Changing work patterns and your super

Flexible service

MilitarySuper does not make adjustments for part-time employment. If you render flexible service and remain in a service category (SERCAT) where you are still considered a member of the permanent forces, your benefit will not be impacted.

Your Employer Benefit is calculated taking into account your super salary and years of effective service.

We use your final average salary (FAS), which is generally the average of your salaries over your last 1,095 days of service before your separation date. The salaries are always the full-time equivalent.

We multiply your FAS by your employer benefit multiple (EBM). Your benefit multiple accrues based on your length of effective service. Your effective service is the total of your full-time contributory service, and may consider any earlier periods of service that may have been eligible to be recognised, such as Foreign Service or previous DFRDB or MilitarySuper membership.

If you work reduced hours rendering flexible service but are still eligible to be a contributing member of MilitarySuper, your FAS and the growth of your EBM are not affected. Contributions paid into your Member Benefit and Employer Benefit are not affected. Your Ancillary Benefit continues to grow based on any additional contributions made plus investment earnings.

Log in to the CSC Navigator and try our i-Estimator to calculate what your pension might look like when you leave work.

Re-joining the Australian Defence Force

If you are a MilitarySuper pensioner and re-join the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as a member of the Permanent Forces or as a Reservist rendering continuous full-time service, you'll continue to receive your MilitarySuper pension¹. MilitarySuper is closed to new members, however in limited circumstances you may be eligible to re-join.

If you have a preserved Employer Benefit² in MilitarySuper and re-join the ADF as a member of the Permanent Forces or as a Reservist rendering continuous full-time service, your eligibility for MilitarySuper or ADF Super will depend on whether you have previously opted out of MilitarySuper and transferred to another fund.

If you re-join the ADF and you previously retired on invalidity grounds and received an Invalidity pension, you will re-join MilitarySuper (unless you choose ADF Super or another fund³).

Your Employer Benefit grows differently when it’s preserved. Your productivity contributions⁴ continue to grow according to investment earnings, while the notional Employer Benefit⁵ will grow in line with upwards movements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Your Employer Benefit grows via your EBM while you are a contributing member.

If you transition out of the ADF again, your two benefits will be combined into a single MilitarySuper Benefit.

¹Your pension will continue to be paid unless your level of incapacity for civilian employment is reviewed and your invalidity classification changes.

²Employer Benefits generally remain preserved until you reach age 55 and transition from the ADF.

³If you choose to join ADF Super or another fund, you won’t be able to return to MilitarySuper. We’ll hold your MilitarySuper Employer Benefit until you transition out of the ADF and meet a condition of release such as your preservation age. Alternatively, you can ask us to pay your Member and/or Ancillary Benefit to another super fund.

⁴Productivity contributions form part of your employer-financed benefit. The Commonwealth will pay 3% of your gross fortnightly salary into your MSBS as productivity contributions.

⁵Notional Employer Benefit is calculated by multiplying your Employer Benefit (based on years of service) by your final average salary.

Maximum Benefit Limits (MBL)

There are two types of MBLs: the lump sum MBL and the pension MBL. If you reached a MBL¹ during a previous period of MilitarySuper membership, you may be eligible to contribute to the scheme again.

If you reached your lump sum MBL and continued paying member contributions, you can contribute again and still have the option to cease at any time.

If you reached your lump sum MBL and elected to stop paying member contributions, you can’t re-commence paying contributions upon re-joining MilitarySuper.

Your pension MBL only relates to the current period of service you are undertaking. A new pension MBL applies for each period of service, even if you previously attained your pension MBL and were required to cease paying contributions.

For more information read MilitarySuper Maximum Benefit Limits (MBLs).

¹There are limits to the amount of contributions you can make to your pension MBL or lump sum MBL.