When can a worker opt-out?

A worker’s ‘opt-out period’ is the time they can opt out of the scheme and receive a refund for any contributions they’ve made. You’ll need to tell your workers about this option before you enrol them. To learn more about telling your workers about their new pension rights, read our statutory information when enrolling a new worker guide.

The opt-out period lasts for one calendar month and starts 3 working days after you enrol them – this allows us time to send each worker a welcome letter, which will include their unique Nest ID and a link to our opt-out page.

If a worker asks us for an opt-out form, they need to give it to you within their opt-out period. If you receive the form in time but don’t tell us until after their opt-out period has ended, we’ll still accept their request. But we may already have invested their contributions and taken a contribution charge.

Refunding a worker’s contributions

If the current value of the worker’s pot is lower than their original contributions, we’ll refund the lower amount as well as the contribution charge. This is why you should make sure to tell us about anyone opting out as early as possible.

Once the opt-out period ends, we can’t make any refunds to the worker, and they can no longer opt out.

Checking a worker’s opt-out period

You can check when a worker’s opt-out period ends by selecting ‘Manage workers’ in your online account.

Here, it will list the ‘Opt out expiry date’ for each of your workers who are still in their opt-out period.

You can choose to hold on to a worker’s contribution during their opt-out period instead of paying it into their pension pot. If you decide to do this, please read 'How can I hold on to contributions during a worker’s opt-out period?'

You won’t need to make further contributions for workers who’ve opted out.