Joining a United Nations organization also means becoming a participant in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), an essential part of your long-term financial security as an international civil servant.

Participation in the UNJSPF is automatic and mandatory for eligible staff members who hold an appointment of six months or more, or who complete six months of continuous service without a break of more than 30 days, provided participation is not expressly excluded under the terms of appointment. Once participation begins, the Fund assigns each participant a nine digit Unique Identification Number (UID), which remains the same throughout their career and retirement and must be referenced in all communications with the Fund.

Pension contributions are automatically deducted from the participant’s salary each month, with the employing organization contributing twice that amount.

The UNJSPF website, www.unjspf.org, is the Fund’s official and most reliable source of information. New participants are encouraged to consult the “For clients – Participating in the Fund” section, which explains key topics such as eligibility, pensionable remuneration, breaks in service, special leave without pay, validation or restoration of service, transfer agreements, and survivor’s and disability benefits. To stay informed, participants should regularly visit the website and follow the Fund’s official communication channels, including the newsletter and social media platforms.

New participants are strongly encouraged to register for the UNJSPF Member Self-Service (MSS) platform as soon as they receive their UID. MSS is the Fund’s secure online portal providing access to key pension information and services, including the Annual Pension Statement, benefit estimates, official forms pre-completed with your details, and electronic document submission.

The Annual Pension Statement should be reviewed carefully to ensure that your personal and pension data are accurate. Keeping personal information up to date is essential to protect pension rights. Participants are responsible for promptly informing their employing organizations of changes to their contact details, marital status or other personal information relevant for pension purposes.

Participants who have questions or require clarification are encouraged to contact the Fund through its official Contact Us page.

Taking these steps early will help ensure that your participation in the UNJSPF is well understood and that your pension record is accurate and complete from the start. It’s #NeverTooEarly!