Frequently Asked Questions

The contributory three-tier pension scheme consists of two compulsory schemes to which both the employer and employee are mandated to contribute, and a voluntary scheme. 

The employee contributes 5.5% of his basic salary, while the employer contributes 13% of the employee’s basic salary, which is 18.5% of the employee’s basic salary.  

Out of the 18.5%, the employer remits 13.5% within 14 days following the end of the month to the mandatory first-tier Basic Social Security Scheme. SSNIT, likewise, remits 2.5% to the NHIA for the member’s health insurance.

The remaining 5% is sent to the mandatory      Second Tier Occupational Scheme, managed privately by Trustees approved and licensed by the NPRA.

A trustee is a person who manages pension funds for the benefit of members and their beneficiaries. Though the assets are held in the name of the trustees, they do not belong to them. 

The National Pensions Regulatory Authority is the body established by the National Pensions Act, 2008 (Act 766) to oversee the operations of the three-tier scheme to ensure effective Administration. 

Retirement benefits are benefits payable either in a lump sum or regular payments to scheme members on retirement.

USOPS is an employer-sponsored scheme licensed by the National Pensions Regulatory Authority to administer the tier 2 pension contributions of all employees of public universities. 

USOPS's primary duty is to 

i. Collect all members' tier 2 contributions 

ii. Carefully invest the contributions to yield the best returns, and offer regular updates to members on their contributions

iii. Pay retirement benefits to members and their beneficiaries.

The USOPS have a seventeenth member Board of Trustees. They are:

1. Dr. Andrews Doeh Agblobi – Chairman

2. Dr. Samuel E. Assabil – Vice Chairman

3. Mrs. Doreen Ayiku – Secretary

4. Dr. Sena Kpeglo-Freiku – Member

5. Mr. Richard Boapea – Member

6. Mr. Kenneth Puotiere Yelibo – Member

7. Mr. Jonathan Kabu – Member

8. Mr. Ussif Hassan – Member

9. Mr. George Ansong – Member

10. Dr. Richard Fosu Amankwa – Member

11. Mr. Kenneth Botchway – Member

12. Mr. Benjamin M. Gorman – Member

13. Mr. Isaac Fenyi – Member

14. Mr. Suleman Abdul-Rahman – Member

15. Mr. Samuel Seshie – Member

16. Dr. Kodwo J. Boateng – Member

17. Mr. Stephen Antwi-Asimeng – Independent Trustee

Anyone who works in any of the public universities in the country.

You can access your contributions data using the USSD code *714*333# or the ETL self-service portal: https://thestable.etportal.app/portal/index?faces-redirect=true

When you change jobs, per the National Pensions Act, 2008 (Act 766) you may either 

i. Request to transfer your funds into the account of your new employer

ii. Leave your funds in the USOPS scheme till you attain the voluntary or compulsory retirement age (55 or 60).

 No, you cannot pay into the USOPS scheme when you leave employment to start your business, however, you may join other master trust tier 2 schemes managed by Corporate Trustees. 

The USOPS scheme pays out 

i. Retirement benefits

ii. Survivors’ benefits

iii. Invalidity benefits

iv. Emigration benefit  

The amount paid as retirement benefits to you is a sum of your total 5% basic salary contributions and investment returns accrued on your contributions over the period.

i. Get and complete a copy of the USOPS benefits form from the USOPS website or your institution’s schedule officer, 

ii. Attach the necessary documentation to the form and submit it to your outfit’s schedule officer for processing and payment.

Documents required to process your retirement benefits include:

i. Completed USOPS benefits application form

ii. Passport-size photo

iii. Copy of your SSNIT and National IDs.

iv. Retirement letter from your institution

v. Copy of your SSNIT payment advice