I do not meet the criteria and Maximum amounts?

A question about : I do not meet the criteria and Maximum amounts?

Hy folks

Firstly, my partner earns less than the criteria for AE, She earns around Ј6000 a year. She want to opt in. They have emailed her and asked her what she wants to pay in, e.g 1% 2% 3% etc...

Will all of the same conditions apply to her if she opts in as with the people who are Automatically Enrolled ... ?

What is the maximum someone can put in, and would the employer have to match this?

Is it worth someone self employed joining this scheme, just to gain the governments tax relief? (obviously they have no employer to match their contributions)

Thanks

Best answers:

• A self employed person would not be a jobholder under AE unless they have a contract of(for?) employment.
  If your partner earns over the NI threshold then she would be a non-eligible jobholder with a right to opt in whereupon she will have the same rights as an AE'd eligible jobholder. She has the right to adjust her contributions downwards if she wants.
  It gets a bit complicated but AFAIK, maximum is an 8% total* of which 3% comes from the employer. This is being phased in though the current minimum contribution levels are lower.
  A self employed person is of course free to join a pension if they so chose. Nothing stopping them.
  *Total of qualifying earnings which is roughly between the NI threshold and about Ј45k
• A self employed person currently qualifies for a lower state pension than an employed person. This is being addressed in the changes coming but depending on your age, you may not catch up the lost years. So, having a personal pension when you are self employed is common sense.
• Thanks.
  I just want to clarify as the company are asking what % I want to put in.
  The most I can put in today that gets matched by the company is 3%. OR are you saying this gets phased in in a few years time, and therefore the most I can put in today that gets matched by the employer is 1%?