Ros Altmann vows to tackle low earners' pension contribution 'injustice'

Pensions minister speaking in London last night

Helen Morrissey
clock • 2 min read

Pensions minister Ros Altmann has pledged to address the "major injustice" caused by net pay arrangements (NPA) that cut lower earners' pension contributions by up to 25%.

Speaking at the Headlinemoney pensions dinner last night, Altmann described the situation around NPAs as "an outrage that needs to be addressed" and "high on her list of priorities". Currently, pension contributions are calculated either through NPA where gross contributions are deducted from pre-tax pay, or relief at source (RAS) where net contributions are deducted from post-tax pay. The issue arises because of the gap that has grown between the threshold for automatic enrolment (currently £10,000 per year) and the threshold for income tax (currently 11,000 per year). If someone ...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Pensions

Why pension transfers remain stuck in the slow lane

Why pension transfers remain stuck in the slow lane

'Some providers complete transfers in as little as five days on average, others take up to 90'

Lisa Picardo
clock 08 June 2026 • 5 min read
Nearly half of pension transfer scam alerts for unknown reasons

Nearly half of pension transfer scam alerts for unknown reasons

Some 35% of flagged cases related to ‘overseas investments’

Sophia Panayi
clock 08 June 2026 • 2 min read
'Moderate' retirement living standards out of reach for majority as savers face 'cliff-edge'

'Moderate' retirement living standards out of reach for majority as savers face 'cliff-edge'

Costs of minimum, moderate and comfortable retirement lifestyles have all risen

Holly Roach
clock 03 June 2026 • 4 min read