Early access to super

In certain circumstances, you may access some of your super benefit early on severe financial hardship, or compassionate grounds.

What is the impact on my final benefit?

It’s important to note, there are significant implications for customers who access their super early—for example, you may forgo your option to receive a pension when you retire¹ or apply for a retrospective invalidity benefit².

• ¹If you're a PSS contributor you won't lose this benefit option. If you're a preserved benefit member you will forfeit the pension option, unless you become a contributor again.

• ²If you believe that you were totally and permanently incapacitated on the day you ceased to be a PSS contributor, you may be entitled to a retrospective invalidity benefit. You must have a preserved benefit to apply for a retrospective invalidity benefit. You may forgo your eligibility to apply for retrospective invalidity if you access your super early on severe financial hardship or compassionate grounds.

Please carefully consider your options before applying for early release. We suggest you seek independent financial advice. Our Financial Planning page has some helpful information about Financial Advice, and ways to get more information about super.

You may also want to visit the Services Australia website for more information.

The Services Australia Financial Information Service provides free, independent and confidential information, tools and resources to help customers make informed decisions about their current and future financial needs. It’s important to note that Services Australia Financial Information Service officers are not financial planners—they don’t give, or sell, advice or purchase investment products. 

If you’re paid an early release as a member (contributor), the amount that’s paid to you isn’t deducted from your benefit straight away. Instead, you will have an Early Release Deduction Amount (ERDA) recorded against your benefit to reflect the payment. The value of the ERDA will grow in line with fund earnings. It will then be recovered when you claim your final benefit.* 

For more information, read the PSS Product Disclosure Statement. 

^{*If you're paid an early release as a preserved benefit member or an associate, your equity will be reduced at the time of the release.}

Applying for early release due to 'severe financial hardship'

You may be regarded as being in severe financial hardship if you’re in receipt of Commonwealth income support payments, and you’re unable to meet reasonable and immediate family living expenses.

Eligible Commonwealth income support payments

Income support payments must be made by Centrelink, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). 

How can I apply?

Apply online  New

CSS, PSS and MilitarySuper members can apply for early release through CSC Navigator. Once you login, select 'My Account' then 'Withdraw' to complete your application online.

Alternatively, you can download, complete and submit an application form available below.

Applying for early release under ‘compassionate grounds’

You may be able to apply to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to access your super on compassionate grounds. Compassionate grounds include:

• medical treatment for you or a dependant
• modifications to your home or vehicle for the special needs of you or a dependant with a severe disability
• mortgage payments to prevent loss of your home
• expenses associated with the death of a dependant.

How can I apply?

To apply for early release of super on compassionate grounds, you must first apply to the ATO. If the ATO approves your application, you will then need to complete the Early Access (specified compassionate grounds) form and send this to us with a copy of your approval letter.

Information on how to apply is available on the ATO website.

What parts of my benefit can be released?

Contributing, preserved, and associate members can apply for an early release.

As a contributing member, you can only access your funded components—that is, your member and productivity components, as well as any Post-95 Transfer Amounts (including Government contributions such as co-contributions).

As a preserved member, you can also access your employer component and any unfunded productivity.

As an associate preserved member any or all of your benefit may be released if you are eligible to claim an early release.

If you are receiving a PSS pension, you are not eligible to claim an early release because you will not have any preserved equity to claim.

Will I pay tax?

Depending on your age and the components of the benefit, tax may be withheld from any payment we make to you.

We’ll calculate the tax payable based on the rates below and remit the amount to the ATO on your behalf. Your payment letter will include a PAYG Payment Summary for when you complete your next tax return.

Lump sum payments are subject to proportioning rules, which means you can’t specify which tax components are released. Depending on what parts of your benefit are released, your payment could include a combination of any or all of the above tax components.