OSPS APEs: Leavers
If a member leaves employment, transfers to another Associated Participating Employer or University Department or is eligible for membership of USS under the Deed of Adherence, please complete the following form:
Notification of member leaving employment (LEA1) form 
(119kb).
On receipt of form LEA1, we will reconcile the contributions and contracted out NI earnings to salaries and check that they correspond to the date of leaving. We will then calculate what the member has accrued at this date and write to them with details of their options. The forwarding address is very important so that we can make contact with former members.
If you operate a Salary Exchange scheme you should use Leaving employment (salary exchange colleges only) (LEA1(S)) form (129kb) instead.
Contracted out NI earnings
The contracted out NI earnings are the earnings subject to 'D' rate NI between the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) and Upper Earnings Limit (UEL). You should not included earnings subject to 'A' rate NI for employees who are only in OSPS for part of the relevant tax year.
We will check the contracted out earnings to see that they are appropriate for the level of pension contributions and pensionable salaries declared. If there is a particular reason why the contracted out earnings seem too high (e.g. the member had a lot of pay that was non-pensionable) or too low (e.g. the member only received SSP or SMP) then it would be helpful to note this on the form.
Salary changes
Please complete all boxes on each line so that we can update the member's record correctly. If the member goes on to reduced pay or SSP/SMP only please enter the underlying unreduced pensionable salaries as we need these to reconcile the contributions you declare higher up the form.
Internal Transfers
For internal transfers where there is a break in service of less than a month, the membership will be considered continuous by the scheme. After a month’s gap, the first period of membership will be closed off and a new record will be set up. Alternatively, the member can request a transfer between records – we will send full details regarding this upon request.
USS joiners
Members who are leaving OSPS to join USS due to promotion or regrading should be aware that their OSPS benefits will not be transferred to USS automatically and they need to give USS their written permission to commence a pension transfer investigation. In order to transfer their benefits to USS under Club arrangements they will need to complete the USS transfer inquiry form within two years of joining USS and then accept the service credit offered.
Opt outs after three months of membership
For opt outs after three months in the scheme, we require the following pair of forms:
Application to withdraw from OSPS (while in pensionable service) (OPT2) form 
(57kb) from the employee.
Notification of withdrawal from OSPS (while in pensionable service) (OPT3) form (120kb)
from the employer.
If you operate a Salary Exchange scheme you should use Withdrawal from OSPS (salary exchange colleges only) (OPT3(S)) form (129kb)
instead.
Please note the scheme requires 28 days written notice and the date of withdrawal is the end of the pay period in which the 28 days notice expires.
On receipt of form OPT3, OSPS will do the necessary reconciliations and calculations and contact the former member directly concerning the options.
Please see the Opting out of OSPS section for more information on opting out of OSPS.