection phase and the glidepath to retirement, which apply at different stages of our members’ pension saving journey. |
brochure |
Resource Library - Employee communication
Everything an employee needs to know about auto enrolment and the NOW: Pensions scheme can be found here. Including some useful templates for to help you communicate with them.
Help your employees log into their member account
A poster for you to print and display in your workplace that shows your employees how to log into their member account. |
poster | |
Auto enrolment duties for new businesses
The NOW: Pensions guide for to enrolment duties for new employers. Any business that first employed staff on, or after 1st October 2017 has auto enrolment duties as soon as they employ someone for the first time. |
brochure | |
Gateway Member Matching Guide
The NOW: Pensions Gateway matching guide to help you check over the data in your pensions data file, and cross reference this with the data already held in our database. |
brochure | |
An Employee’s Guide to Auto Enrolment
A straightforward and easy-to-read guide to auto enrolment into a workplace pension which explains auto enrolment from an employee’s perspective. |
brochure | |
Member booklet
Welcome to the NOW: Pensions Trust, your workplace pension scheme. Our member booklet will help you understand your workplace pension and the importance of saving for your retirement. It also explains where your money is invested, how tax relief on your pension contributions works, the charges we make, how to transfer pension savings in, and what you can do with your money when you retire. |
brochure | |
PowerPoint: Introducing your workplace pension
A presentation for employees which welcomes them to the scheme, explaining charges, contributions, additional voluntary contributions, opting out and more. You can present this to employees when they first join the scheme. |
template | |
Template: Tell your employees auto enrolment is coming
A letter which employers can give to their employees outlining when they will be auto enrolled, who is eligible to join and letting them know that NOW: Pensions will be looking after their scheme. |
template | |
For members: What can you do with your pension pot
Changes to pension regulations mean that you have several ways to take your money. If you’re aged 55, or older, you can take your pension savings without having to buy an annuity. Our helpful leaflet contains information about the pension choices available to you through the NOW: Pensions Trust and guidance about the things you need to think about when deciding what to do with your pension savings. |
brochure | |
For members: Your pension’s key features
We explain what auto enrolment into a workplace pension is, how it works and how pension savings are invested for members of the NOW: Pensions Scheme. We also set out administration costs and charges related to your pension scheme. |
brochure | |
A member’s guide to investments
We explain how NOW: Pensions manages members’ pension savings and how we invest employer and employee contributions. We also explain how our Diversified Growth Fund and Retirement Countdown Fund work, including the growth phase, the protection phase and the glidepath to retirement, which apply at different stages of our members’ pension saving journey. |
brochure |
Resource Library - Employer site management
This section contains everything you need to know about managing your NOW: Pensions Gateway site.
Guide to Common Errors and Warnings
This guide highlights some of the most frequent errors (in no particular order) encountered when uploading payroll files the NOW: Pensions Gateway and provides guidance to overcome these issues should they arise. |
brochure | |
Guide to Employee Action File
This document sets out the specification for the file format and content relating to the Payroll interface that will be provided by NOW: Pensions at the beginning of the pay cycle. |
brochure | |
Auto enrolment duties for new businesses
The NOW: Pensions guide for to enrolment duties for new employers. Any business that first employed staff on, or after 1st October 2017 has auto enrolment duties as soon as they employ someone for the first time. |
brochure | |
Gateway Member Matching Guide
The NOW: Pensions Gateway matching guide to help you check over the data in your pensions data file, and cross reference this with the data already held in our database. |
brochure | |
NOW: Pensions Gateway user guide
The NOW: Pensions Gateway provides employers with a simple and modern interface to manage pension submissions for their employees. |
brochure | |
Your data files explained
This guide has been created to help you understand what a good file looks like so you understand how some errors happen and why they can cause problems. |
brochure |
Resource Library - Bureau site management
This section includes logging in for the first time, creating additional users for the site, verifying client’s details, setting up client’s payroll details, importing client data, retrieving opt in and opt out data and viewing, amending employee Data and much more.
Auto enrolment duties for new businesses
The NOW: Pensions guide for to enrolment duties for new employers. Any business that first employed staff on, or after 1st October 2017 has auto enrolment duties as soon as they employ someone for the first time. |
brochure | |
Gateway Member Matching Guide
The NOW: Pensions Gateway matching guide to help you check over the data in your pensions data file, and cross reference this with the data already held in our database. |
brochure |
Resource Library - Setting Up
Employer site set up
- I don’t have a pay period 53, what should I do?
- Why is there a pay period 53 and what do I need to do?
- What is a duties start date?
- What file type do I need to use?
- Do you offer any training for employers to help them manage NOW: Pensions Gateway?
- Setting up pay periods
- How do I prevent mistakes and missing data in my payroll file?
- Payroll software set up
- How do I avoid employee duplicate records?
- NOW: Pensions’ file formats explained
- I need to set up a new Direct Debit Mandate. How do I do this?
- When should I upload my first payroll file?
