Can I opt out of the workplace pension during postponement period?

Understanding the Postponement Period

During your first 3 months at NASA, we use what's called a "postponement period." This means:

• You're not enrolled in the pension scheme yet
• No contributions are taken from your pay
• No opt-out is needed because there's nothing to opt out of
• Enrolment happens automatically after 3 months (if you meet the criteria)

Think of it like this: you can't cancel a subscription you haven't signed up for yet!

What happens next?

1. Automatic enrolment if you meet the criteria
2. First pension contribution taken from your next payslip
3. Welcome email from NOW Pensions within about a week (weekly paid) or by the 10th of the following month (monthly paid)
4. 30-day window to opt out and receive full refund starts from this email. You can find out more about the Opt Out process here.
   
   

Why not just exclude people who don't want it?

You might wonder why we can't just exclude people who know they don't want the pension. Here's why:

Legal requirements

• Auto-enrolment is mandatory - we must enrol all eligible employees
• Individual choice only - only you can decide to opt out, not your employer
• Cannot pre-empt - the law doesn't allow employers to skip enrolment based on assumptions

Protection for employees

• Prevents employer pressure - ensures no one is talked out of valuable benefits
• Ensures informed decisions - you get full information before choosing
• Maintains rights - protects your legal right to pension benefits

What happens to people who aren't eligible?

If after 3 months you don't meet the enrolment criteria (age or earnings), you won't be automatically enrolled. However:

• You can still opt in if you want to join the scheme. You can find out more about joining the pension scheme here.
• Your eligibility may change - we'll reassess if your circumstances change
• You'll be checked at re-enrolment - every 3 years we assess all employees again. You can find out more about re-enrolment here.