Another reassuring benefit which is provided by USS is what we call ‘incapacity retirement’.
Subject to having two years' USS membership in aggregate, the scheme will pay you a pension from any age if you are suffering from an illness or condition that prevents you from working or reduces your capacity to work.
Obviously there is a claims procedure but we’re not an insurance company. We simply want to make sure that any benefit we pay is within the rules and that you are entitled to receive it.
If you are currently paying into the scheme, there are two levels of benefit offering differing amounts of pension depending on how serious your illness or condition is:
- 'Total incapacity benefit' is based on your potential service to age 65
- 'Partial incapacity benefit' is based on the service you have built up in the scheme.
If you are not currently paying in to the scheme, then the calculation of the pension is different. It is simply the full value of your pension (plus any cash you decide to take) at the point you retire.
For full information on this benefit please see our factsheet ten - retirement on the grounds of partial or total incapacity. If you have left the scheme, see factsheet seventeen - early payment of deferred benefits .