- How to export data from Pegasus Opera 3
- Using Moneysoft payroll software with NOW: Pensions
- Can an adviser be added as an administrator of the employer portal?
- Should I leave any sections blank when uploading a CSV file for voluntary schemes?
- How long after payroll processing date should I submit the file upload?
- Do I need to upgrade my payroll software?
- Using Sage payroll software with NOW: Pensions
- What is a CSV File?
- What are AVC’s?
- I need help uploading my payroll file: instructions for Sage, Pegasus and Moneysoft
- What questions should I be asking my payroll?
- Does the initial assessment evaluate whether members are auto enrolled?
Employee communication
Employer site management
- What is a duties start date?
- What file type do I need to use?
- How do I amend data within the payroll file?
- Do you offer any training for employers to help them manage NOW: Pensions Gateway?
- Setting up pay periods
- How do I prevent mistakes and missing data in my payroll file?
- How do I avoid employee duplicate records?
- NOW: Pensions’ file formats explained
- Can an adviser be added as an administrator of the employer portal?
- Should I leave any sections blank when uploading a CSV file for voluntary schemes?
- How long after payroll processing date should I submit the file upload?
- Do I need to upgrade my payroll software?
- Using Sage payroll software with NOW: Pensions
- I need help uploading my payroll file: instructions for Sage, Pegasus and Moneysoft
Definitions
- What is a CSV File?
- What are Pensionable Earnings?
- What are AVC’s?
- What is a PSR number?
- What is an EPSR number?
- What is an ER Code?
- What is a Pay Date?
- What is a Pay Period Start Date?
- What is a Processing Date?
- What is a Pay Period?
- What is a Payroll Frequency?
- What is a Pay Code?
- What does Defined Benefit mean?
- What does Defined Contribution mean?
Resource Library - Signing Up
Online sign up
Contribution model & charges
- What fees will members and deferred members be charged?
- Monthly employer service charge for employers
- Who does the monthly employer service charge apply to?
- How are employee contributions collected?
- Can an employer change contribution plans midway?
- Can employers make a one off single lump sum contribution?
- How is tax relief applied on contributions?
- What is a Contribution Model Code (for employers and advisers)?
- Can you accommodate salary sacrifice?
- What parts of an employees salary are included in the contributions?
- Do contributions include overtime pay?
- Are contributions taken before tax and NI?
- Are pension contributions taken before or after tax is calculated?
PDF communications
Direct debit
- Direct Debit Payments Process
- What Direct Debit details do I need to fill in if I want to add a new payroll?
- How do I reconcile or see a breakdown of Direct Debit contributions?
- Complete guide to Direct Debits
- Why have I received an email to authorise a Direct Debit?
- How do I change bank details for charges?
- Direct Debit collection doesn’t match what was submitted
Resource Library - About Auto Enrolment
Employer responsibilities
- Who is best to carry out the assessment?
- Declaration of compliance (i.e. register) with The Pensions Regulator
- Do I have to auto enrol if I am a sole trader?
- Will NOW: Pensions accept late those that have missed their duties start date?
- How much is auto enrolment going to cost my company?
- As an employer, what is the benefit of providing a pension scheme for my employees?
- As a self-employed person in my own company do I have to provide a pension scheme?
- What are the auto enrolment earnings thresholds?
- Can an employer put all employees straight into the pension scheme so they don’t have to assess them?
- What happens when an eligible worker has passed their State Pension age?
- What will happen if an employer misses their duties start date?
- What are the minimum auto enrolment contribution rates?
- What questions should I be asking my payroll?
- What happens if a business does not comply with auto enrolment?
Employer contributions
Employee contributions
General information
- How does salary sacrifice work with fluctuating earnings?
- Who is the Cardano Group?
- How do I calculate pensionable earnings?
- What is GDPR?
- What is a duties start date?
- What is automatic enrolment?
- What are work-based pensions?
- What is auto enrolment?
- What is opting out?
- What’s the difference between net pay and relief at source?
- Declaration of compliance (i.e. register) with The Pensions Regulator
- What are my options at retirement?
- Do I have to auto enrol if I am a sole trader?
- Why do we need auto enrolment?
- What is an opt-out period?
- Who is eligible to join a workplace pension?
- How much is auto enrolment going to cost my company?
- As an employer, what is the benefit of providing a pension scheme for my employees?
- Who is NOW: Pensions?
- As a self-employed person in my own company do I have to provide a pension scheme?
- What are the auto enrolment earnings thresholds?
- What happens when an eligible worker has passed their State Pension age?
- What is a Master Trust?
- What’s salary sacrifice?
- What does Defined Benefit mean?
- What does Defined Contribution mean?
- What kind of pension schemes are there?
Staging/Duties start date & postponement
- I’ve missed my auto enrolment duties start date
- How do I postpone auto enrolment dates for individual employees?
- Can an employer put all employees straight into the pension scheme so they don’t have to assess them?
- What will happen if an employer misses their duties start date?
- If an employer is using postponement, do they still need to be ready at their duties start date?
- What benefits are there in operating postponement?
