Higher national insurance contributions – how did that happen?

by Alistair Russell-Smith   •  
Blog

As a participant in LGPS you will have been contracted out of the state second tier pension scheme. This means that you as an employer and those members participating will be paying lower rate national insurance contributions. However, you’ll probably have noticed that you’re not doing this any more!! This is because contracting-out of the second state pension was abolished from 6 April 2016, to coincide with the introduction of the new single tier state pension. This will have increased the national insurance contributions (NIC) required from employers currently in LGPS, as well increasing the contributions required from employees. Employers will see an increase in contributions of 3.4% of band earnings (earnings between £5,824 and £43,004 for the 2016/17 tax year) on their pensionable payroll and employees an increase of 1.4% of band earnings. Clearly organisations need to budget for these increased costs and make sure staff are aware of the changes, especially as given the low level of salary increases in the sector at the moment, staff may actually notice a reduction in their salary. In LGPS you have no option other than just to pay the increased costs and maintain the level of benefits provided. Organisations in these schemes may also see some additional correspondence from their provider, and possibly some linked additional work, as they seek to reconcile their GMP information and communicate with members on the impact of the changes.

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