Guides › Pensions and Retirement › Employer Not Paying Into Your Pension
Employer Not Paying into Your Pension
Your employer usually has to pass the contributions taken from your pay to your pension by the 22nd of the following month (19th if paying by cheque). If money is missing, raise it with your employer in writing. If it is not sorted, complain to the free Pensions Ombudsman; payments 90 days late must be reported to The Pensions Regulator.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Missing Contributions
What To Do
Check your pension statement for regular payments. Your employer usually must pass your contributions to the scheme by the 22nd of the following month, or the 19th if paying by cheque. Raise missing or late payments with your employer in writing; you can ask for compensation. Complain to your employer, then to The Pensions Ombudsman if unhappy or after eight weeks (free, and the employer must follow its decision). If payments are 90 days or more late, your provider or trustees must report your employer to The Pensions Regulator; if not, you can. If your employer has stopped trading, missed contributions from the 12 months before can be claimed from the National Insurance Fund. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 22ndEmployer pays in your contributionsOf the following month (19th by cheque)
- 8 weeksEmployer repliesThen the Pensions Ombudsman
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Compare your payslips with your pension statement.
Step 2 of 5
Write to your employer about the missing months.
Step 3 of 5
Ask your pension provider what it has received.
Step 4 of 5
After 8 weeks, complain to the Pensions Ombudsman.
Step 5 of 5
Report to The Pensions Regulator if payments are 90 days late.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Your Employer
Raise it in writing first.
The Pensions Ombudsman
Free; employer must follow its decision.
The Pensions Regulator
For payments 90 days or more late.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Keep copies of payslips showing pension deductions.
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Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- moneyhelper.org.uk/en/pensions-and-retirement/pension-problems/what-to-do-if-my-employer-doesnt-pay-my-pension-contributions Checked 13 October 2026
- pensions-ombudsman.org.uk/what-we-can-and-cannot-do Checked 13 October 2026