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What to do next

Let's find out more about your next steps as a USS member

Start making the most of your membership

Understanding the benefits you’re entitled to as a member, along with the actions you can take and the support available, can help put you on track for your future.

  • Manage your membership
    anytime with My USS

  • Help support your
    loved ones
    in the future by
    completing forms

  • Estimate the monthly cost to you
     with our Contributions and Tax calculator

Please note: If you have a medical condition that could cause you to retire within five years, read our Ill health retirement factsheet as you may need to take action.

The first steps to expect

  • If your role is eligible for a USS pension, your employer will auto enrol you into USS.
  • Your employer will send us your details, and we’ll send you a welcome email with all the info you need to get registered for My USS, your online portal for managing your membership.
  • We’ll start to receive pension contributions from you and your employer – you should see deductions from your first or second pay packet.

Activate your account online with My USS and keep your membership at your fingertips

Once you’ve registered with your member number and logged in to My USS, view the notifications on your summary page and:

  • Update your contact email address – we recommend using a personal one so we can stay in touch, even if you move jobs or retire.
  • Estimate the monthly cost to you by using our Contributions and Tax calculator, and see how much your employer is contributing to your pension while you’re a USS member.
  • Think about whether you want to make any additional contributions to increase your savings.
Register/log in

Watch our short video for an overview of My USS and what it can do for you.

Start keeping your forms up to date

You should complete some forms right away as it’s good to keep things in order. We understand your circumstances may change over time. 

We recommend you update these forms at least every three years so we know they’re correct, even if your wishes haven’t changed. You can update both by logging in to My USS.

Find out more about what happens to your pension when you die.

Tell us who you’d like us to pay a lump sum to when you die.

The final decision about who receives this benefit rests with us but we’ll consider your wishes when we make our decision.

You should complete this form if you’re not married or in a civil partnership, or you’re no longer living with your spouse/civil partner. Please let us know if there is someone financially dependent on you who you’d want to receive the equivalent of a spouse’s pension when you die.

The final decision about who receives your benefits will rest with us, but we’ll consider your choice when we make our decision.

You should consider how tax will impact the amount you can build up and take from your pension savings. There are things you can do to manage your tax liability, which are particularly useful if you’re a high earner.

As a USS member you can access guidance provided by Mercer and, if you need it, financial advice.

To find out more, take a look at pension tax.

Attend a New to USS webinar

Understand more about USS and how your pension works by signing up for a free webinar, provided by Mercer. Alternatively, you can watch a previously recorded session at a time that works for you.

It’ll cover useful topics including an overview of what you pay and what you could get for your membership, how your benefits build up, the benefits available to your loved ones when you die.

Register now

Find out about transferring your pension from elsewhere

If you have pension savings elsewhere that you haven’t started taking and the scheme is registered with HMRC, you could transfer them to the Investment Builder - the defined contribution (DC) part of USS.

You should consider taking financial advice before making a transfer, and you may be required to take guidance in certain circumstances. If you’re transferring more than £30,000 from a defined benefit scheme, you must speak to an independent financial adviser first. You can find information on how to access an independent financial adviser and other resources on the guidance and financial advice page.

For more information and what you need to do, visit Transferring in to USS.

Keeping you informed

  • 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.
    Read more
  • 22 March 2023

    Pension tax changes that might affect you

    The government’s changes may affect your pensions tax liabilities, so there are some things you need to know about.

    Read more
  • 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.

    Read more

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