Opting out

The longer you save with us, the more money you’re likely to have when you retire.

If you’re thinking about opting out, it’s worth considering whether the State Pension will provide enough for life after retirement. The full State Pension is £221.20 per week or £11,502 per year. The amount you’ll receive depends on how many years you’ve paid National Insurance (NI) contributions. To claim the full amount, you need 35 years of NI contributions. Relying on this alone would mean a significant drop in income for many people. 

If you’re sure it’s right for you, you need to opt out during your one month opt-out period that starts after you’ve been automatically enrolled. You can find further details, including when the period starts and ends, in the welcome letter we send to you.

If you do opt out within this period then you’ll get back any money you’ve contributed. We’ll refund your money to your employer within 10 working days of being informed, and they’ll then pass the refund directly to you. If you miss your opt-out period you can only access this money once you’ve turned 55, rising to 57 in 2028, — as set by the government.

Should I opt out?

It’s completely up to you. However, opting out means you’ll miss out on any employer contributions you’re entitled to and any tax relief from the government. You’ll also miss out on the opportunity to invest your money with us so it grows for the future.

How do I opt out?

To opt out you’ll need your Nest ID. You can find this in your member welcome pack which you receive within three working days of being enrolled. If you haven’t received your welcome pack within a week, ask your employer to get in touch with us.

There are three ways to opt out – online, over the phone, or by post. 

Online:

Opting out online takes just a few minutes. We'll stop taking further contributions from you immediately, unless your request is after your payroll cut-off date, in which case you'll make one more contribution.

Opt out now

Phone or post:

You can call us and follow the automated instructions or request a paper form to fill out and give to your employer. However, because post takes longer, there’s a chance your employer might take more contributions from your wages before the process is complete.

Learn more about the opt-out process

Take a break

You don’t have to opt out to stop paying money into Nest - you can simply take a break. This means you’ll keep your retirement pot and can start paying in again when you’re ready. Remember, taking a break means you may also miss out on your employer’s contributions and tax relief from the government.