What is the impact of unpaid super?

When super contributions from your employer aren’t made or are delayed, your retirement savings take a hit.

Not only are you missing out on that money now, but you’re also missing out on the compounding returns that can build up over time. Any money that’s not in your account doesn’t have an opportunity to be reinvested and grow.

On top of that, if you have insurance cover through your super fund, unpaid super could cause your cover to lapse if contributions stop.

How to claim unpaid super

If you think you might have unpaid super, don’t panic. There are steps you can take to figure things out and claim what you’re owed.

But first, it helps to double-check that you’re entitled to the super in the first place.

Step 1: Ensure you’re eligible to receive super

Most working Australians are eligible for super, but there are a few boxes that need to be ticked.

Superannuation Guarantee

If you're over 18 and working, or under 18 and working more than 30 hours a week, you’re probably covered by the Superannuation Guarantee rate.

This means your employer must pay at least 12% of your wages (the ATO calls these ‘ordinary time earnings’) into your super fund.

This applies whether you’re full-time, part-time or casual.

Due dates for lodgement

Payday Super laws (which started on 1 July 2026) mean your super must be paid when your salary or wages are paid.

It’s important to note that your salary and super may not be paid at exactly the same time.

Super payments will need to be received by your super fund within 7 days business days of your salary being paid. And super funds will then have up to 3 business days to allocate the payment to your account.

But if your super doesn’t show up within 10 days of you being paid, it could be a red flag.

Note, if you’re a new employee receiving your first salary payment, or if you’ve just switched super funds, the super payment can take longer – up to 20 business days.

Step 2: Ensure that your super contributions are being paid

It’s your future money, so it’s worth keeping an eye on it.

You can check your super by logging into your super fund account.

Your employer must provide you with a pay slip within one working day of your salary being paid, detailing earnings and deductions, etc. Your pay slip must also include information on any superannuation contributions paid, including:

the amount of contributions made during the pay period (or the amount of contributions that the employer intends to make), and
the name, or the name and number, of the superannuation fund the contributions were (or will be) made to.

So also check your pay slips.

Step 3: Here’s what you can do if something looks off

Talk to your employer

If you don’t see expected contributions in your super account, the first step is to have a chat with your employer (if you’re comfortable doing so). Ask them how often they’re paying super, when the last payment was made, and which fund it was sent to.

If you’ve moved on from a job and aren’t in contact with your former employer, check if your super was paid into a different fund than you were expecting.

Not sure which fund you’re with or think you’ve got old accounts floating around? Read our guide on how to find your lost super.

Report unpaid super by lodging an enquiry

Sometimes missing super is just a mistake – maybe a payroll error or an admin delay.

But if you’ve spoken with your employer and still don’t see your super, you can report it to the ATO. They can investigate and, if necessary, recover the unpaid amount from your employer.

It’s a good idea to keep records like your payslips, super fund details and any correspondence about your super. These can help support your enquiry.

Stay informed and take control

No matter what stage you’re at in your working life, staying on top of your super can make a big difference to your future.

Unpaid super? Make sure you’re getting what you’re entitled to