When can I access my super?

Super benefits are there to fund your retirement. Generally, most of your super will be preserved. This means that you’re able to access your super when you've reached:

• Your preservation age and have permanently retired
• Your preservation age and are starting to transition to retirement (income stream)
• 60 and have ceased a gainful employment arrangement
• 65 years old (it doesn't matter if you've retired)

You can also access your preserved super if you meet a condition for early release. If some of your super is unrestricted non-preserved, you can access this at any time. You’ll be able to see if any of your super is unrestricted non-preserved by logging into your account or checking your most recent statement.

What’s my preservation age?

From 1 July 2024, you are of preservation age if you are at least 60 years of age.

Can I access my super early?

In certain situations you may be allowed to withdraw your preserved super early. These include:

• Severe financial hardship
• Compassionate grounds
• Temporary residents permanently departing Australia
• Terminal medical condition
• Permanent incapacity

For more information and other circumstances, see early access to your super on the ATO website. 

Severe financial hardship

If you are in severe financial hardship, you can apply to us for the early release of some of your preserved super. You will need to meet the following conditions:

• As part of your application, you’ll need to confirm you're receiving eligible Commonwealth Government income support by providing us authority to verify this directly with Centrelink. Eligible Commonwealth Government income support payment includes an income support supplement, service pension, social security benefit (excluding austudy or a youth allowance) or a social security pension (this is not an exhaustive list).
• If we are unable to verify you are receiving an eligible Commonwealth Government income support payment, we can’t assess your claim.
• For more information or to apply, use our Financial hardship benefit payment application form (PDF).

Compassionate grounds

In limited circumstances, you may be able to access your super on compassionate grounds. You’ll need to apply to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to access your super to help pay for:

• Medical treatment for you or your dependant
• Medical transport for you or your dependant
• Modifying your home or vehicle to accommodate special needs arising from your or your dependant’s severe disability
• Palliative care for your or your dependant’s terminal illness
• Death, funeral or burial expenses for your dependant
• Preventing foreclosure or forced sale of your home

You can find more information on eligibility requirements, eligible expenses, and how to apply on the ATO website.

Temporary residents departing Australia (DASP)

If you’ve worked in Australia on a temporary resident visa, you could be eligible to claim your super as a Departing Australia Super Payment (DASP) after you leave.
 

You may be eligible for a DASP payment if:  

• You’ve been in Australia on a temporary visa (except subclass 405 or 410). 
• Your visa has expired or been cancelled.  
• You’re planning to leave or have left Australia and don’t hold any other active Australian visa. 
• You’re not a citizen or permanent resident of Australia.  
• You’re not a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand leaving Australia permanently.  See our Transfer your Super to a KiwiSaver account form.

Terminal medical condition

A terminal medical condition exists if all these conditions are met: 

• Two registered medical practitioners have certified, jointly or separately, that the person suffers from an illness or an injury that is likely to result in the death of the person within 24 months of the date of the certification. 
• At least one of the registered medical practitioners is a specialist practising in an area related to the illness or injury suffered by the person.
• The 24 month certification period from the date of the certifications (see point 1 above) has not ended.

If approved, any withdrawals you make are tax-free.

Contact us on 1300 722 152 and we can help you make a terminal illness claim.

Permanent incapacity

We may be able to release your super if you’re unlikely, because of ill health, to engage in gainful employment that you are reasonably qualified for by education, training, or experience.

Contact us on 1300 722 152 and we can help you make a claim. You might also have total and permanent disablement (TPD) insurance cover that you can claim. Find out more on the TPD claim process.