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Preparing for retirement

Hear from members who’ve done it

A pensioner and a member closer to retirement give their thoughts on how much you might need

How much will you need a year in your retirement?

This month we look at Paying Your Pension Some Attention, to see how members tackle planning in the run up to retirement. What are you doing? Will you be in a similar boat to the members sharing their thoughts?

Pensions UK estimates the average single person will need a minimum of £13,400 a year to live on in retirement. For a moderate lifestyle, that rises to £31,700 or for a comfortable retirement, as much as £43,900 is needed.

We’ve been talking to members who are retired or getting closer to retirement, to get their thoughts on what you might need when you retire and to hear what they think would help other members getting closer to retirement.

Hear from Jon, who has retired early and Harriet aged 55, who is in the midst of her retirement planning.

Listen to the podcast below, or read a summary of the podcast.

Podcast transcript

Please note, the contributors to the podcast are not pensions or financial experts and are speaking about their own personal experiences. Planning for your own retirement may mean you'll need to take tailored expert advice. Visit our guidance and financial advice page for more information on how to do so.

A good place to start any retirement plan is logging in to My USS and using the Benefit Calculator to estimate what you might get when you retire.

For more information on approaching retirement register for our latest webinar on Wednesday 29 October.


Published: 21 October 2025