You can usually access your super when you reach your preservation age and retire or meet another condition of release set by the government. But you may be able to access your super earlier in some circumstances, such as:
- Severe financial hardship
- Compassionate grounds
- Permanent departure from Australia
- Diagnosed with a terminal illness or permanent disability
- Balance under $200.
Financial hardship
If you’re experiencing severe financial hardship, contact us on 1300 467 875 to apply to access your super.
Eligibility
The rules for accessing your super due to severe financial hardship depend on your age.
Under your preservation age
- receiving an eligible Commonwealth income support payment from either Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) for the last 26 consecutive weeks,
- unable to meet reasonable and immediate living expenses, and
- able to provide evidence of debts and expenses to support your application.
If you have less than $1,000 in your account, you can withdraw the full amount.
Download the Financial Hardship (under preservation age) fact sheet (PDF, 189KB) for more details.
If you’ve met your preservation age
You can withdraw some or all of your super if you:
- have received a Commonwealth income support payment for a cumulative period of 39 weeks since reaching your preservation age
- are not working at the date of application.
Download the Financial Hardship (reached preservation age) fact sheet (PDF, 171KB) for more details.
Compassionate grounds
- medical treatment or palliative care for you or a dependant
- modifications to your home or vehicle to accommodate severe disability for you or a dependant
- mortgage repayments so you don’t leave your home
- funeral costs for a dependant.
Once the ATO approves your application, we’ll need some documentation before we release your funds. Please call us on 1300 467 875 to request these forms.
Download the Access your super on compassionate grounds fact sheet (PDF, 89KB)
Terminal illness or permanent disability
If you’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness or permanent disability, you may be able to access some or all of your super and any insurance benefits you may also qualify for (if you have cover).
Call us on 1300 467 875 to apply.
See more about insurance claims
Temporary resident leaving Australia
If you’ve worked in Australia on a temporary visa, you may be able to withdraw your super when you leave as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP).
Balance under $200
- your employment is terminated, or
- it’s a lost super account.
Contact us on 1300 467 875 to apply.
If you have multiple super accounts with small balances, consider consolidating them into one to help grow your retirement savings.
See more on consolidating your super
We’re here to help
If you have any questions about accessing your super or would like to discuss your options, call us on 1300 467 875 or get in touch online.
