Other UK pension providers guide
Overview
If your pension provider is not Smart Pension, The People's Pension or NEST, you can still run auto-enrolment in ABBPay with a custom scheme. ABBPay calculates contributions and produces standard PAPDIS files (XML or CSV) that most providers accept for upload. This works for providers such as Aviva, Royal London or Scottish Widows.
Before you start
- You have access to Payroll > Pensions.
- You have your scheme name, employer reference from the provider, and the scheme's address.
- Confirm the scheme is a qualifying workplace scheme for auto-enrolment.
Setting up the scheme
- Go to Payroll > Pensions > Pension Schemes > Add Scheme and choose the custom scheme option.
- Enter the scheme name, employer reference and address, and confirm it is a qualifying scheme.
- Save, then add one or more groups.
Pension groups
Groups use the full set of options: contribution type (salary sacrifice, net pay arrangement, after tax, relief at source), percentage or fixed amounts, employee and employer rates, earnings basis and payment day. See Pension providers overview.
Assessing and enrolling employees
Everything in the overview applies: the morning auto-enrolment check, the employee Pension tab actions, postponement with tracked notices, re-enrolment reminders and the Declaration of Compliance PDF.
After each pay run
- Complete the pay run.
- Open the pay run's Pension Contributions page and review totals and per-employee lines.
- Download the file your provider asks for: PAPDIS 1.0 CSV, PAPDIS XML, CSV or Excel.
- Upload it to your provider's portal.
- Mark the contributions as paid, with a reference.
Custom schemes are not sent automatically, so the file export is always your step.
Tips and FAQ
Which file should I choose? Ask your provider whether it accepts PAPDIS. If so, use XML or the PAPDIS CSV. Otherwise use CSV or Excel.
Can I run more than one custom scheme? Yes.
Opt-outs and leavers? Record them on the employee's Pension tab and tell your provider as well.