Early superannuation release on specified compassionate grounds
We administer the very limited circumstances where benefits may be released on specified compassionate grounds. These are defined in the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Regulations 1994.
Our role is to approve the request if it meets the specific requirements of the legislation relating to the early release of superannuation on compassionate grounds.
Your superannuation fund will need approval from us before they can release your superannuation benefits to you. Once this approval is obtained, your superannuation fund trustee will advise which benefits it can and which it cannot release.
The superannuation fund trustee may charge you fees for the early release of your superannuation. Any early release of superannuation may also be taxed.
You can make a claim on one or more of the specified compassionate grounds:
- medical treatment—if you need to pay for medical or dental treatment, for yourself or a dependant
- medical transport—if you need to pay for transport to medical or dental treatment, for yourself or a dependant
- mortgage assistance—if you need to prevent your home from being sold by the lender that has the mortgage for it
- modification to your home and/or motor vehicle—if you need to modify your home or vehicle to accommodate your own needs, or the needs of a dependant, in the case of a severe disability.
- care for terminal medical condition—if you need to pay for palliative care for a person with a terminal medical condition, whether it is yourself or a dependant
- funeral assistance—if you need to pay for expenses associated with a dependant’s death, funeral or burial.
Proof of identification
As part of your application, you are required to prove your identity. You can establish your identity by providing certified copies of identity documentation from the approved proof of identification list.
Other requirements
If more than one compassionate ground applies to your claim, you will need to complete individual application forms for each. You will also need to provide us with the supporting documentation requested in each application form.
If you submit an application for the early release of your superannuation benefits, it is important that you:
- supply all of the supporting documents requested in the application form
- supply copies of at least 100 points of certified identification and
- speak to your superannuation fund to understand its role in an early release of superannuation.
If you do not provide us with the relevant supporting documents, your application may be declined.
Request review of a decision
If you believe that the wrong decision was made on your application you can request a review of the decision.
You must request a review within 28 days of the date the decision was made on your application. If this time frame has expired or you are providing new information which was not considered in the original decision you will need to submit a new application form.
An Assessor will review your application and if the decision cannot be changed your application will be reviewed by an Independent Review Officer.
To request a review of a decision you need to download and complete the required form:
Contact us
Call us on 1300 131 060 or +61 3 6222 2189 for information on early superannuation release. You can reach us between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. (local time), Monday to Friday.
If you do not speak English, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450.
If you have a hearing or speech impairment, please call the TTY services on 1800 552 152.