Our super funds and products
Find out which of our funds are open to new members, and learn the difference between accumulation and defined benefits.
Our first fund opened in 1922, and now we manage and administer 11 super funds. These are set up solely to meet the needs of eligible current and former Australian Government employees and members of the Australian Defence Force.
Whether you’re new to CSC, or already a member, here’s a brief overview of what we offer.
Full details on product features and eligibility criteria can be found in the relevant Product Disclosure Statement.
Funds open to new members
ADF Super
ADF Super is the super fund for current and former members of the Australian Defence Force. It was established on 1 July 2016 and is an accumulation scheme.
Find out morePublic Sector Superannuation accumulation plan (PSSap)
PSSap is the super fund for current and former Australian government employees. It was established on 1 July 2005 and is an accumulation scheme.
Find out moreFunds closed to new members
Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS)
CSS was established on 1 July 1976, and closed to new members on 30 June 1990. CSS is a hybrid scheme (part accumulation, part defined benefit).
Find out morePublic Sector Superannuation (PSS)
PSS was established on 1 July 1990, and closed to new members on 30 June 2005. PSS is a defined benefit scheme.
Find out moreDefence Forces Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB)
DFRDB was established on 1 October 1972, and closed to new members on 30 September 1991.
Find out moreMilitarySuper (MSBS)
MilitarySuper was established on 1 October 1991, and closed to new members on 30 June 2016. MilitarySuper is a hybrid scheme (part accumulation, part defined benefit).
Find out moreAdditional closed funds
DFRB – Defence Forces Retirement Benefits
- DFRB is a closed military scheme with no contributing members.
- Established in 1948, this scheme closed to new contributors on 30 September 1972.
- Members contributing at that time the scheme was closed automatically transferred to DFRDB on 1 October 1972.
- DFRB continues to provide the benefit entitlements for customers who ceased to be contributors before 1 October 1972, and for reversionary benefits to eligible spouses and children.
PNG – Papua New Guinea Superannuation Fund
- PNG is a closed public sector scheme with no contributing members.
- Constituted under the Superannuation (Papua New Guinea) Ordinance 1951, PNG provided retirement benefits for employees of the administration of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea.
- Since the PNG closed on 1 July 1976, the scheme has been administered in accordance with section 38 of the PNG Act.
The Pension Scheme (1922 scheme)
- The 1922 scheme, which was established under the 1922 Act, is a closed public sector scheme with all members receiving a pension.
- The 1922 scheme closed on 30 June 1976 and members contributing to the 1922 scheme transferred to CSS, when CSS opened on 1 July 1976.
- The 1922 Act continues to provide for pension payments and any reversionary pensions that become payable.
Accumulation and defined benefit super funds. What’s the difference?
Great question. Here’s an overview — we’ve saved you some of the technical details. If you want the nitty gritty, you can get all the information in our Product Disclosure Statements.
 |
Accumulation super funds |
accumulate
verb
‘to collect a large number of things over a long period of time’
Money adds up in your super account from contributions and investment earnings. Contributions can include payments from your employer, or money you add from your pre- or post-tax salary.
 |
Defined benefit super funds |
defined-benefit
adjective
‘the value of the pension is fixed according to a formula’
The final amount that you receive is based on a formula instead of accumulated contributions and investment earnings. Each scheme has a different formula.
Contributions
Accumulation
If you hold eligible employment, by law your employer has to put money into your super account. The amount your employer pays is a percentage of your salary for super. The government calls these payments the ‘Super Guarantee (SG)’.
You’re also allowed to put money into your super account, but you don’t have to. There are other types of payments that can be made into your super account.
Defined benefit
Money is added to your account by your employer. Your employer makes pre-tax contributions and, depending on your fund, you may be able to make after-tax contributions.
Retirement benefit
Accumulation
The amount you get—your retirement benefit—is your account balance when you retire.
The money in your super account is invested and generally the aim is for your money to grow over time, after fees and subject to inflation. For this reason, your account balance will also show the impact of investments returns over time (both positive and negative).
Defined benefit
The amount you get—your retirement benefit—is defined in your fund rules and is usually calculated using a formula that is based on:
- how much contributions made by your employer and how much contributions made by you (including extra contributions),
- your length of employment with the employer, and
- your final average salary when you retire.
Insurance
Accumulation
Insurance is generally offered to eligible customers to help cover your income in case you become ill or injured and cannot work, or if you die, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.
Defined Benefit
Generally defined benefit funds have an inbuilt insurance component within them for eligible members in case of death or permanent disability, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.
Additional insurance is also available for eligible members to obtain for a fee.
Find out more in our Product Disclosure Statements
Rules for defined benefit funds
The government has many rules for the defined benefit funds that CSC looks after. Here are some of them:
- Your Salary for Super is what we use to calculate contributions. There are specific rules for calculating your ‘Salary for Super’, and it’s often different from your take home pay.
- Depending on your fund, your benefit payment is calculated using your average salary when you retire. Different calculations apply depending on how you leave your employment.
- The difference between contributions made by you and your employer, plus the earnings on these contributions are only a small percentage of your final benefit. The difference is covered by the Future fund. The Future Fund was established in 2006 to strengthen the Australian Government’s long-term financial position and ensure that from 2020, funds can be withdrawn from it to cover the annual unfunded Commonwealth superannuation liabilities due to our ageing population.
- Both CSS and PSS customers can choose if they receive all or part of their benefit as a pension, depending on when they access their benefit.
- The pension in all of CSC’s defined benefit funds is paid as an indexed lifetime retirement income – except in the case of CSS which can have both indexed and non-indexed pensions. The pensions are reversionary, meaning a percentage of your pension will continue to be paid to an eligible beneficiary, generally your spouse, when you die.
- Any one off payments, also called lump sums, must stay in your super fund until you reach the earliest age the government will allow you to access your super, which is called your preservation age.
- You may be able to access your super through regular fortnightly payments, also known as a retirement income stream, earlier than your preservation age. You may also be able to access all or part of your super earlier than your preservation age due to being unable to work, are terminally ill or on compassionate grounds.
Find out more about our funds
Video resources
If you're interested in learning more about how you can manage and maximise your superannuation, our recorded webinars can help guide you on the way.
Watch on demand