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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be nosey and ask how much you pay into your pension?

102 replies

Popc0rn · 08/04/2019 22:55

I have only had a pension for the last few years since I started working in the NHS. From the start, I have paid 7.1% of my salary towards my pension every month, and have just had a pay rise, so will be paying in 9.3% from now on. This will be about £200 per month, it was about £140 before (it varies every month as my monthly pay varies depending on how many nights and weekends I do). The contribution rate that the NHS pays was 14.3%, but this has been increased to 20.6% from the 1st of April 2019 (which seems like a big increase to me, but I'm not complaining!)

I'm just curious nosey as to how much other people in different jobs pay towards their pensions, and how much their employers contribute?

OP posts:
Dyrne · 09/04/2019 07:21

Wow, I thought my employer was generous, but i’m gobsmacked by some of the contributions that are made here!

I pay in 6%, my employer pays in 12%. It’s ex public sector so it’s a hangover from that I think - some of my colleagues that have been here a while are on some very generous final salary type schemes. My old job paid in 5% to my 5% and I think that’s more the standard.

acciocat · 09/04/2019 07:25

I pay in 12% and my employer pays in just over 16 %.
Yes it’s one of the better pensions but as pp said, everyone has always known that public sector is often lower pay but better pension than using your skills in the private sector. The fact that people have been leaving the NHS and teaching in droves suggests that decent pensions aren’t enough to keep people in there

All changed now though- you can’t get such good deals in the public sector any more.

RainbowMum11 · 09/04/2019 07:47

Between me & employer it's now 25% - it's a tax efficient way of saving so tend to increase my % if I ever get a pay rise.

UserAlice · 09/04/2019 07:56

Work for a bank. I pay in 7%, they match the 7% and pay an additional 8%.

randomchap · 09/04/2019 07:59

NHS, so paying 7.1%. Before NHS I was in a private scheme paying 2%, I doubt that parts going to get me more than £500p.a so am relying on the NHS part

TheNemesisOfLame · 09/04/2019 08:04

10% and employer matches to 10%.

It's a private sector company that deals partially with pensions - they were surprised when they tried to rationalise all their employee pension schemes that we noticed when they were trying to sell us a dud - so they agreed to increased employer conts.

TFBundy · 09/04/2019 08:08

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

museumum · 09/04/2019 08:17

I’m self employed so pay a certain amount. I’d like to know how this compares.

How do the % work?
Those saying they pay 10% and their employer 10% for example. Is that 20% of your gross monthly wage goes into your pension? Or 20% of your net wage for the month?
Or is it 1/12th of 20% of your annual salary?

Chasingsquirrels · 09/04/2019 08:17

Private business, employer will match up to 4% and has done since pre auto enrolment.
I put 4% + employer 4% into that, plus about 25% into a personal pension plus ad-hoc annual contributions depending on my position.

Oblomov19 · 09/04/2019 08:17

ShockMost companies I know are only paying 3% Er, 5% Ee.

Invisimamma · 09/04/2019 08:19

I pay 6% and my employer pays 7% (medium sized charity). I work part time so it's only about £70 per month.

Chasingsquirrels · 09/04/2019 08:21

museumum, it depends on the scheme as to actual amounts - e.g. ours only do it on monthly basic, not any paid overtime or commission.
The % is of your monthly gross figure.
Again depending on how the scheme is set up the employee contribution is then taken pre or post tax. If pre-tax you get tax relief at source, ie pay less tax and NI in your PAYE. If post-tax your contribution is then grossed up by HMRC paying over the tax to your pension provider.

MooseHoose · 09/04/2019 08:25

I’m self employed so I’ve just set up a LISA (life time ISA). You can set one up until your 40th birthday and pay in up to £4K per year and the government tops this up with 25% of whatever you paid in, up to £1k. So I pay in £333 pm and will have £50k in ten years’ time. I recommend this to anyone who is self employed because it’s flexible and you can skip paying in or pay in more whenever you want. The Money Saving Expert site has clear and up to date info about them.

I can’t recall what I paid in when I was employed but it was always over £200pm on a salary of £40-£50k.

OldGrinch · 09/04/2019 08:25

I put in 10% of my salary and employer also puts 10%. Going to try and increase my contributions to 20% as at the moment it looks like will be spending my old age eating baked beans on toast for every meal Grin

LaurieFairyCake · 09/04/2019 08:27

Teachers pension contributions are going up to 23.8% in September

I don't know what percentage dh puts in but I think roughly 800-1000 a month goes into the pot altogether

OldGrinch · 09/04/2019 08:27

So that works out to 20% if gross wages

Dolookbackinanger · 09/04/2019 08:32

Nothing! I have a couple of paid up ones from when I worked for other people, will mature when I’m 60+, but I bought property instead thinking it would be the better investment and so far have been proved right. It’s usable, profitable, and increases in value each year.

Looking at a LISA now MooseHoose, thank you.

MooseHoose · 09/04/2019 08:32

My last employer (a year or two ago) started off paying 1% and then upped it to 2% of my salary. I was, by default, also set to pay in 1%. It was a tiny amount so I opted to raise my share to 10%.

Eateneasterchocsalready · 09/04/2019 08:33

@2015newstart

What's so special about their scheme, why is it rare. You say hold onto it... in what sense IE how could you not hold onto it!

Do you think it's worth carrying on with it even if cease to stop working there. Is it worth buying more of it? Sorry for questions

LaPufalina · 09/04/2019 08:34

Private sector, my employer pays in 15% and it's non-contributory. I match it with 15% on a salary sacrifice (so works out about 13% on reduced salary but with employer NI added on, nice of them to pass on that saving!)
I used to be public sector on a 1/80s scheme and I overpaid there too to buy back years. My grandparents have had a lovely retirement living in the sun in wintertime so I've always had that in mind!
My DH is a teacher but on career average rather than final salary.

MooseHoose · 09/04/2019 08:34

DoLookBackinAnger Here Smile www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/lifetime-isas/

Dolookbackinanger · 09/04/2019 08:38

MooseHoose thank you

TheGoogleMum · 09/04/2019 08:38

I'm an nhs worker so similar to you! Apparently the pension was even better 10 years ago, it's still pretty decent too believe though. I have no plans to pay anything additional in. The problem is it reduces massively if taken early and retirement age is nearly 70 for me :( no time to enjoy the money!

Moltenpink · 09/04/2019 08:39

I pay 6%, my employer pays 5%.

FirmlyRooted · 09/04/2019 08:40

Private employer that contributes virtually nothing, works out as 1% of my salary, really depressing. I need a new job with better benefits!

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