Resource Library - About NOW: Pensions
About the scheme
- Net pay top up – how it works
- What is the fee if a company terminates the agreement with NOW: Pensions?
- Who is best to carry out the assessment?
- What fees will members and deferred members be charged?
- Monthly employer service charge for employers
- Who does the monthly employer service charge apply to?
- Do you accept holding companies with a UK branch?
- Will NOW: Pensions accept late those that have missed their duties start date?
- Are NOW: Pensions compatible with all payroll software?
- Will NOW: Pensions undertake communications?
- Can we join the scheme prior to auto enrolment staging date?
- Can you accommodate salary sacrifice?
- How do you ensure that employers are not breaching data privacy requirements by providing personal data?
- Is the NOW: Pensions Trust operating within the UK Governance framework?
- Can NOW: Pensions work alongside advisers and current pension providers?
- What financial backing does NOW: Pensions have?
General information
- Online security
- What should I do if I receive an email that may be fraudulent?
- I’ve received a request to complete a Direct Debit Mandate, how do I know this is genuine?
- How do I spot a fraudulent email?
- I received an email asking to pay money across to you, is this genuine?
- What is the fee if a company terminates the agreement with NOW: Pensions?
- How can an employer make a complaint to NOW: Pensions Ltd?
- Is the NOW: Pensions Trust operating within the UK Governance framework?
- Can NOW: Pensions work alongside advisers and current pension providers?
Contact details
Resource Library - Scheme Administration
Opting in
Opting out
- What happens to member details when they opt out?
- How will I know if an employee has opted out?
- How do I notify you when an employee leaves the scheme but is still in active employment?
- What is opting out?
- Who is eligible for a short service refund?
- How do I notify you when an employee leaves active employment?
- What happens to an employee’s pension if they leave the company?
- How do you manage auto enrolment refunds?
- How do I change bank details for charges?
- What is an opt-out period?
- Can an employee be refunded before their opt out request has been processed?
- Are there any time constraints for an employee to opt back in after they’ve already opted out?
- Who processes and pays opt out refunds to the individual and the employer?
Employer site management
- I don’t have a pay period 53, what should I do?
- Why is there a pay period 53 and what do I need to do?
- How do I amend data within the payroll file?
- What Direct Debit details do I need to fill in if I want to add a new payroll?
- How do I update an employee record?
- How do I notify you when an employee leaves the scheme but is still in active employment?
- Setting up pay periods
- Payroll software set up
- NOW: Pensions’ file formats explained
- When should I upload my first payroll file?
- How to export data from Pegasus Opera 3
- Using Moneysoft payroll software with NOW: Pensions
- How do I notify you when an employee leaves active employment?
- Can an adviser be added as an administrator of the employer portal?
- Should I leave any sections blank when uploading a CSV file for voluntary schemes?
- Will the contributions shown in the CSV file always be the amount that is collected?
- Using Sage payroll software with NOW: Pensions
- What would be the benefit of transferring my existing pension in to the NOW: Pension scheme?
Transferring in and out of the scheme
Employee communication
- How do I avoid pension scams?
- A guide to PDF communications for employers
- What are the minimum contributions?
- How long does it take for communications to send after I upload a file?
- How do I update an employee record?
- Complete guide to statutory communications for employers
- Your pension’s key features
- When will employees start receiving communication from NOW: Pensions?
- Does NOW: Pensions send out statutory auto enrolment communication prior to the staging/duties start date?
Managing contributions
- How does salary sacrifice work with fluctuating earnings?
- How do I calculate pensionable earnings?
- How will I know if an employee has opted out?
- How do I reconcile or see a breakdown of Direct Debit contributions?
- I don’t have any contributions due for a month. What should I do?
- Complete guide to Direct Debits
- What if I am late paying pension contributions?
- Will my scheme members be notified of the late contributions?
- What penalties will be applied by The Pensions Regulator if I am late paying contributions?
- What will happen if my contribution is outstanding for 3 months or more?
- I need to set up a new Direct Debit Mandate. How do I do this?
- What if my contributions are outstanding for less than 30 days?
- What do I do if I have calculated the incorrect tax relief on employee pension contributions?
- Who is eligible for a short service refund?
- Will the contributions shown in the CSV file always be the amount that is collected?
- How are employee contributions collected?
- How do I change bank details for pension contributions?
- Can an employer change contribution plans midway?
- Can employers make a one off single lump sum contribution?
- Why have I received an email to authorise a Direct Debit?
- How do you manage auto enrolment refunds?
- How can you ensure the correct contributions are being collected?
- How is tax relief applied on contributions?
- Direct Debit collection doesn’t match what was submitted
- Can contributions be altered for individual employees?
- What do I do if I’ve under paid contributions?
- What is a Contribution Model Code (for employers and advisers)?
- What parts of an employees salary are included in the contributions?
- Do contributions include overtime pay?
- Are contributions taken before tax and NI?
- What’s salary sacrifice?
- Are pension contributions taken before or after tax is calculated?
- When do contributions need to be paid?