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Pensions & Benefits - Pensions

USS Scheme Guide

Pensions - USS Page

For information on the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) which is available to staff of grade 7 and above please see the information below.  Alternatively contact Elaine Millard, Pensions & Employee Benefits Manager or Peter Brookes, Pensions & Employee Benefits Administrator for more details. 

For information on the Review of USS please click here

IMPORTANT NOTE – ABOUT YOUR MEMBERSHIP OF THE UNIVERSITIES SUPERANNUATION SCHEME (USS)

Your contract of employment will state if your university employment is subject to membership of USS.  If your contract is pensionable you are automatically a member of the scheme until you opt out (except if you are ineligible for membership – see below).  Please also note that the university is operating USS as a “salary sacrifice” arrangement, the implications of which are explained in USS’S Salary SacrificeFactsheet.

Opting out of Membership

If you do not wish to join USS you must complete the appropriate form and return it to the University’s Pensions Office at the commencement of your university employment.

Ineligible for Membership

If you have a pensionable contract of employment you will not be entered into the scheme if you are ineligible for membership.  These are the only reasons for not being eligible for USS membership:

  • You are aged 60 or over at the commencement of your relevant Aston University pensionable employment (except if you are coming from another institution where you are already contributing to USS).  If you are age 60 and over you can apply to join the scheme if you wish.

  • You carry out the majority of your duties for the University in a European Union country other than the United Kingdom.

  • You are already in receipt of a pension from USS.

More detailed information about USS can be found at http://www.uss.co.uk

If you join USS, a copy of the appropriate 'Guide for Members' will be sent to you with your membership certificate.