Jenny has worked for a council for 25 years and was in her work's scheme for the first 10 years. But then, like millions of other women, she took time out to have a family and stopped her contributions. "I'm wondering whether I ought to rejoin the scheme, " says Jenny who now works three days a week and earns £19,000 a year. "My husband, Jim, is self-employed and only has a small pension, too, so I must do something about saving for retirement. But you hear such bad things about pensions these days, I'm worried I might be throwing away my money."

Independent pensions specialist Nicola Downs says Jenny should definitely restart her payments.

"Part-timers used to be excluded from employer schemes but now they enjoy the same rights so Jenny should go for it," she advises.

"Joining a company scheme, where your employer makes contributions as well, makes total sense. Local government ones are usually very good with guarantees and based on final salaries - something that's becoming increasingly rare, " she adds.

Jenny should expect to contribute six per cent of her salary - around £74.10 of her monthly pay after tax. "But she still has a dilemma on her hands. If she can afford to, she will need to add more so she can make the most of the working years left, " stresses Nicola.

Jenny needs answers to three questions: how much is it going to cost her, when can she join and what is the current estimate of her benefits at retirement.

"She can then calculate what more she needs to live on in retirement and, if possible, take out a private stakeholder pension to make up the shortfall."