---
title: "Introduction to Pensions"
slug: "introduction-to-pensions"
updated: 2026-07-13T10:25:48Z
published: 2026-07-13T10:25:48Z
canonical: "help.cintra.co.uk/introduction-to-pensions"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.cintra.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Introduction to Pensions

A pension is a benefit scheme that pays benefits to a person in the event of retirement, death, ill-health, or reach a particular age. Other examples of benefit schemes that your employer may offer include private health insurance, cycle-to-work, and subsidised childcare.

If you're unfamiliar with any pension terminology, see [Pensions: Key concepts, glossary, and terminology](/iq/docs/pensions-key-concepts-glossary-and-terminology).

## Overview of pension cycle

### Initial set-up

- Set up pension scheme(s) and provider(s)
- Configure employee letters

See [Administrators: Setting up Pension Schemes](/iq/docs/administrators-setting-up-pension-schemes).

### Regular pensions tasks

- Add new starters and complete all other payroll entry (salaries, timesheets etc)
- Perform assessment for auto-enrolment
- Assign employees to pension schemes
- Process any other pension changes (contribution changes, opt-outs etc)
- Calculate payroll
- Generate pension letters
- Produce reports
- Submit files to pension providers

See [Payroll Staff: Managing Pensions](/iq/docs/payroll-staff-managing-pensions).

## User roles for managing pensions

The tasks you need to perform will vary, depending on your role in Cintra iQ. The articles in the table below provide more information on the typical tasks that someone with that role must perform, together with links to How To guides to explain how to perform them.

| **Role** | **Typical pension-related tasks** | **Link to articles** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Employee** | View information about your pension Access your pension letters Request changes to your pension | [Employees: Viewing your Pension Information](/iq/docs/employees-viewing-your-pension-information) |
| **Administrator** | Set up and manage pension schemes Configure employee letters | [Administrators: Setting up Pensions](/iq/docs/administrators-setting-up-pension-schemes) |
| **Payroll Staff** | Manage new starters and leavers Handle changes to contributions Manage auto-enrolment and contractual pensions. Reporting Issuing payments | [Payroll Staff: Managing Pensions](/iq/docs/payroll-staff-managing-pensions) |
| **Finance Staff** | Updating journals | [Finance Staff: Recording Pension Information](/iq/docs/finance-staff-recording-pension-information) |

## How to guides

This help contains a series of articles containing step-by-step instructions on how to perform any task or use any screen within Cintra iQ. If you know exactly what help you need, either use the help's **Search** function or **browse** through the following How To folders.

- **Folder**: For how to articles on setting up pensions and other benefit schemes: [Pensions & other benefits](/iq/docs/pension-scheme-setup)
- **Folder**: For how to articles on setting up provider details and pension provider files: [Benefit schemes](/iq/docs/parental-benefits-and-schemes)
- **Folder**: For how to articles on setting up employer details: [Third party association](/iq/docs/third-party-association)
- **Folder**: For how to articles on managing employee pensions:: [Employer set up](/iq/docs/employer-setup)
- **Folder**: For how to articles on setting up letters: [Letters](/iq/docs/letters)