A guaranteed income for life
in retirement and a cash lump sum with the Retirement Income Builder
Did you know as a USS member you'll get...
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Life cover
to support your family if you die
whilst paying in -
Ill health benefits
if you’re eligible and unable to work
long-term -
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
Make the most of your USS membership
While you’re paying in to USS, you’re not only saving for your retirement – you’re also eligible for a range of benefits to help support you and your loved ones.
A reminder of how USS works
Visit My USS - your membership at your fingertips
It takes minutes to register with your member number, or you can log in to your existing My USS account and:
- Keep your email address updated. Providing a personal one will enable us to keep in touch, even if you change jobs or retire
- 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
- Choose to make additional contributions, or make investment decisions for any savings you have in your Investment Builder pot that are right for you.
Plan for the future you want
No matter how far away retirement may seem, keeping track of your savings and benefits can help you make informed decisions about your future.
Think about the lifestyle you want when you retire, and look at how much you’ll need to achieve it. Our calculators and tools in My USS can help you keep an eye on how your savings might look when it’s time to take them.
You may have savings in both the Retirement Income Builder – the defined benefit (DB) part of USS; and the Investment Builder – the defined contribution (DC) part – if you earn over the salary threshold. Either way, you have the choice to make additional contributions into a DC pot.
Find out more about the key features of the Investment Builder.
Our guidance and financial advice page features useful webinars, provided by Mercer, which can help you understand more about your pension and the steps you might need to take for the future you want. It can also point you towards guidance from other sources, and where to find advice if you need it.
Understand how key life events could affect your pension
Think about what a potential savings journey to retirement could look like, with milestones that might be important to you.
Whether you’re moving home, focusing on family, or adjusting in your career; looking at how life events affect your pension can help you understand your options at various stages.
You’ll also find more information on how changes you might not have planned for, like getting divorced or no longer being able to work due to ill health, could have an impact.
You may be eligible for more than just a pension with USS, so other benefits could support you along the way.
Retirement could happen in stages
If you’re approaching or have already reached later working life, it’s important to be aware of the range of choices that could be available to you.
Reading about your options at different ages and stages can help you understand when you can fully or flexibly retire with your Retirement Income Builder benefits, and what it could mean for your pension if you wish to keep working.
If you’ve already flexibly retired and you’re continuing to work and build benefits while receiving a proportion of your USS pension, find out more about your potential next steps on our you’re flexibly retired page.
You also have a range of flexible options to start accessing any Investment Builder savings from the minimum pension age of 55 (rising to 57 in 2028 for some members), even if you haven’t retired. Look at the ways you could use your Investment Builder pot.
Update us on your plans and wishes
As you continue your savings journey, there’s a few things you should keep updated in My USS to prepare you and your loved ones for the future
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Complete your Expression of Wish form
While you’re paying in to USS you get life cover to help look after your loved ones if you die.
Tell us who you’d want to receive a lump sum that may be payable by keeping your Expression of Wish form updated every three years, even if your wishes haven’t changed.
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Register a potential dependant
If you’re not married or in a civil partnership, tell us who you’d want to receive the equivalent of a spouse’s pension when you die.
Keep your Registration of a potential dependant form updated so we can take your wishes into consideration.
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Set your Target Retirement Age (TRA)
If you have Investment Builder savings, you’ll need to let us know when you plan to retire so we can help you make sure your investments are in the right place at the right time.
It’s particularly important if you’re over the age of 50 and in later working life.
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. -
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.
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.