How your work can shape the pension questions
Construction careers can include employment with several contractors, periods of self-employment and movement between sites. Some employments may be covered by sectoral pension and death-in-service requirements, while other periods may use a different workplace or personal arrangement.
Pension benefits and arrangements to identify
Check whether each employer enrolled you in the applicable construction-sector or occupational scheme and whether contributions were received. Identify preserved benefits after changing jobs and any PRSA or RAC used during self-employment. Do not transfer a sector benefit before checking death, protection and contribution features.
| Decision area | What to establish |
|---|---|
| Contribution record | Were employer and employee payments made for every covered period? |
| Changing jobs | Where are benefits from previous contractors held? |
| Employment status | Which periods were PAYE employment and which were self-employment? |
| Additional saving | Would an AVC, PRSA or RAC complement the existing arrangement? |
Documents to gather before a review
A useful review starts with evidence, not assumptions.
- Scheme statements and member number.
- Payslips and employment dates for each contractor.
- Records for self-employed income and personal pensions.
- Details of death-in-service or other protection benefits.
How an advisor can help
An advisor can trace the structure of the known arrangements, compare preserved and transfer options, assess additional saving and show how irregular employment affects the retirement projection. Scheme contribution discrepancies should be raised with the employer or scheme administrator.
What the review should produce
Ask for a clear record of the pensions included, benefits that could be lost, all product and advice charges, the assumptions used, the recommended contribution or retirement strategy and the next review date. A personal recommendation should follow a full fact-find and suitability assessment.
Last reviewed: 21 September 2026. Rules depend on your circumstances.
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