Freelance Pensions

It might seem boring to talk about pensions but they are really important. First always do your own research to check if something is right for you.

 

At our most recent Bectu Sector Conference we discussed and passed a motion about pensions in our industry so we thought we would collate some info here that you might not know:

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What is a postponement letter?

This is the letter your receive from your employer or pension scheme to say that your enrolment in the auto-enrolment workplace pension scheme is being postponed for up to 3 months often with a date that your enrolment will commence. This is in line with the law on auto-enrolment. This letter must be sent within 6 weeks from the date you are eligible for enrolment. This is often the day you start work.

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Delaying your enrolment date

Your employer can delay the date they must enrol you into a pension scheme by up to 3 months.

In some cases they may be able to delay longer if they’ve chosen either:

- a ‘defined benefit’ pension
- a ‘hybrid’ pension (a mixture of defined benefit and defined contribution pensions) that allows you to take a defined benefit pension

 

Your employer must:

- tell you about the delay in writing
- let you join in the meantime if you ask

 

Why postponement happens ?

There are many reasons to delay auto-enrolment. One is to allow more time to set up pensions schemes and on-boarding. Oftentimes it is used for seasonal or temporary staff who won't work more than 3 months with a workplace. In TV and film many jobs aren't much longer than 3 or 4 months either. This might mean that if you wait for your auto-enrolment date you might not get to join the pension scheme at all.

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What can you do?

If you want to opt-in to your auto-enrolment pension before the end of the postponement you are entitled to by law. This can be done by letting the company or production know by email or letter that you want to be enrolled or have opted in before the date on your postponement letter 

such as: 

[Current Date]

Pension Enrolment for [Employee Name]

 

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is to certify that [Full Name] a crew member on [Production Name ] for [Company Name]  who is  working as a [Job Title] since [Start Date] to [Term Date] would like to be enrolled in the workplace pension scheme from the beginning  of their employment. 

Sincerely,

[Signature]

 

Other info​

If you’ve voluntarily enrolled in a workplace pension your employer must contribute the minimum amount if you earn more than:
£520 a month
£120 a week
£480 over 4 weeks
They do not have to contribute anything if you earn these amounts or less.