When can you access your super?
As super is money saved for your retirement, there are rules around when you can access it.
Generally, you can start to access your super once you reach a certain age and meet certain conditions, like retiring from work.
Are you eligible?
We’ll help you understand if you’re eligible to access your super either through meeting certain conditions or applying for early withdrawal. Call us on 1300 130 780 to find out more or request a call back with one of our experienced financial advisers below.
Accessing your super
Generally, you can have your super paid to you if you meet one or more of the following:
You're 65 or over.
You're 60 to 64 and have stopped working since turning 60.
You've reached your preservation age and you're starting a transition to retirement pension.
The super you'd like to claim is classified as an unrestricted non-preserved benefit.
You meet criteria for early release – learn more.
To learn more about the conditions of release read the Super Member Guide Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).
Your preservation age
You can access super before reaching age 60 if you were born before 1 July 1964 and meet a condition of release.
| Date of birth | age you can access your super |
|---|---|
| Before 1 July 1960 | 55 |
| 1 July 1960 to 30 June 1961 | 56 |
| 1 July 1961 to 30 June 1962 | 57 |
| 1 July 1962 to 30 June 1963 | 58 |
| 1 July 1963 to 30 June 1964 | 59 |
| 1 July 1964 or after | 60 |
If you’ve reached your preservation age and are still working, there could be benefits to accessing your super early and potentially saving on tax. Learn more about how retiring with super works.
Early release conditions
There are certain other conditions that allow you to access your super before reaching your preservation age. We recommend speaking to us to see if you’re eligible and to help you understand the application process.
Financial hardship
There may be times in life when you experience severe financial difficulty. In some circumstances you may be eligible for early access to some of your super to help meet your immediate financial needs. To find out if you’re eligible to apply please call us on 1300 130 780.
Compassionate grounds
You can apply to the ATO to have your super, or part of it, released on compassionate grounds. This includes situations where you or your dependants incur costs for:
medical expenses including treatment or transport
partial payment of home loans to avoid foreclosure of the loan
modifications to your house or car due to severe disability
palliative care
funeral assistance.
Please call us on 1300 130 780 and we’ll guide you through the next steps.
Permanently leaving Australia
If you’ve worked and earned super while visiting Australia on a temporary visa you can apply to have your super paid to you as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) after you leave.
You can claim DASP if:
you were paid super while working in Australia on a temporary resident visa, including subclasses 417 (Working Holiday) and 462 (Work and Holiday) and associated visas,
you’ve left Australia
your visa has expired or been cancelled.
Tax applies to DASP payments and you will lose any insurance cover you have on closing your account. For more information read our article here.
Apply for your super through the ATO website here.
Once the ATO approves your application (usually within 28 days) they’ll let us know. We'll then generally pay your benefit within 28 days of being notified.
Terminal illness or permanent incapacity
If you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness or you become totally and permanently incapacitated, you may be able to have your super released early.
Call us on 1300 130 780 to start your claim process.
Things to consider
If you access your super early there may be an impact on your retirement and taxes. It may also affect other benefits you’re receiving. We recommend speaking to one of our experienced advisers to help you make decisions about your super for a better future.
When could my money be sent to the ATO?
- people aged 65 and over who haven't updated their contact details with us
- the non-member spouse of a member who’s entitled to receive super (e.g. after divorce/separation) but hasn't claimed it
- people who’ve died without listing a beneficiary on their account
- people with a balance less than $6,000 who haven't had any account activity or contributions/benefit in 16 months or more
- people who leave Australia without claiming their super (e.g. temporary residents).
