Please note we no longer conduct this survey.
Aim of this survey
The Occupational Pension Schemes Survey (OPSS) collects information from pension schemes about scheme membership, benefits and contributions and includes sections on very small schemes (schemes with 2 to 11 members) and those that are winding up. The OPSS covers both private and public sector occupational pension schemes registered in the UK. Results from the OPSS provide a detailed view of the nature of occupational pension provision in the UK. This includes membership of schemes, the nature of the benefits provided and contributions paid.
The results are used by government departments (for example, the Department for Work and Pensions, HM Revenue and Customs), regulatory bodies (for example, The Pensions Regulator, the Financial Services Authority), trade unions, trade associations and industry bodies (for example, the Association of British Insurers, the National Association of Pension Funds), charities, research institutes (for example, the Institute of Fiscal Studies) and others such as the National Employment Savings Trust Corporation.
What you need to know
To complete the survey, you will need the following pension scheme information:
- membership figures
- benefit types
- scheme contributions
- scheme rules
- benefit accrual
- scheme status
All information you provide is strictly confidential.
Survey information
Selection criteria: The Pension Scheme Register, maintained by The Pensions Regulator, is used as the sampling frame. The frame covers all occupational pension schemes in the UK with two or more members.
Population: approximately 45,000 occupational pension schemes
Sample: approximately 1,600 schemes – 1,400 private, 200 public
Frequency: annual
Despatch date: between 5 and 7 September
Return-by date: between 4 and 6 October
Despatch and return-by dates are a guide. They are subject to change due to national holidays and weekends.
Why you have received this survey
You have been selected as an occupational pension scheme with two or more members.
Selection for this survey is determined by a stratified sample, taken from the Pension Scheme Register, with scheme membership and sector (public or private) used as stratification variables. Scheme membership refers to total membership – that is, active members, pensioner members and those with deferred entitlements.
Pension schemes with more than 5,000 members are always included in the sample and stratified sampling is used for schemes with fewer than 5,000 members.
The OPSS is conducted under the provisions of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947. Once selected, your business is legally obliged to comply. You cannot appeal your selection.
How to complete this survey
Please complete and return the questionnaire following the guidelines on the front page.
Reminders are issued automatically, so you may receive one if you submit data just before or after the return date.
At the moment this survey is not available to complete online. We are currently developing a secure online collection platform. You will receive a letter notifying you when you can complete the OPSS on our new platform. We appreciate your patience.
How to find out more information
You can call us on 0300 1234 912. Please contact us on 0300 1234 921 if you would like to speak to someone in Welsh.
Er mwyn gwneud cais am ffurflen Gymraeg - 0300 1234 921