Life cover
to support your family if you die
whilst paying in
Did you know as a USS member you'll get...
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A guaranteed income for life
in retirement and a cash lump sum with the Retirement Income Builder -
A spouse or civil partner's pension
and in some cases a dependant's pension,
giving peace of mind that they’ll be looked after -
Ill health benefits
if you’re eligible and unable to work
long-term
You’ve joined USS
Now you've started your savings journey with us, it’s important to understand how your pension works, what you’re saving and whether it'll be enough for your future.
While you’re paying in to USS, you’re building a pension which is increased in line with inflation (up to a certain amount), giving you an element of inflation protection. You’re also eligible for a range of benefits to help support you and your loved ones.
For more information about building benefits and savings with USS, and what you should do next, visit our you’re a new joiner pages or watch our video.
Video transcript PDF
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What happens when you join USS pdf (80kb)
Understand USS - a hybrid pension scheme
Being a USS member gives you a guaranteed income for life in retirement, plus a tax-free (up to a limit) cash lump sum, with the Retirement Income Builder – the defined benefit (DB) part of USS.
You could also build up a savings pot to access through a range of flexible options with the Investment Builder – the defined contribution (DC) part. You’ll pay in to this if you earn above the salary threshold, transfer in a pension from elsewhere or choose to pay additional contributions, and you’ll be able to make decisions about how your savings are invested.
Learn about both parts in how your pension works.
Register for My USS - your membership at your fingertips
It takes minutes to register with your member number and you can:
- Keep track of your benefits and any savings
- Use our calculators and tools to understand what you pay and what you’ll get
- Complete or update forms to let us know who you’d like to receive your benefits when you die
- Make savings and investment decisions for your Investment Builder pot that are right for you
- Update your contact email address – we recommend using a personal one so we can keep in touch if you change jobs or retire
You can see any Investment Builder savings in My USS, but you won’t be able to see all your Retirement Income Builder benefits straight away. You’ll see these once you receive your first Annual Member Statement from us, typically in the Autumn after you joined, depending on when you joined.
The value of being a USS member
Every contribution counts, whether you’ve entered permanent employment, a fixed-term contract, or you’ll only be working in the UK for a short time. You can save for your future with USS, and benefit from pension contributions from your employer.
If you’re new to USS or have just re-joined, take a look at what you pay and what you’ll get to find out more about your contributions and what you’ll receive in return. As a member, you’re entitled to support including ill health benefits, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria, and life cover.
Use our calculators in My USS
You can estimate the monthly cost to you with our Contributions & Tax calculator, and find out what you could get with our Benefit Calculator, in My USS.
Attend a free Your USS pension basics webinar
Join the 45-minute session live and have a chance to ask questions, or listen to a pre-recorded version at your convenience.
It’ll cover topics you may find useful as a new member, including an overview of how USS works and how your benefits build up, the benefits which could help support your loved ones, and your options at retirement.
Keeping you informed
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Video guide
My USS: How to make additional contributions
Learn how to make additional contributions in My USS. -
9 May 2023
Bust the pensions jargon
Planning for your future’s tough enough without industry phrases getting in the way. Check out some of the most common. -
15 March 2023
A quick check now could really help future you
It’s important you get to know your pension and keep up to date on what you’re likely to get when you retire. Future you will thank you for it.
Help and information when you need it
Keep an eye on our latest member news to stay updated throughout your savings journey.
No matter what stage of your career you’re at, our help & support page also has FAQs which may help to answer any questions you have.