Anyone with a job urged to make 1 simple change to boost pension

Workers across the UK are being urged to make one simple change to boost their pension savings now for retirement.

The latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the average life expectancy for men in the UK in 2025 is 82.07 years and 85.3 years for women. The ONS said life expectancy for men has increased faster than for women so the gender gap is narrowing, and now that people are living well into their 80s, it has significant implications on their savings. Finance experts have warned that the higher life expectancy puts pressure on people to build up enough savings to last throughout retirement, while also raising questions about the sustainability of the triple lock.

To help secure financial security in retirement, experts are urging working people to start taking action now by making one simple change that will help boost their pension pot.

According to experts, the easiest way to grow your pension savings is simply by boosting your pension contributions at work. You can do this every time you get a pay rise, or if you start a new job, and this will make a big difference down the road. You should also check that you are maxing out your employer's contributions.

The Pensions Act 2008 states that every employer in the UK must put certain staff into a workplace pension scheme and contribute towards it in a process called 'automatic enrolment'.

Employers that have at least one member of staff have certain legal duties and must pay at least 3% of their employee's 'qualifying earnings' into their staff's pension scheme. Under most schemes this is normally earnings between £6,240 and £50,270 a year before tax.

Employers must then deduct contributions from their staff's pay each month to put into their pension pot.

Most employers will allow staff to increase their contributions above the minimum 3% and may offer the option to 'match' the extra money staff put in up to a certain limit, meaning you can easily benefit from a bigger boost to your savings.

Helen Morrissey, head of retirement analysis, Hargreaves Lansdown said the prospect of people living into their 90s and beyond "has massive implications for our own pension saving".

She advised: "If you were hoping to retire at age 65 then you need to prepare for the prospect of generating an income that could last 35 years or more.

"It's a challenging idea but starting early is key - the longer you save, the more time you have for your money to grow. Taking small actions, such as boosting your contributions every time you get a pay rise or new job, can make a huge difference.

"You should also make sure you are getting the most from your employer's contributions. If they are willing to offer an employer match, whereby they increase their contribution if you boost yours, then this can really power up your pension saving."

Research from the Pensions and Lifetimes Savings Association (PLSA) published earlier this year found that while almost half (48%) of people understand how to change their pension contributions with their employer, around 50% have never actually done it.

Zoe Alexander, Director Policy & Advocacy at PLSA, said: "This research underscores the gap between knowledge and action when it comes to pensions. People understand the need to save more, they know how to do it, they even want to do it, but for many, it simply doesn't happen.

"Pensions can feel like a distant concern, but that attitude is leading to poor outcomes down the line. Those with defined contribution pensions are more likely to need to take positive action themselves to secure the retirement they expect, as the default 8% savings rate may fall short. Small actions, like reviewing investments, slightly increasing contributions, or maximising employer matching, can significantly impact long-term outcomes.

"However, employers and policymakers need to consider clearer guidance and behavioural nudges to help people act sooner rather than later. The process needs to be as simple and straightforward as possible, and we need to help people make their pension savings a more immediate priority, especially if they have the ability to save more. Without addressing this disconnect, many people will continue to miss out on the retirement they hope for."