Pensions can sometimes feel like something to worry about in the future. But if you employ your own Personal Assistant, your employee’s workplace pension is part of your responsibilities as an employer today.
With Pension Awareness Week taking place from 14–18 September, we’re highlighting why workplace pensions matter and the support available to people who employ their own PAs through Direct Payments.
What is a workplace pension?
A workplace pension helps an employee save towards their retirement, with contributions generally made by both the employer and employee.
If your Personal Assistant meets the relevant age and earnings criteria, you may need to automatically enrol them into a workplace pension and make employer contributions.
There are also circumstances where an employee who isn’t automatically enrolled may have the right to opt into a pension scheme.
The rules can feel complicated, especially when being an employer is only one part of managing your own care and support.
Being a Direct Payment employer
Using a Direct Payment can give disabled people greater choice and control over their care and support, including the ability to employ their own Personal Assistants.
But being an employer also means taking on responsibilities such as payroll, tax, National Insurance and workplace pensions.
You don’t have to be an expert in all of these areas.
This is one of the reasons services such as DD Payroll exist: to provide specialist support with the administration involved in employing your PAs.
How DD Payroll can support you
DD Payroll’s payroll and pensions teams can support Direct Payment employers with the administration involved in workplace pensions alongside their payroll.
This can include pension deductions and contributions, pension assessments and keeping pension information up to date.
Your PA’s circumstances can also change over time. Their hours or earnings might change, they might leave your employment, or they might join or leave a pension scheme.
Keeping DD Payroll informed about changes helps the team make sure the relevant information is reflected in your payroll.
What about pension letters?
You may receive correspondence directly from your PA’s pension provider.
If you receive a pension letter or other pension correspondence, send a clear photo or copy to DD Payroll by WhatsApp or email.
You don’t need to work out what it means first.
If you’re unsure whether something is relevant, send it over and the pensions team can take a look.
Why pensions matter
For Personal Assistants, a workplace pension can help them save for their future.
For employers, understanding your pension responsibilities can help you stay on top of your role as an employer and make sure your PA receives the correct pension contributions.
And for disabled people using Direct Payments, having the right support around payroll and pensions can make the practical side of employing your own PA much easier to manage.
You don’t have to know everything
Being a Direct Payment employer can come with a lot to think about.
You might be managing your own care and support, recruiting and supporting PAs, arranging rotas and dealing with the everyday responsibilities of being an employer.
It’s okay not to know every pension rule or understand every piece of correspondence that comes through your door.
That’s why specialist support is available.
If you use DD Payroll, their team is there to help with the payroll and pensions administration that comes with employing your Personal Assistants.
This Pension Awareness Week
Take a moment to think about your own pension responsibilities and whether there’s anything you’ve been putting off or aren’t sure about.
And remember, if a pension letter lands on your doorstep and you’re not sure what to do with it, send it to DD Payroll and let the pensions team take a look.
