Call for decade of action on workplace pensions
MINIMUM contributions into workplace pensions should be gradually increased over the next decade and access to schemes should be widened, a body representing insurers has urged.
Automatic enrolment into workplace pensions started nearly 10 years ago, with companies and their employees being phased in from October 2012.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said an action plan is now needed for the next 10 years.
This would build on the success of the scheme which has brought more than 10 million people into workplace pensions, including many more women, lower earners and younger people building an asset for their future.
The initiative currently requires employers to automatically enrol employees who are over the age of 22 and earn at least £10,000 a year into a workplace pension scheme.
The successes of auto-enrolment and low opt-out rates have led to more than £28 billion extra being saved into workplace pensions in 2020, compared with 2012.
But despite the huge increase in the number of pension savers, some people are not putting away enough for a comfortable retirement, with minimum contributions unlikely to be sufficient for many people.
To address this gap, the ABI recommends gradually increasing the minimum contribution rates from 8% to 12% by 2032 - with the new minimum
contribution being split evenly between employers and employees.
Its report suggests a timeline, with changes starting to be introduced after 2025.
Currently, the 8% minimum includes a 3% minimum employer contribution, with 5% coming from the employee. Contributions also benefit from tax relief.
With living costs in mind, the ABI recommends that savers should have flexibility as minimum contributions potentially increase, including allowing them to “opt down” to 10%.
Alternatively, it suggests that a
minimum contribution could be set at 10% with the option to “opt up” to 12%.
It said further research is needed to determine which is more affordable for both employers and savers.
The ABI said it is also urging the Government to bring forward commitments made to extending automatic enrolment, by lowering the age threshold from 22 to 18, and reducing the earnings threshold so that contributions are made from the first pound earned.
These were scheduled for the mid2020s and need to be legislated for as a matter of urgency, the body said. The current structures of automatic enrolment are unlikely to work for self-employed people, the report said.
Instead, they need their own system which could be based on diverting increased National Insurance contribution payments, it suggested.
The ABI said it also believes the Government should revisit the debate about early access to pensions in times of specific financial hardship.
ABI director-genereal Hannah Gurga said: “Automatic enrolment has transformed workplace pension savings in this country.
“But the challenge remains to ensure people are saving enough for their retirement.
“For the next 10 years, we need a detailed plan for getting to higher contributions.
“Our report published today sets out the industry’s thoughts on how to achieve this we stand ready to work with the Government to ensure the next decade of automatic enrolment builds on the proud record of its first 10 years.”
We stand ready to work with the Government to ensure the next decade of automatic enrolment builds on the proud record of its first 10 years.