Retirement FAQ

Retirement Planning

What notice period do I need to give for my retirement decision?

The minimum level of notice required must be in line with your contract of employment.  However, this may not be sufficient to ensure that your pension benefits are set up on time or to ensure that you have no gap between your salary and pension payment.  It is strongly recommended that you contact the Pensions Office 6 months in advance of your retirement date. This is to accommodate potential transfers of service from previous employers and professional added years applications if applicable. 

I don’t have my contract of employment to check my minimum notice period, where do I get this?

A copy of your contract of employment can be obtained by emailing (opens in a new window)HRhelpdesk@ucd.ie

How do I advise UCD of my intention to retire?

When you have made your decision to retire, you will need to contact (opens in a new window)pensions@ucd.ie for a retirement pack.  The retirement pack will contain a retirement decision form.  The completion and return of a retirement decision form is taken as your written notice to UCD of your chosen retirement date.  The form should be returned to (opens in a new window)pensions@ucd.ie with the other requirements requested and a copy of the form should be provided to your line manager.

When is my gratuity [pension lumpsum] payable?

Your gratuity is payable on the day of your retirement by EFT to the bank account that your last salary payment was made to, unless you instruct otherwise.

What is my compulsory retirement age?

This depends on when you joined the public sector [without break in service]. See our retirement webpage which contains a table outlining the various compulsory retirement ages applying.  The majority of permanent employees must retire at age 70. If you are in any doubt, please contact (opens in a new window)pensions@ucd.ie

What is the impact of going part time before I retire?

Pension Benefits are calculated using the full time equivalent salary.  Future service is then reduced proportionally to the part time rate you are working.  Should you decide to reduce your hours prior to retirement, this will not affect the benefits you have accumulated to date but will reduce the amount of service that will be accumulated from that point on.  For Single Pension Scheme members, the referrable amounts accumulated will be reduced proportionally to your part time rate from that point on.

What happens to annual leave that I have not taken when I decide to retire?

Annual leave should be discussed with your Line Manager.  You can choose to have any remaining annual leave paid to you in your last salary payment.  Instruction will need to be issued by your manager to (opens in a new window)HRhelpdesk@ucd.ie. Alternatively, it may be possible to use up remaining annual leave in your notice period.  This means your annual leave will be treated as pensionable service and chargeable for pension contributions.  This is subject to agreement with your line manager.

Do UCD provide any supports for employees who are considering retirement?

• All pensionable employees have access to an online pensions record through ESS which contains your pension figures but also a pensions calculator which allows you to choose different retirement ages and run illustrations of same.  Single Scheme members have access to their accumulated benefit on ESS and can then access the (opens in a new window)Single Scheme website for their illustration calculator.
• There is a wealth of information on the Pensions Retirement webpage
• Retirement Planning Courses are provided to staff approaching retirement and can be booked by visiting the People Development Training page
• You may also email (opens in a new window)pensions@ucd.ie outlining any questions you may have and we will get back to you.  A call/meeting may be required where complex queries arise.

I have a Pension Adjustment Order placed on my pension benefits.  How does this affect my benefits? 

It is your responsibility to ensure that UCD Pensions have been provided with a copy of your Pension Adjustment Order. Your pension benefits will be administered in accordance with the order 

Are there other agencies outside of UCD that I should be aware of in the run up to my retirement?

• (opens in a new window)Retirement Planning Council
• (opens in a new window)Citizens Information
• (opens in a new window)Department of Social Protection
• (opens in a new window)Ordering Birth Certificates & Marriage Certificates

Where do I obtain a statement of my pension benefits?

Members can view estimates of retirement benefits at different ages through their ESS.  Under retirement options, choose ‘early retirement’ from the drop-down menu and this will allow you to change the age of your retirement and the ESS will provide an estimate of your benefits based on your current salary and your service to date plus service from date of calculation to retirement, assuming you maintain the current work pattern to chosen date of retirement

For members of the Single Public Sector Pension Scheme, the ESS will show your accrued benefits to the date of your last payslip.  For estimates of SPSPS benefits you can refer to the (opens in a new window)Single Scheme calculation estimator. You may be required to use Microsoft Edge to access the

I have checked my retirement benefits on ESS, what options exist to augment my retirement benefits?

