Cbus increasing clarity and certainty on death benefit processes
1 December 2025
MEDIA RELEASE
New streamlined processes for death benefits start at Cbus Super today, to simplify the death claim experience. This significant reform will eliminate the need to undertake lengthy and complicated ‘claim staking’, cutting out an estimated 4-6 weeks from the death claim process.
The new death benefit order of payment will now be applied to Cbus Super members that have no nomination*. For death claims notified to the Fund, if there is no death benefit nomination on the member’s account, the simplified process will see death benefits paid to the surviving current spouse (including same sex, married or de facto partners)**. If there is no surviving current spouse, the benefit will be distributed to surviving children in equal shares. If there is no surviving spouse or surviving children, the death benefit will be directed to the member’s estate.
Cbus Super CEO Kristian Fok said that this is the first of many reforms aimed at simplifying death claim processes to help members and grieving families. “We’re making things simpler for grieving families by stripping away much of the complexity,” Mr Fok said.
“When there is no binding beneficiary nomination, death benefit payments will be made in a way that aligns with what people naturally expect – payment to a spouse, to children, or to an estate.”
“We want to give our members peace of mind about where their benefits will go while reducing the time it takes to process death benefit claims.”
Further changes will be made in mid-2026, with the next steps to streamline processes including the removal of the option to make a non-binding beneficiary nomination and the elimination of the three-year renewal process for binding nominations. The Fund will introduce digital non-lapsing binding beneficiary nominations.
Ahead of this next change, Mr Fok encouraged members to check their account and make a binding nomination if they haven’t already, to ensure that their wishes are known to the Fund.
The reforms build upon improvements made over the last 18 months to speed up existing claims processes. Mr Fok said, “We have enhanced our oversight of claims, doubled the size of the claims teams, and trained specialist teams to handle death claims efficiently and compassionately.”
Estate planning and Cbus beneficiary reforms will be discussed in a new podcast series launched by the Fund. The Cbus Super Shift will demystify super for members and provide straight-talking advice on how members can manage their super and access government entitlements. The 10 episodes will also cover topics like ‘What’s enough to live well?’, ‘How to track your super’ and ‘Balancing super and the Age Pension’.
Media enquiries: media@cbussuper.com.au or +61 3 9100 4930
*The changes apply to all Cbus Super and Media Super members except Defined Benefit Scheme, Retirement Scheme and Lifetime Pension members. The Significant Event Notice for members without a death benefit nomination is available here.
**The Trustee can determine to whom the benefit payment can be made (if considered appropriate in limited circumstances).
This information is about Cbus Super. It doesn’t account for your specific needs. Please consider your financial position, objectives and requirements before making financial decisions. Read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination to decide if Cbus Super is right for you. Call 1300 361 784 or visit cbussuper.com.au.
Insurance is issued under a group policy with our insurer, TAL Life Limited ABN 70 050 109 450, AFSL 237848.
Cbus Super is the leading Industry Super Fund representing those that help build, maintain and shape Australia. As one of Australia’s largest super funds, we provide superannuation and income stream accounts to more than 900,000 members and we manage more than $105 billion of our members’ money (as at 30 June 2025). As of April 2022, Cbus merged with Media Super and offers Media Super products. In May 2023 Cbus Super successfully completed its merger with EISS Super, welcoming 17,000 new members and establishing itself as the leading fund for energy and electrical workers in Australia.
Issued 1 December 2025, United Super Pty Ltd ABN 46 006 261 623 AFSL 233792 as trustee for Construction and Building Unions Superannuation Fund (Cbus and/or Cbus Super)) ABN 75 493 363 262.