Pension contributions advice

[Mytribeof3]

Looking for some help regarding pension contributions in my new employment please. I started a new part time job in February and signed up to their pension scheme with NEST. I’m looking to increase the amount I pay in monthly as currently I only pay in £20.80 from my salary and I want to raise this to around £200 per month. My employer contributes £15.60. Based on £1,040 gross each month I’m wondering if they are meeting the minimum contribution amount? It seems a little low but I will admit that I have a lot to learn when it comes to pensions and I’m only just starting to get my head around this all! Any advice or words of wisdom regarding this would be much appreciated! Thank you 🙏

It doesn’t sound ideal. I’m no expert but a quick google tells me they should be paying at least 3% and their contribution works out about 1.5% on the numbers you have given.
It seems very low. What do they say about AVCs (additional voluntary contributions)? Most places will match them percentage wise up to a certain amount, so if you are looking to up your contribution theirs should increase too.

I think they should be paying 3%.

Just thinking back to when I started my job, they didn't start paying until I'd been there 3 months. If you joined Feb, then I'd expect you might have become eligible in May so am wondering if this month was maybe a partial month?

With auto-enrollment there is a threshold over which employers start paying and that is £6,240 per year or £520 a month. So they will only be paying 3% on anything you earn over £520 per month.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-the-automatic-enrolment-earnings-trigger-and-qualifying-earnings-band-for-202526-supporting-analysis/review-of-the-automatic-enrolment-earnings-trigger-and-qualifying-earnings-band-for-202526-supporting-analysis#:~:text=A%20–%20Trends%20in%20pension%20saving&text=The%20recommended%20thresholds%20for%20the,6%2C240%20and%20£50%2C270%20respectively.

Thank you for your input with this. I am going to look into this and what they say about AVCs.

They are paying the 3% on the qualifying earnings - the first 6k (its not exactly that number) is excluded. Looks right for that, afaic

I'd look at setting yourself up with a SIPP. You pay in after tax has been deducted from your pay, and the government tops it up to account for the tax. It sits in your control, rather than the company's control, and you can keep paying in even if you change jobs.