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USS pension scheme

Universities Superannuation Scheme

USS (Universities Superannuation Scheme), was established in 1974 and they are the principal pension scheme for universities and higher education institutions in the UK, the largest private pension scheme in the country in terms of assets. 

The USS pension scheme is a Hybrid scheme which consists of two sections.

USS is open to employees who are on the Academic/Other Related contracts and as per your terms and conditions of employment, you will be contractually enrolled into the scheme.

Joining and managing USS

I am a new joiner

You will receive an auto-enrolment e-mail soon after joining informing you of your membership to the USS Pension Scheme. The University will register you with USS Ltd and you will be sent a membership certificate. You will also be sent details of how to register with MYUSS.

Please refer to the following links for further information:

I want to re-join USS

You can re-join the USS pension scheme at any time. Please send your request via the HR Portal and select Pensions. 

My USS

To view your USS benefits, or to pay any Additional Voluntary Contributions, it is suggested you sign up for your ‘My USS’ member account.

I want to increase my pension contributions

As long as you're already building a pension within USS, you can choose to pay extra into the scheme and build an Investment Builder pot to save that bit extra for your retirement.

Life Events

Information on life events, marriage, divorce, becoming a parent, absence, ill-health and death.

I am going on a secondment

If you are have been seconded to another role, you can find further information on how this may affect your Pension.

My role has been regraded or I have been promoted

More information on how a regraded role or promotion will impact your pension.

Leaving the USS pension scheme

I am leaving USS

Find out more about your options:

I want to retire

There are several options that you can consider when planning your retirement. Information concerning your options, planning, tools and what to do next, can be found below:

Once you have made your decision and you wish to retire, please contact the pensions office via the Pensions option in the HR Portal for further information concerning the retirement process. Please note that USS will require your completed retirement forms at least 3 months' before your retirement date.

Opting Out

You can opt-out of the scheme from your joining date (please refer to your Auto-enrolment e-mail ), or you can withdraw from the scheme at any time, giving the relevant notice period. Information concerning your benefits when opting-out or withdrawing from USS can be found on the USS site.

To opt out, please send your request via the HR Portal and select Pensions. 

Ill Health Retirement

If you are considering retirement due to ill health, please inform the pensions team and contact your HR adviser in instigate the ill health application process.  Further information on USS ill health can be found on the USS website. 

Other useful links

Calculation tools

Tools are available on the USS website for the Benefit illustrator, AVCs, Annual Allowance, Benefit Conversion tools for scheme and MPAVC/Investment Builder, Deferred Pension Increase Modeller, Scheme Pays and USS Factors.

USS valuation

USS member updates

As a USS member, you have access to free webinars provided by Mercer that will help you make the decisions that are right for you now and in the future. USS member webinars

Get more dedicated member articles straight to your inbox

Sign up to our member news and updates in My USS to learn more about your pension and get to grips with your savings for the future

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