Access your super

The Federal Government has placed restrictions on when you can access your super benefits.

Generally, your super benefits must be held in a complying super fund, retirement savings account or approved deposit fund until your retirement from the workforce on or after reaching your preservation age.

Your preservation age will vary between 55 and 60 years depending on your birth date.

Special situations

Your super can only be accessed if you satisfy one of the following conditions of release:

• permanent retirement from the workforce on or after your preservation age (see above)
• termination of employment after turning age 60 (without necessarily retiring permanently)
• reaching age 65 (whether you have retired or not)
• in the event of your death
• permanent incapacity
• terminal medical condition exists
• on the grounds of severe financial hardship (subject to certain conditions and trustee approval)
• on compassionate grounds as approved by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
• on termination of your employment with an employer-sponsor where your preserved benefit is less than $200
• on your permanent departure from Australia if you are an eligible temporary resident, or
• on complying with any other condition of release specified in superannuation law.