Terminology explained

Definition (and examples - if applicable)
Your Adjusted Salary is your PensionSMART Salary. This simply means the salary amount which remains after the total of your Basic Salary (and other pensionable allowances) is reduced by the relevant pension reductions mentioned above (plus any non-pensionable allowances you may receive). The latter are unaffected by participation in PensionSMART.
How this is applied
PAYE and NIC are then calculated on your Adjusted Salary. These statutory deductions and some other statutory and voluntary deductions (e.g., season ticket loan repayments) are deducted from your Adjusted Salary to produce your final 'net' take-home pay.

Definition (and examples - if applicable)
Otherwise simply known as your 'salary', which is set out within your contract of employment. It is always referred to on payslips as "Basic Salary" and is the specific spine point (or fixed salary) that sits within the grade against which your job role is paid.
How this is applied
You can visit the Salaries web pages listing Imperial's salary scales for each job family.

Definition (and examples - if applicable)
This is when you leave the pension scheme before your retirement date (either through employment resignation or opting out of the scheme), and the pension you have already earned remains within the pension scheme.
How this is applied
Your basic pension and lump sum are calculated at your leaving date and are then increased annually by the scheme to take into account the effect of inflation. PensionSMART has no bearing on this.

Definition (and examples - if applicable)
A few employees also receive non-pensionable allowances. Examples include monthly supplements for work/duties that are completely unrelated to their duties for Imperial but are paid through Imperial's payroll system (e.g., acting as branch secretary to a learned society, or work supporting private clinical practice or external consultancy work). 
All bonuses also fall into this category, as do taxable reimbursements of expenses, such as relocation expenses over £8,000.
How this is applied
Non-pensionable allowances are not affected by participation in PensionSMART and will appear on payslips separately.

Definition (and examples - if applicable)
In addition to Basic Salary, some employees receive extra fixed allowances that count towards their pension. Examples include London Weighting Allowance (for those employees still remaining on the national pay scales), various honoraria and allowances for special duties, shift allowances, and "on-call" supplements.
How this is applied
Under PensionSMART, your salary will be reduced in line with the pension reductions described above (the employee contribution rate). In return, Imperial will pay an equivalent amount (the employer contribution rate).

Definition (and examples - if applicable)
The term "Pensionable Salary" refers only to pay which counts for pension purposes.
How this is applied
It comprises the sum of your basic salary plus any other pensionable allowances that you are entitled to before the pension reductions (described above) are applied. It does not include non-pensionable pay elements.

Definition (and examples - if applicable)
This term is used to describe the rate of Basic Salary and/or of any other additional pensionable pay after the pension reduction described.
How this is applied
See above for the current pension contribution rates for USS and SAUL.

Definition (and examples - if applicable)
This term describes the rate of Basic Salary and/or any other additional pay before the pension reduction.
How this is applied
Pension contribution rates are currently:
For USS - a total contribution of 20.6% (a 6.1% employee contribution plus a 14.5% employer contribution).
For SAUL CARE - a total contribution of 27% (a 6% employee contribution plus a 21% employer contribution).
For SAUL Start - a total contribution of 21% (a 6% employee contribution plus a 15% employer contribution).