When you can access your super early

Super is for retirement – but in some circumstances you might not have to wait.

There are some circumstances where you can access your super before retirement. This includes if you have medical expenses, are in financial hardship, or can’t work due to illness or injury.

To apply to access your super before retirement, you need to apply through your super fund and/or through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

The main circumstances in which you can apply to get some of your super before retirement include:

Severe financial hardship

You can apply to access some of your super before retirement if you cannot pay reasonable and immediate family living expenses and you receive government income support.

• Before age 60: you can apply to withdraw up to $10,000 of your super. You need to show you have been getting eligible government payments for at least 26 weeks and cannot cover your expenses any other way. You can only access your super for this purpose once a year.
• From age 60: If you’re 60 or over and not employed, you can access your super under the retirement rules.

Your super fund will decide if you’re eligible. You can authorise your fund to check with Services Australia, or ask Services Australia for proof you’re in financial hardship.

Compassionate release

You can apply to access super before retirement to pay for specific expenses for you or your dependant if you have no other way to pay.

This includes expenses like:

• medical treatment
• medical transport
• home modifications needed due to disability
• palliative care
• funeral costs
• mortgage payments to stop your home being sold

You’ll need to provide evidence of the cost and show why you can’t pay any other way. You apply for compassionate release through the ATO.

Permanent or temporary incapacity

You may be able to access your super if illness or injury stops you from working.

• Permanent incapacity: this is where you’re unlikely to ever work again in a job you are qualified for by education, training or experience. You may also have insurance you can claim on.
• Temporary incapacity: if you have income protection insurance in your super account you may be able to make a claim if you’re unable to work for a period of time due to illness or injury. This will depend on the insurance you have and the conditions.

Check with your super fund about any insurance you hold, the claim process, and the medical information required.

Terminal illness or injury

You can apply to access your super before retirement if two doctors – one of them a specialist in the area related to your medical condition – certify you have an illness or injury that means you’re expected to live for less than 24 months.

If you have insurance in your super account, you may also be able to make an insurance claim at the same time.

Each fund has its own process and forms for this. Contact your fund for details.

Other ways to access super before retirement

There are other ways to access your super before retirement.

These include:

• The First Home Super Saver Scheme: this helps you save for a deposit to buy your first home by putting extra contributions into super and then withdrawing these contributions. Find out more about the FHSS scheme.
• Temporary residents: if you worked in Australia on a temporary visa, you can usually claim your super when you leave Australia.
• Small balances: if the balance of your super fund account is less than $200 and you lose your job, or if you find a lost super account with a balance less than $200.