Pension contributions will continue during periods of paid sickness absence. The level of contributions payable and who pays them will depend on the length of your absence, the amount of pensionable pay* you receive and how the contributions are paid (salary sacrifice or non-salary sacrifice).
| If You Pay Your Contributions By Salary Sacrifice ** | Employee Contributions | Employer Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| While receiving full pay during your sickness absence. | Your normal contributions will continue to be paid by the University. | The University’s normal contributions will continue to be paid. |
| While receiving half pay during your sickness absence. | Your contributions will continue to be paid by the University and will be based on your actual, reduced pensionable pay. If your pensionable pay reduces to the level of statutory sick pay you will pay your own contributions, based on your actual, reduced pensionable pay. | The University’s contributions will be based on your actual, reduced pensionable pay. |
| While receiving Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) only. | You will pay your own contributions, based on your actual, reduced pensionable pay. | The University’s contributions will be based on your actual, reduced pensionable pay. |
| If You DO NOT Pay Your Contributions by Salary Sacrifice | Employee Contributions | Employer Contributions |
| While receiving full pay during your sickness absence. | You will continue to pay your normal contributions. | The University’s normal contributions will continue to be paid. |
| While receiving half pay during your sickness absence. | You will pay your own contributions, based on your actual, reduced pensionable pay. | The University’s contributions will be based on your actual, reduced pensionable pay. |
If any part of your leave is unpaid your membership of USRF will continue but no contributions will be paid.
Please contact the Pensions team pensions@soton.ac.uk if you want to make up the missing contributions on your return to work.
Depending on the length of your absence and the nature of your illness you may be able to make a claim on the University’s ill health income protection insurance. Please contact Ask HR AskHR@soton.ac.uk
for more information on how to do this.
* Pensionable pay is your total monthly pay.
** Information about paying contributions by salary sacrifice can be found here: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/hr/services/salary-sacrifice/index.page
You can access your benefits from age 55. You would be able to draw down the money built up in USRF or buy a pension with it.
If you are absent from work for reasons other than illness, maternity, paternity, adoption or shared parental leave it may be possible for your USRF membership to continue as normal. Please contact the Pensions team pensions@soton.ac.uk, to discuss your options.