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Postponements: Delaying pension assessment 

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

Sometimes a client company isn’t ready to enrol new employees straight away. Maybe they’re seasonal, on probation, or they just need a bit more time to get set up. 

That’s where postponement comes in. It lets employers delay assessing certain employees – without missing any legal deadlines. As an adviser, you can help them apply it correctly.

What is postponement? 

Postponement gives the company up to three months before they have to assess whether an employee should join the pension scheme. 

It can apply to some employees or to the whole workforce, whatever works best for the company’s setup. 

During that time: 

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

Why would they use it? 

There are plenty of reasons a company might use postponement, including: 

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

When can they apply it? 

A company can apply postponement from:

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

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

And remember – they’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 Adviser Portal, select the relevant company and follow these steps: 

  1. Update the PAPDIS file using the company's payroll software – flag anyone you’re postponing 
  2. Sign in to the Thrive Adviser Portal 
  3. Go to Payroll and Contributions 
  4. Select PAPDIS contribution upload 
  5. Upload the updated company 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 or want to check if postponement makes sense for a client company's employees, just get in touch. 

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

Postponement gives companies some breathing room – but it’s still part of their compliance journey. With Thrive, you can keep every client on track and compliant.