PAPDIS specifications and assessment codes
Learn about Papdis specifications and the assessment codes.
Uploading Pension Contributions Using the PAPDIS File
PAPDIS (Pension Automatic Enrolment Data Interface Standard) is a file format designed to streamline the process of submitting pension contributions and managing employee records. It was developed by a group of payroll and pension providers, meaning your payroll software likely already has the capability to generate a PAPDIS-compliant file.
If you’re new to preparing PAPDIS files, we suggest reaching out to your payroll provider for assistance.
What You Can Do with PAPDIS
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Assess Employees: Your payroll application can be used to assess your staff for pension eligibility.
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Create and Update Employee Records: You can add new employees or update details for existing ones.
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Submit Pension Contributions: Pre-calculated pension contributions can be submitted directly.
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Set Pay Periods: You can define pay period start and end dates. We accept various frequencies, including weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, bi-annually, and annually.
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Edit or Delete Records: If there are errors, you can amend or delete records after uploading them.
Understanding Assessment and Event Codes
Assessment and event codes are numeric values generated by your payroll system. These codes must be included when uploading the PAPDIS file. If your payroll software doesn’t provide these numeric codes, you can use equivalent terms, such as "Eligible Jobholder" for code 1.
Below is a breakdown of common Assessment Codes and Event Codes:
| Assessment Code | Event Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – Excluded | 0 – Not an enrolment event | Individual who does not need to be assessed and is either already a member or not a member of any scheme. |
| 0 – Excluded | 1 – Automatic enrolment/re-enrolment | Not applicable – EventCode should be disregarded. |
| 0 – Excluded | 2 – Opt-In | Not applicable – EventCode should be disregarded. |
| 0 – Excluded | 3 – Voluntary Joiner/Joiner | A voluntary joiner who does not need to be assessed (e.g., an excluded worker or company director). |
| 0 – Excluded | 4 – Contractual Enrolment | A worker who is contractually enrolled (e.g., an overseas resident). |
| 1 – Eligible Jobholder | 0 – Not an enrolment event | An eligible jobholder being contractually enrolled. May have previously opted out or ceased membership. |
| 1 – Eligible Jobholder | 1 – Automatic enrolment/re-enrolment | An eligible jobholder being automatically enrolled or re-enrolled. |
| 1 – Eligible Jobholder | 2 – Opt-In | An eligible jobholder who has chosen to opt-in to the scheme. |
| 1 – Eligible Jobholder | 3 – Voluntary Joiner/Joiner | An eligible jobholder who has opted to join a different level pension scheme. |
| 1 – Eligible Jobholder | 4 – Contractual Enrolment | An eligible jobholder being contractually enrolled. |
| 2 – Non-eligible Jobholder | 0 – Not an enrolment event | A non-eligible jobholder, until a future assessment deems them eligible. |
| 2 – Non-eligible Jobholder | 1 – Automatic enrolment/re-enrolment | A non-eligible jobholder being re-enrolled (e.g., after the previous scheme became non-qualifying). |
| 2 – Non-eligible Jobholder | 2 – Opt-In | A non-eligible jobholder who has opted in. |
| 2 – Non-eligible Jobholder | 3 – Voluntary Joiner/Joiner | A non-eligible jobholder joining a different pension scheme. |
| 2 – Non-eligible Jobholder | 4 – Contractual Enrolment | A non-eligible jobholder being contractually enrolled. |
| 3 – Entitled Worker | 0 – Not an enrolment event | An entitled worker until an assessment changes their status. |
| 3 – Entitled Worker | 1 – Automatic enrolment/re-enrolment | EventCode should be disregarded for entitled workers. |
| 3 – Entitled Worker | 2 – Opt-In | Opt-in is disregarded for entitled workers. The worker is treated as requesting to join the scheme. |
| 3 – Entitled Worker | 3 – Voluntary Joiner/Joiner | An entitled worker requesting to join a pension scheme. |
| 3 – Entitled Worker | 4 – Contractual Enrolment | An entitled worker being contractually enrolled. |
| Blank | 0 – Not an enrolment event | An individual with no worker category or unknown status. |
| Blank | 1 – Automatic enrolment/re-enrolment | A jobholder being automatically enrolled or a non-eligible jobholder being re-enrolled. |
| Blank | 2 – Opt-In | A jobholder opting into a pension scheme. |
| Blank | 3 – Voluntary Joiner/Joiner | A voluntary joiner of unknown worker category. |
| Blank | 4 – Contractual Enrolment | An individual being contractually enrolled but category is unknown. |
The PAPDIS file standard is a powerful tool for managing pension contributions and ensuring that your staff’s pensions are properly assessed and reported. By ensuring that your payroll software is generating the correct codes and including all required details in your PAPDIS file, you can streamline the submission process.
If you need further assistance, contact your payroll provider or our support team for help.