USS pension scheme

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:

• An explanation and breakdown of the USS Pension Scheme 
• Joiners  - An Introduction to USS with further information on scheme details, contributions and benefits.
• MYUSS - Member portal for Investment Builder
• Transferring into USS
• Opting out of the Pension Scheme - 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.
• Expression of Wish forms

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

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

• MYUSS ( Member portal for Investment Builder ) 
• Member Newsletter – sign up and view archives

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.

• Maximising your pension
• MYUSS (Member portal for Investment Builder)
• Transferring into USS

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

• Life events
• Expression of Wish forms

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

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

Find out more about your options:

• Leavers 
• Opting out of the Pension Scheme - 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. To opt out, please visit the HR Portal and select Pensions. 
• Transferring out of USS

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:

• Retirement
• Guidance and Financial Advice 
• Modellers

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

• 2020 USS valuation
• 2018 USS valuation
• 2017 USS valuation

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

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

• Working or retiring overseas 
• Pensions tax – Information on Annual Allowance, Lifetime Allowance. Enhanced Opt-out, Voluntary Salary Cap and Scheme Pays
• Retired members -  Information on how to help you keep on top of your pension
• Deferred members
• USS News and recent updates – Keep up to date with the latest updates
• USS FAQs
• USS contact details