Pensions

The Pensions team administer the tax-efficient pension schemes operated by the University for its employees.  Although they cannot provide you with financial advice, they can answer most questions about your pension and give general information about the University’s pension arrangements.

For new employees to the University, your contract’s Terms and Conditions includes enrolment for a pension scheme, further details concerning which workplace pension scheme you will be enrolled in will be forwarded to you in a workplace assessment letter.

You do have the right to Opt-out of your workplace pension scheme if you wish to. Your assessment letter will give you details as to how. If you are unable to obtain the opt-out form from the appropriate pension scheme’s website, please contact the pensions team.

Important changes to pensions for Fees/Casual Workers

For any casual work undertaken within the University of Birmingham, you will need to be assessed for membership of a workplace pension scheme.  

Due to a recent change in the Pension legislation the University of Birmingham is required to provide an appropriate workplace pension scheme for all of its employees and workers, which also include workers who carry out casual or fee paying work assignments.

If you meet the eligibility conditions for Auto-enrolment, an Assessment Letter will be issued to you outlining the options available to you. 

For casual employees who do not meet these eligibility conditions, you have the choice to join (Opt-in) the appropriate workplace pension scheme.  Should you require further details, please contact the Pensions Team.  

Should your casual/fee work placement be deemed as an ‘Academic/Other Related’ position, the appropriate workplace pension scheme will be the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), Career Revalued Benefit section of the scheme. Further details can be found on the USS website www.uss.co.uk

Should your casual/fee work placement be deemed as a ‘Support’ position, the appropriate workplace pension scheme will be the National Employment savings trust (NEST). Further details can be found on the NEST website.

Quick Links:

• USS Pension Scheme.
• NHS Pension Scheme.
• BPAS. 

The University offers members of USS, BPAS and GRP the opportunity to participate in a salary sacrifice arrangement for their pension contributions.  The arrangement enables staff to maintain their pension benefits whilst reducing the national insurance costs that they incur.  For further details please contact the pensions team.

Contact

For all GPP, BPAS, USS or NHS pension queries, please email: pensionqueries@lists.bham.ac.uk

Tel: 0121 414 6488/6489/6490