Question 1

What is the minimum auto-enrolment contribution?

Accepted Answer

The legal minimum total contribution under UK auto-enrolment is 8% of qualifying earnings, of which at least 3% must come from the employer. The remaining 5% comes from the employee (including basic-rate tax relief). These percentages are calculated on qualifying earnings — the slice of salary between £6,240 and £50,270 for the 2025/26 tax year — not on full salary.

Question 2

Is my employer paying the legal minimum into my pension?

Accepted Answer

Check your payslip for the employer contribution amount. Compare it against 3% of your qualifying earnings (salary capped at £50,270, minus £6,240). If the cash amount is at least that figure, your employer is meeting the legal floor. If it's less, contact your HR team in the first instance, and escalate to The Pensions Regulator if the issue isn't resolved. Some employers voluntarily contribute on full salary rather than the qualifying band, which puts more into your pension.

Question 3

What are qualifying earnings?

Accepted Answer

Qualifying earnings is the band of salary between £6,240 (the lower earnings limit) and £50,270 (the upper earnings limit) for 2025/26. Only the portion of your pay within this band counts for the statutory auto-enrolment minimum. So someone earning £100,000 has qualifying earnings of £44,030 (£50,270 minus £6,240), and the legal employer minimum is 3% of £44,030 = £1,320.90 — not 3% of £100,000. This is the single biggest source of confusion about auto-enrolment minimums.

Question 4

How much should I contribute to my pension?

Accepted Answer

There is no single right answer — it depends on your age, target retirement income, other savings, and affordability. However, pensions industry bodies and the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association's Retirement Living Standards suggest the 8% auto-enrolment minimum is widely considered too low for a comfortable retirement. A common rule of thumb is to contribute a percentage of your salary equal to half your age when you started saving. For a personalised answer, speak to an FCA-regulated financial adviser.

Question 5

Does auto-enrolment apply to everyone?

Accepted Answer

No. Auto-enrolment covers employees aged between 22 and state pension age who earn more than £10,000 a year from a single employer and who work in the UK. The self-employed, company directors with no other staff, and workers earning under £10,000 are not automatically enrolled. If you fall outside the scheme you need to arrange your own pension provision — a personal pension or SIPP is the usual route.

Is your employer paying the legal minimum into your pension?