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Early Release of Superannuation

You can apply for your superannuation to be released early on specific compassionate grounds or on grounds of severe financial hardship.

If you are not eligible

We can offer you support services if you are experiencing severe financial hardship. We can also help you get financial counselling as well as personal or family counselling from social workers. In some cases, special one-off payments may be available if you are experiencing extreme circumstances.

Visit your local DHS Service Centre for more information.

Terminal illness

If you are terminally ill, you can apply directly to your superannuation fund for the early release of your superannuation. You do not need to submit an application to us. You should contact your superannuation fund for more information.

Guidance for medical/dental practitioners and specialists

Guidance information for registered medical/dental practitioners and specialists for the early release of super to meet the cost of medical treatment that is not readily available through the public health system.

Quick links

In Australia, superannuation cannot generally be accessed before you are 55 years old. However, in some specific circumstances, you can access your superannuation early.

These limited circumstances are based on specified compassionate grounds and severe financial hardship.

Specified compassionate grounds

Our department is responsible for assessing applications on compassionate grounds for early release of superannuation.

For your application to be successful, you must meet specific eligibility criteria.

You must also be able to demonstrate that you do not have the financial capacity to meet the costs associated with your claim.

Severe financial hardship

If you have been receiving an eligible Centrelink income support payment for at least 26 weeks, you may be able to apply direct to your superannuation fund for the early release of your superannuation benefits.

You need to know

Early superannuation release on grounds of severe financial hardship

We will respond to requests for confirmation of your income-support payment status.

We do not determine whether your superannuation benefits will be released. This will be determined by your superannuation fund.

Check with your superannuation fund before you speak with us—they may be able to confirm your income support status electronically with us if you authorise them.

You can also contact us and request a letter (a Q230 form or a Q251) confirming that you have received an eligible income support payment for the required period. Letters are no longer valid after 21 days.

You need to let us know if any of your superannuation benefits are released to you, as this may affect your income-support payments.

Early superannuation release on specified compassionate grounds

We administer the very limited circumstances where benefits may be released on specified compassionate grounds.

Early superannuation release and temporary residents

Generally, the early release of superannuation benefits on compassionate grounds is available to Australian and New Zealand citizens and permanent residents only. If you are a temporary resident, you may be eligible if you met the grounds before 1 April 2009, or you hold an Investor Retirement (subclass 405) visa or Retirement (subclass 410) visa.

If you do not meet the criteria, then you cannot apply for the early release of your superannuation on specified compassionate grounds.

You can also apply directly to the Australian Taxation Office for early release of benefits if you were in Australia temporarily and are now leaving the country permanently.

Visit ato.gov.au/super.

First steps

Compassionate grounds medical treatment and/or transport

You may be eligible for early release of superannuation on specified compassionate grounds to pay for medical treatment and/or transport expenses for yourself or a dependant.

Compassionate grounds—mortgage assistance

You may be eligible for early release of superannuation on specified compassionate grounds to prevent your home from being sold by the lender with whom you have the home's mortgage.

Compassionate grounds—modifications to your home and-or motor vehicle

You may be eligible for early release of superannuation on specified compassionate grounds to pay for modifications to your home or motor vehicle.

Compassionate grounds palliative care

You may be eligible for early release of superannuation on specified compassionate grounds to pay for palliative care expenses for yourself or a dependant.

Compassionate grounds funeral expenses for a dependant

You may be eligible for the early release of your superannuation on specified compassionate grounds to pay for the funeral expenses of a dependant.