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Postponements: Delaying pension assessment

Why you might delay enrolment – and how to do it right 

Sometimes you’re not quite ready to enrol new employees straight away. Maybe they’re seasonal, on probation, or you just need a bit more time to get set up. 

That’s where postponement comes in. It lets you delay assessing certain employees – without missing any legal deadlines. 

What is postponement? 

Postponement gives you up to three months before you have to assess whether an employee should join your pension scheme. 

You can apply it to some team members or everyone – whatever works best for your setup. 

During that time: 

  • You don’t need to enrol them just yet. 
  • But you do need to let them know in writing – with clear info on when auto-enrolment will apply. 

Why would I use it? 

There are plenty of good reasons to postpone, including: 

  • Seasonal or short-term roles – for staff staying less than three months. 
  • Probation periods – when eligibility might change. 
  • Extra admin time – if your payroll or pension setup isn’t ready yet. 
  • Other business needs – as long as you follow the rules, it’s your call. 

When can I apply it? 

You can postpone from: 

  • Your duties start date. 
  • An employee’s first day at work. 
  • The day someone first meets the auto-enrolment criteria. 

Important: Postponement doesn’t change your overall duties start date or your deadline to complete the Declaration of Compliance. It just shifts when each person is assessed. 

And remember – you’ll need to apply it within six weeks of when an employee becomes eligible. 

How to apply postponement in Thrive 

If you're using the Thrive Employer Portal, just follow these steps: 

  1. Update your PAPDIS file using your payroll software – flag anyone you’re postponing 
  2. Log in to the Thrive Employer Portal 
  3. Go to Payroll and Contributions 
  4. Select PAPDIS contribution upload 
  5. Upload the updated file with the postponement flag included 

Need a hand? You’ll find a full step-by-step guide in our help centre. 

Got questions? 

We’re here to help. Whether you're unsure about the rules, stuck on your file, or want to check if postponement makes sense for your team, just get in touch. 

  • Call: 01452 922000 
  • Email: help@mythrive.co.uk 
  • Live chat: Available on the Thrive website during business hours 

Postponement gives you a bit of breathing room – but it’s still part of your compliance journey. With Thrive, you’ll stay on track and in control, every step of the way.