childcare enployer contribution and pension - what s the right thing to do?

[Marasme]

possibly a silly question...

i ve been channelling £243 pcm toward childcare via my uni provider (used to be sodexho, now sthg else?). My children are now old enough to not need afterschool care and walk home

Stopping the contributions means that this income comes back as taxable, unless i now channel it towards?? uss pension extra contribution?? via "income builder" (whatever that is)

this is the bit i still don t really get - is this a good choice for people who still have a morgage?
i ve been an academic all my working life, will get whatever uss provision is for people who signed on 20yrs ago, but DH probably will have not much in terms of pension himself (self employed, changed jobs loads before).

HR at my uni has stopped doing finance workshop for staff, so no clue...

Yes. It's like a sipp, the money gets invested before being taxed so 20% gain (or 40% if higher tax). Unless you need it! USS contributions are decreasing this month so you may have more in your pay packet anyway.

thanks @aramox1 - i ll find out how to do this overpayment into uss

Honestly anyone in uss who hasn't logged onto their website should do. It's quite helpful