Everyone needs to have a plan for how they will provide for
their own retirement and the earlier they address the issue the
better. Most people need help and guidance in understanding how the
State scheme, along with any previous or current employer or
private schemes, fit into this plan.
The aim of this service is to explain to individuals how best
they can plan for their retirement, answering such questions
as:
- When can I retire?
- How much income will I need in retirement?
- What can I expect from the State and my other pensions?
- How can I better plan for my retirement?
Q & A's
With the employer's agreement, we give talks to groups in the
workplace. Ideally employers will agree to both provide some
time off to do this and a location in the working day. We also give
talks to community groups.
We will work with the organiser to tailor our presentation to
best suit the needs of the audience.
Attendees may subsequently telephone our helpline for a
one-to-one consultation about their own situations, where our
personnel will be able to help them.
We believe these are:
- A workforce that appreciates that the principal responsibility
for providing for their retirement is their own
- A workforce that is better informed and thus more capable of
providing for their own retirement
- A workforce that will be less reliant on the employer and the
State for their income at retirement
- A workforce that is more appreciative of the contribution, if
any, being made by the employer.
These benefits are being provided by an independent
organisation, free to employers, organisations and attendees.
In the lead up to the implementation of auto enrolment in 2012,
we are available to do presentations to groups of employers with
the aim helping them understand the impact of auto enrolment on
their workplace.
People who volunteer to become PENpals, initially attend a one
day introduction course to equip them with a basic understanding of
the issues leading up to retirement and the world of pensions.
PENpals will be kept up to date with changes to pensions and will
be given the opportunity for further training to increase their
knowledge. Regional workshops will be held for the PENpal
volunteers to allow them to share experiences and hear the details
of any changes to pensions.
Once trained, a PENpal becomes the first port of call for
enquiries concerning pensions, from colleagues and people they
know. With their training they will be able to steer enquirers to a
trusted source of information. People are more likely
to ask a question of somebody they know at work than they are to
ask a stranger.
The PENpal network will be a valuable communication tool.
Individual PENpals will be able to tell their regional
co-ordinators of any important issues that could require further
assistance e.g. redundancies or scheme closures when people might
require more technical help. Likewise the PENpal network will make
it easier to communicate changes to pensions to the workplace by
keeping the volunteers up to date.
PENpals will be encouraged to work with their employers and the
other services available (e.g. workplace talks, leaflets, web based
information library and interactive resources and helplines).
Please either telephone our Helpline on 0845 601 2923 or email
us.
