Early release of superannuation
You can apply for your superannuation to be released early in specific circumstances on compassionate grounds allowed by the law, or if you are in severe financial hardship.
In Australia superannuation cannot generally be accessed before you are 55 years old. However, in some specific circumstances, the law does allow you to access your superannuation early. These limited circumstances for which the Department of Human Services has a role include specific compassionate grounds and severe financial hardship.
Specific compassionate grounds
Early release of superannuation benefits on compassionate grounds is only available to Australian and New Zealand citizens and permanent residents. Temporary residents are only eligible if they hold an Investor Retirement (subclass 405) visa or Retirement (subclass 410) visa.
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
- communicate with your superannuation fund to understand their role in an early release of superannuation.
If you do not provide us with the relevant supporting documents, your application may be declined.
In some limited circumstances where you need money for exceptional reasons, the law allows you to access your superannuation before you are 55 years old.
This includes situations where you need to pay for:
- medical or dental treatment for yourself or a dependent
- transport to medical or dental treatment
- prevention of your home from being sold by the lender that has the mortgage for it
- modifying your home or vehicle to accommodate the needs of yourself or a dependent, in the case of a severe disability
- caring for a person with a terminal medical condition, for yourself or a dependent
- expenses associated with a dependant’s death.
If you are terminally ill, you can apply directly to your superannuation fund for early release of superannuation. You do not need to submit an application to the Department of Human Services. Contact your superannuation fund for further information.
If you think that one or more criteria under compassionate grounds applies to you, complete the relevant application form in Next Steps below. You will need the form that specifically relates to your circumstance. You will also need to provide us with the relevant supporting documentation.
Severe financial hardship
You can ask your superannuation fund to give you early access if you have been receiving an eligible Centrelink income support payment for at least 26 weeks. The details of eligibility are determined by your superannuation fund, so please contact them directly. They will then contact us to confirm your income support status when processing your claim. You can also contact Centrelink directly to request a letter confirming your income support payments, which you can give to your superannuation fund. Letters are valid for a period of 21 days only.
Don’t forget to tell us about any changes in your income as a result of your application with your superannuation fund. We need to know so that we can accurately assess your income support payments.
Next Steps
- Read the Early release of superannuation in specified compassionate grounds brochure [pdf, 900kb]
- Download an application form for the early release of superannuation in specified compassionate grounds by choosing the form relevant to your situation
- Phone 1300 131 060 to get the application form emailed or posted to you
- If you are a health professional looking for more information, you can read the guide for medical/dental practitioners and specialists [1.09mb]
- If you are a mortgagee or lender looking for more information, you can read the guide for mortgagees (lenders) [pdf, 838kb]
- Contact your superannuation fund