The pay date is 15th of the month.

Automatic enrolment will be based on age and earnings criteria with each employer an individual carries out work for if they are classed as a worker under the terms of the automatic enrolment legislation. The definition of worker under the new legislation includes individuals who have a contract with SQA as a fee earner eg appointees

The National Employment Savings Trust (NEST). NEST has been set up by the UK Government specifically for automatic enrolment.

NEST Corporation is the organisation that runs the Scheme. It reports to parliament through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). NEST Corporation is a trust which means it is run on a not-for-profit basis and doesn't have shareholders.

Questions on the Pension Scheme should be directed to NEST:-

http://www.nestpensions.org.uk/schemeweb/NestWeb/public/home/contents/homepage.html

You do have the right to opt out. However, you cannot opt out before you have been automatically enrolled. If you are automatically enrolled, you will receive a letter from SQA advising you of this which will include details of the opt out process. You will also receive a welcome pack from NEST which will include a NEST ID number. You will need this number to opt out. You can opt out either on-line, by telephone or by requesting a paper copy of the opt out form to complete and return.

If you choose to opt out, please note that you will automatically be re-enrolled back into the pension scheme every three years from the date automatic enrolment first applied to SQA if you meet the relevant criteria at that time.

Will I get a refund if I opt out of the Pension Scheme?

Yes. If you complete the opt-out process within the relevant timescales specified by NEST (termed 'opt-out window') when they send you the joining information. If you complete this process within the specified timescales you will be removed from the pension scheme. Any payments you have already made will be refunded.

If you want to stop making payments after the opt-out window has closed, you can still do so at any time. The payments you have made already will not be refunded but will be held within your retirement pot with NEST.

The legislation requires SQA to assess and automatically enrol workers who meet the qualifying earnings criteria in any pay period regardless of how many times your earnings may reach this level in a year. Once you have been automatically enrolled, you will remain a member of the Scheme unless, after careful consideration, you choose to opt out.

Contributions are as outlined below:

Yes if you are eligible for tax relief.

Is tax relief given through payroll?

No. Tax relief is given through the pension provider - NEST.

Yes, you can choose to opt in to NEST if you wish to do so (subject, of course, to meeting the normal requirements for being eligible for membership of the scheme). To do so, contact payroll. If it is sent by email, it must include a statement that you personally submitted the notice to join NEST

Under the legislation, all workers will fall into one of three categories as follows:

*These figures are the 2017-18 qualifying earnings limits and are subject to change each April.

As a result, if you fall into the non-eligible jobholder category and opt into NEST, SQA will make a contribution. If you fall into the entitled worker category, SQA will not make a contribution.

Yes. You can choose to do this once in any 12 month period.

It is possible to get an idea of how much you will get from this pension by getting a "pension estimate". You can get this directly from NEST.

This is a completely separate piece of legislation and an individual is assessed on the criteria set out by automatic enrolment and is not linked to criteria for individual tax status.