Online Pension Self Service

Page updated 29 July 2026

Online pension records are available to pension scheme members through the UCD Employee Self Service (ESS) system. For detailed information and support for logging into ESS please see the ESS home page.

Benefits:

The online pension record will provide you with:

• Freedom of access to view your pensionable salary and pensionable service which includes transfers in from previous pension schemes and notional service purchase if applicable
• A snapshot of your retirement benefits
• Your Pension Scheme Explanatory Booklet
• FAQs document 
• Pensions Calculator

Pensions Calculator - All Schemes except Single Public Service Pension Scheme [SPSP]

The Pensions Calculator allows you to model “what if” scenarios by selecting different retirement options, ages at retirement, changing work patterns or your predicted salary at retirement.  These selections will feed into calculations of your pension, retirement gratuity and benefits payable to your dependants. 

Single Public Service Pension Scheme [SPSP]- Estimator Tool

The ESS pension record will display benefits accrued under the SPSP to date at UCD.

(opens in a new window)https://singlepensionscheme.gov.ie/for-members/scheme-information/single-scheme-estimator-tool/

The Single Scheme Estimator Tool is a spreadsheet-based calculator designed to give active Single Scheme members a broad indication of the level of retirement benefits that they may be eligible to receive on reaching their Normal Retirement Age.  Because Single Scheme benefits build up every time a member gets paid, it is not possible to provide a precise forecast of your retirement benefits.

The information required to populate the Estimator tool is as follows:

• Date of Birth
• Membership Type – always ‘Standard’
• Year of Most Recent ABS (i.e. 2025)
• FT Gross Annual Pensionable Pay (i.e. 31/12/2025)
• Current FTE
• Lump Sum Referable Amounts Earned prior to the most recent year (i.e. year end 31/12/24)
• Lump Sum Referable Amounts Earned in the most recent year (i.e. 2025)
• Pension Referable Amounts Earned prior to the most recent year (i.e. year end 31/12/24)
• Pension Referable Amounts Earned in the most recent year (i.e. 2025)

This information can be obtained through your Employee Self Service (ESS) Pension section

1. Click on Pension Benefit Calculator
2. Agree terms to proceed
3. Select Benefit Statement as ‘Deferred Benefits’ and click on Generate Benefits.  

This will show the cumulative amounts accrued to date and when you click on the query box at the side of the amounts the split by year will be available for you to then obtain the details required to input above.

Please see below instructions which may assist you with this tool:

1. Copy and paste this link into Microsoft Edge, this opens in a new window
   (opens in a new window)https://singlepensionscheme.gov.ie/for-members/scheme-information/single-scheme-estimator-tool/
2. Click on the link for the 'Standard, Fast Accrual (Uniformed) and Judiciary Member Estimator Tool' and select Download file
3. Select the downloaded file and click on 'Open file'.
4. The excel document will now open
5. Click on File ‘Save As’ and save the document to your Desktop and close the excel file.
6. Reopen the excel file and on the Disclaimer page scroll down and click on 'I Accept' box to proceed to the Assumptions.
7. Scroll down on the Assumptions page and click on 'I Accept' box to Proceed to Inputs.
8. You should now have access to the document to input the information above and Proceed to Results.

You should read the appropriate (opens in a new window)“Estimator Tool – At A Glance Guide” before using the Estimator Tool

Note on macros

The Estimator Tool uses MS Excel macros to carry out calculations. In order to use this tool, you must enable macros in MS Excel by clicking “Enable content”.

If the following appears at the top of the spreadsheet click ‘Learn More’ and it will show the steps to enable Macros’ on the estimator tool:

Note the Pensions Office are unable to assist with any query with regard to Macros on the Estimator Tool.

Points to note:

• Hard copy pension statements will only be issued from the Pensions Office for actual retirements, Family Law cases and final statements on leaving UCD.
• Members with less than 2 years’ service may not be entitled to a pension or gratuity but rather a refund of pension contributions. The Pension & Gratuity figures will appear as "zero" in your pension record.  Pension contribution deductions are shown on your payslip. 
• As Added Years are not guaranteed they will not appear on your online record.  Added Years may be granted at retirement date, at the discretion of the Minister for Education & Skills and the Minister for Finance, in respect of special qualifications or previous non-pensionable service prior to joining the University. For additional information on Added Years please visit the relevant page.
• In calculating pension benefits for a part time member of staff, the pensionable service is reduced pro rata to the full time equivalent but the full-time equivalent salary is used.
• Members can update their personal details through their ESS profile, including their Dependant and Next of Kin information. Please visit the "Update my Details" page for a step-by-step guide on how to update your personal details via your ESS profile.