The Civil Service pension arrangements are covered by automatic enrolment. This means if you opt out, your employer will have to automatically put you back into a pension scheme on their automatic re-enrolment date (anniversary date). This occurs once every three years. If you’ve opted out within the 12 months prior to your employer’s ‘anniversary date’ you will not normally be re-enrolled until the next ‘anniversary date’.
It’s also likely that if you change employers (or your contract changes) you’ll be automatically re-enrolled into the pension scheme.
If you are re-enrolled, and don’t want to stay in the scheme, you’ll need to complete another opt out form. You’ll need to ensure that your employer receives your opt out form either within one month of you being automatically re-enrolled, or within one month of you being informed that you’ve been automatically re-enrolled (if later).
If you are re-enrolled and your employer receives your opt-out form outside the one month time limit they’ll forward the form to the Scheme Administrator. We’ll then assess whether you are due a refund, a refund/transfer option or a preserved pension.
For more information about automatic enrolment, please speak to your employer.