Pension notifications (Beta)

The information relates to the Pension Notifications feature for NEST-connected schemes. This is in Beta testing as of August 2026. If you would like to join the Beta group, contact your account manager.

If a pension scheme is connected to NEST and set up to retrieve and apply incoming updates automatically, use the Pension Notifications (Beta) tab to view opt-out, stopped contribution, and refund notices as they come in, and to resolve any that need attention. This covers NEST only; support for other pension providers is not available yet.

Admin access is required to access and manage notices.

• Opt-out notices — the employee opted out of the pension. This can also result in a refund being applied automatically.

• Stopped contribution notices — NEST has sent notification that a member stopped contributing, outside the opt-out window.

• Refund notices — a pension refund has been issued.

Turn on automatic retrieval

Before notices can be retrieved, select Retrieve and apply incoming updates on the scheme's Provider tab.

How notices are retrieved

Every Payroll checks for new notices from NEST each morning, and again whenever a pay run moves to Open. Select Check for new notices on the Pension Notifications (Beta) tab to run an immediate check. The date and time of the last check is shown above the button.

If a check fails because NEST is temporarily unavailable, this is shown on the tab. Wait a few minutes, then select Check for new notices to try again.

Notices are matched to employees using their National Insurance A system of contributions paid by workers and employers in the UK, which funds various state benefits, such as the State Pension and Jobseeker's Allowance. (NI) number, or their Alt ID if the NI number does not match. If a match cannot be found, or the pension scheme details do not match, the notice is shown as Unmatched.

If Pay Run Notices Lock is on, notices are still retrieved and applied as normal, but the pay run is not recalculated until the lock is turned off.

Notice statuses

• Applied — the notice matched an employee and was applied to their record.

• Outstanding — a refund notice that's been applied to the employee's record, but still needs actioning in the pay run.

• Unmatched — no employee could be matched to the notice, or the pension scheme details did not match.

• Failed — the notice matched an employee, but could not be applied.

To check when an update was applied, and its source, open the employee's pension record.

Resolve a notice

Select a notice to view its details, including the reason for its status.

• If a notice shows as Unmatched, check and correct the employee's details, then select Retry.

• If a notice shows as Failed, review the reason and resolve it if needed, then select Retry.

• Select Mark as actioned to close an Unmatched or Failed notice already resolved manually.

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