This depends on your service, age and pension scheme.  Notional Service Purchase can be considered for pre- Single Pension Scheme members.  The Single Pension Scheme Purchase Facility can be considered for Single Pension Scheme members. Additional Voluntary Contributions [AVCs] can be considered for all scheme members. A free consultation can be arranged with (opens in a new window)Cornmarket regarding AVC’s and quotes for Notional Service Purchase and the Single Pension Scheme Purchase facility can be obtained from (opens in a new window)pensions@ucd.ie 

I have never been married or had children, why am I paying spouses and children’s [S&C] contributions and can I claim a refund?

All members who joined the pension schemes after 1985 must pay the S&C contribution as a condition of the scheme regardless of marital/civil status or whether they have dependents.  Marriages and births post retirement will be covered for spouse/children benefits. 

I worked elsewhere in the public sector, will UCD pay this pension to me also?

UCD participates in the Irish Public Sector Transfer Network. This allows employees who transfer from one area of the Public Sector to another, to transfer their pensionable service and receive full credit for pension purposes with the new public sector employer. UCD operates a knock for knock transfer basis which means the pensionable service accumulated with the previous employer is simply added to the UCD pension record.  This will be completed on your instruction and the verification of the previous employer.  It will not occur automatically.

If you entered the public sector since 1 January 2013 and are a member of the Single Pension Scheme, you do not need to arrange for a ‘transfer’ of Single Scheme benefits as it is the same Single Public Service Pension Scheme in place across the public service. Your Single Scheme benefits will be consolidated with your latest Single Scheme employer on your retirement.

Do I need to submit original birth and marriage certificates when submitting my retirement requirements?

Scanned certificates are acceptable.

I am not retiring from active service but drawing down my pension benefits from when I worked at UCD some time ago.  I should have done this earlier, will my pension be backdated to the date of retirement?

Your deferred pension benefits will be backdated to the date of retirement.

How do I complete the Revenue Declaration Form included in the retirement pack? 

It is important to outline any pension benefits which have crystalised or will crystalise before your retirement in UCD.

Spouses/Civil Partner/Children’s Pensions

How much pension does my spouse/civil partner receive?

A qualifying spouse/civil partner will receive an estimated pension of 50% of the members pension in payment at date of death.  The calculation basis differs from pension scheme to pension scheme but 50% is a good estimate.

Who is regarded as a “Child” for the purposes of the Scheme?

A person under 16 years of age or, if receiving full-time education or training, 22 years of age.  No age-limit applies where a child is incapable of maintaining her/himself because of mental or physical infirmity.

If my spouse re-marries, what happens to the pension and the children’s pension?  

The spouse’s pension will cease.   UCD may restore it if spouse again becomes a widow/widower or if compassionate grounds for so doing subsequently arise. UCD Pensions should be informed immediately if the spouse remarries.

If my spouse dies what happens to the children’s pension?  

If there is one child under 16, or under 22 if receiving full-time education, or incapable of maintaining her/himself because of mental or physical infirmity, the children’s pension goes up from one-sixth of the amount of your pension to one-third and, if there are two such children, from one-third to one-half.  If there are three or more such children, the total amount of their pension remains unchanged.

State Pension

Will I get a supplementary pension from UCD?

A supplementary pension may be payable to integrated (Class A PRSI) members from retirement age, or minimum pension age if later, if they have not qualified for a state pension or other social welfare benefits.  An application form will be included in your retirement pack.  Please complete the application if you think this is relevant to you. More information is available on the Pensions Website.

Will I receive a state pension along with my UCD pension?

Information on your entitlement to a State Pension can be obtained from your local Social Welfare office. Basic State Pension is a flat rate amount paid (with effect from January 2025 at the rate of €289.30 per week for a single person) to everyone who has a sufficient record of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions and is payable at State Retirement Age [66].

This is a separate payment to your UCD Pension Benefit.  Should you qualify for a state pension, your state pension will be paid by the Department of Social Protection [DSP] and your UCD pension will be paid by UCD.

Basic State Pension is a flat rate amount paid (with effect from January 2025 at the rate of €289.30 per week for a single person) to everyone who has a sufficient record of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions and is payable at State Retirement Age [66]. 

Information on your entitlement to a State Pension can be obtained from your local Social Welfare office. 

After Retirement

What email address should I provide for correspondence from UCD Pensions & HR after retirement?

