If you take authorised unpaid leave on or after 1 April 2026, you will build pension benefits if the absence is 14 days or less. This is because authorised unpaid absences of 14 days or less are now automatically pensionable.
When you return to work, your employer will arrange for the additional contributions to be deducted from your next months’ pay.
If you take authorised unpaid leave of 15 days or more, this is not automatically pensionable, and you will need to buy back any pension that you lost during this period through a Qualifying Additional Pension Arrangement (QAPA).
If you are buying back pension ‘lost’ during a period of authorised unpaid absence of 15 days or more that began on or after 1 April 2026, the cost will be in line with your standard contributions, but you must apply to do so within one year of returning to work. You employer will also pay their usual contributions on the ‘lost’ pension.
If your authorised unpaid leave began before 1 April 2026, you can buy back the 'lost' pension through an Additional Pension Contributions (APC) arrangement.
Get a quote
Your employer will provide you with the full options relating to a QAPA when you return to work, including how much this will cost if you paid a single lump sum or if you were to pay in instalments. If you agree to enter into the QAPA, your employer will send the details onto us.
Absences due to illness or injury
If you're absent from work due to illness or injury, there's no need to enter into a QAPA or APC arrangement. Your pension still builds up as if you were at work. Your employer will still pay into your pension through assumed pensionable pay. This is regardless of the length of your absence.
Unauthorised absences
You’re responsible for the full cost of buying your lost pension if your absence is unauthorised (such as strike action), or if you apply after the 30-day deadline following your return to work.
To find out how much an APC might cost, you'll need to know how much pay you lost during your unpaid absence. Your employer's payroll or HR department can tell you this.
Our APC webpage provides further information. If you want to go ahead after getting a quote, you can print your application form directly from the calculator.
Make sure that you understand the terms and conditions, then send your printed form to your employer.
Go to the buy lost pension calculator