accessing your super

Compassionate grounds for medical reasons

Financial hardship

Eligibility criteria

To access your super for medical reasons you’ll need to prove you’re unable to meet the expenses for one or more of the following:

- medical treatment and medical transport for you or a dependant

- palliative care for you or a dependant

- making a payment on a loan or council rates so you don't lose your home

- modifying your home or vehicle, or buying disability aids for you or a dependant because of a severe disability

- expenses associated with a death, funeral or burial for a dependant.

1. You can apply for up to $10,000 once every 12 months if:

- you’re currently receiving an eligible income support payment, and

- have received it for 26 continuous weeks, and

- are struggling to meet reasonable and immediate family living expenses including housing or accommodation costs, outstanding bills and food expenses.

2. You can apply for any amount if:

- you’ve reached your preservation age plus 39 weeks, and

- you’ve received eligible Commonwealth Government income support payments for at least 39 cumulative weeks since reaching your preservation age, and

- you’re currently either unemployed, or you are employed for less than 10 hours a week.

Maximum amounts and periods

The Australian Tax Office determines the amount to be released from your super fund.

$10,000 once every 12 months if you meet eligibility criteria in point 1 (above).

Any amount if you meet eligibility criteria in point 2 (above).

Who decides

The Australian Tax Office

HESTA

Tax/ Centrelink implications

The amount is paid and taxed as a lump sum. If you’re aged under 60 the amount will be taxed between 17% and 22%. If you’re aged over 60, the amount will be tax-free.

The amount is paid and taxed as a lump sum. If you’re aged under 60 the amount will be taxed between 17% and 22%. If you’re aged over 60, the amount will be tax-free.

Where to apply

The Australian Tax Office via myGov

HESTA