You should provide the email address that you will be actively using once you have retired from UCD.  Whilst you can keep your UCD email address in retirement, you should strongly consider if a personal email address will become your main email address once you leave UCD. 

Who will pay my pension when I retire from UCD?

Your UCD pension will be paid by UCD Payroll.  You can continue to access your payslip through ESS.

Who do I contact regarding access to my pension payslip and deductions from my pension payment?

Queries regarding access to your pension payslip and deductions from my pension payment can be referred to payroll@ucd.ie

Why do UCD need an email address from me when I retire?

All communications after retirement from UCD Pensions and HR will be issued by email.  It is important to provide an active email address on your retirement decision form when retiring so you do not miss important information regarding your pension in payment.  Action is required from you on a biennial basis when you retire and if this action is missed as a result of a dormant email address, your pension payment will be suspended. 

Can I have the health insurer premium / property tax deducted from my pension payment and how do I go about getting this set up?

All statutory deductions will continue to be applied to your pension payment including tax, PRSI and property tax [if instructed].

Health Insurance premiums and University Club deductions will also continue if already in place on your salary before retirement.

Deductions for Union Subscriptions, Life Assurance, Income Protection, Pension Contributions, Notional Service and AVCs will cease on retirement. 

Pensioners who are drawing down deferred benefits and have not worked in UCD for some time will only have statutory deductions applied. No continuation of voluntary deductions from salary payments will occur.

I have queries on the tax/PRSI/USC deducted from my pension, who should I contact with these questions?  

Deduction queries should be emailed to payroll@ucd.ie

Will my pension be taxed?

Pensions are treated as income and taxed under the PAYE system. This means your payment may be liable to income tax, PRSI and Universal Social Charge. Deduction queries should be emailed to payroll@ucd.ie

When will my pension be paid?

Your pension is paid in arrears on the last banking day of the month.

How does my pension increase in retirement?

Your pension (or any Spouse’s and Children’s Pension, payable after your death) will generally be increased, subject to overall government policy as follows:

• Pre-Existing Public Service Pension Schemes - These schemes generally follow a "pay parity" principle, meaning pension increases are linked to pay increases awarded to serving public servants in the same grade.  
• Single Public Sector Pension Scheme - Pensions under this scheme are increased in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

For how long will my pension be paid?

The pension will be payable for your lifetime.  If you were a member of the Spouse’s and Children’s pension scheme on your death a Spouse/Civil Partner and/or child pension will be payable subject to the rules of this scheme.

What happens if I do not complete and return the biennial Pension Declaration Form?

A Pensioner Declaration Form is issued every two years and this form needs to be completed and returned within the deadline outlined in the documentation.  If the form is not returned the pension will be suspended until this has been received.  It is important to ensure that if you change address / email / phone number you email the (opens in a new window)HR to notify them of the change so that you can be contacted and to ensure that your pension is not suspended.

Is my pension reduced if I become re-employed in the public sector?

Pension abatement refers to the reduction of a public service pension when a pensioner is re-employed in the public service.  This reduction ensures that the combined income from the pension and the new salary does not exceed the pensioner's previous pensionable salary.  The policy aims to prevent individuals from benefiting financially from both a public service pension and a public service salary that, when combined, surpasses their previous earnings.  You must notify (opens in a new window)pensions@ucd.ie if you become reemployed in the public sector after your retirement.  You are also obliged to inform your new public sector employer of your UCD Pension Benefits.

How do I access ESS for my payslip?

Pensioners who are retiring from active service will continue to access their payslips through ESS.  Pensioners who are drawing down deferred benefits and have not worked in UCD for some time will receive their payslips by post.

I am planning on moving abroad upon retirement, will this impact my pension?

This may affect the taxation of your pension.  Please contact (opens in a new window)payroll@ucd.ie for more information.

My pension amount received into my bank account differs from the expected monthly amount? 

Please contact (opens in a new window)payroll@ucd.ie for more information.

Added Years

How many added years will I get when I retire?

Added Years are not guaranteed and subject to the approval of the Ministers for DFHERIS & DPENDR.  Added Years will be considered once a decision to retire has been submitted. An added years application form will be included in your retirement pack. There are many conditions attached to the calculation of added years and are dependent on individual circumstances, pension scheme and past experience and education prior to UCD.  Please outline any non-pensionable experience you have before coming to UCD and any post graduate qualifications awarded prior to UCD.  Please note the same period of service cannot be counted twice.