In limited circumstances you may be able to access some super earlier – but rules apply, including eligibility criteria.

Compassionate grounds

You may be able to withdraw some of your super on compassionate grounds, including needing money to pay for:

medical treatment and medical transport for you or your dependant
palliative care for you or your dependant
making a payment on a home loan or council rates so you don’t lose your home
accommodating a disability for you or your dependant
expenses associated with the death, funeral or burial of your dependant.

Severe financial hardship

You may be able to withdraw some of your super early on severe financial hardship grounds. How much you can withdraw depends on whether you’ve reached your preservation age.

If you’re below your preservation age plus 39 weeks, you can apply to withdraw up to $10,000 if you:

haven’t made a withdrawal under financial hardship in the past 12 months, and
are currently receiving and have been receiving an eligible Commonwealth income support payment for at least 26 weeks continuously, and
can’t meet reasonable and immediate family living expenses.

If you’ve reached your preservation age plus 39 weeks, you can apply to withdraw any amount if:

you’ve been receiving eligible Commonwealth income support payments for a cumulative period of at least 39 weeks, and
you’re unemployed or employed for less than 10 hours a week at the time you apply for payment under financial hardship.

Terminal illness

If you are terminally ill, you may be able to withdraw your super account balance (plus any death insurance cover you have). A terminal illness is an illness or injury that two registered medical practitioners, at least one of which is a specialist practising in an area relating to your illness or injury, have declared is likely to result in your death within 24 months.

There are strict conditions that apply and our form provides all the information you will need.

Can I access my super early?