Sunsuper: make your dreams more than dreams

Getting your super FAQs

Below are the most common queries for 'getting your super'.

Am I eligible for severe financial hardship?

While super is mainly for retirement, if you are not able to meet you or your families immediate living expenses, you may be able to access some of your super under severe financial hardship. To be eligible, you must meet all of the following criteria:

If you are 55 years of age or younger, you must:

  • Have been receiving an Australian Commonwealth Income Support Payment for at least 26 consecutive weeks, and
  • Be unable to meet reasonable and immediate living expenses for yourself or your family, and
  • Have not received a payment for a severe financial hardship claim from Sunsuper within the previous 12 months

If you are over 55 years of age, you must:

  • Have been receiving an Australian Commonwealth Income Support Payment for a cumulative period of 39 weeks since you turned 55.

Learn more about severe financial hardship

When can I access my super?

Super is designed to be a long-term investment for your retirement, so the Government has placed restrictions on when you can access your super benefits. Generally, you can access your super benefits when you reach your preservation age and retire, or when you turn 65. While the aim of investing in super is to ensure your needs are met throughout your retirement, there are some other circumstances where you will be able to access your super earlier.  Read our fact sheet [PDF 393KB], or check out the access your super page for more information.

When will my claim be paid?

We aim to process all benefit payments within  7-10 working days from we have received all required documentation. While we do our best to meet this timeframe, in busy periods it may take longer.

Will I pay tax on my super benefits?

If you are aged 60 or older, you will not have to pay tax on benefits received.

If you are under 60, benefits are subject to taxation that may vary according to:

  • The underlying components of the benefit (taxable or tax-free)
  • The age of the member
  • The amount of the benefit
  • The reason for the benefit payment and how it is paid (lump sum, pension or combination of both)

For more information, check out the ATO website.