Opting out and withdrawing

You can choose to leave USS once you've been enrolled.

Less than three months membership

If you've been a member of USS for less than three months, then you can opt out of the scheme and your election is effective from the next available payroll run.

Three months membership or more

If you've contributed to USS for three months or more, then USS refers to this as a "withdrawal" rather than an opt out. In order to withdraw from USS, you need to give 28 days notice of your decision. Your contributions will cease from the end of the month in which that 28 day notice period expires.

You can find the form that you'll need to complete on the USS website.

Completed forms should be returned by email to pensions@york.ac.uk or in the internal mail to the Pensions Office, Heslington Hall.

You can read more about whether or not you'll be able to receive a refund of your contributions and what your benefits will be after leaving on the USS website

Less than 2 years membership

If you leave with less than two years' qualifying service (excluding opting out within the first three months), you will be entitled to the same leaver benefits as a leaver with two years or more years' qualifying service.

This means that early leavers have the following options on leaving:

• A refund of your contributions (if you did not pay contributions via salary sacrifice)
• A transfer payment
• A pension and lump sum amount calculated in the same way as if you were entitled to deferred benefits

For more information about leaver options, please visit the "Leaving or already left" page on the USS website.

Your USS benefits when you leave the University

If you are leaving the University for another institution that participates in the USS scheme, you can take your membership with you.

If your new employer doesn't participate in the USS scheme then you will need to check the leaver information on the USS website for your options. If you have contributed through Pensions Extra, this can also affect any outcome on your move.

Watch a short video about leaving USS. Take a look at the detailed information about leaving USS on their website or review the USS' FAQs.

Retiring from the University

The normal pension age in USS is currently 66. However, you could retire before or after this age.

Please refer to the Retiring from the scheme guide and the Retirement factsheet for full information on retirement and the different types.

The University of York retirement guidelines describe the the process of seeking retirement and flexible retirement.