About Us: Accessing Your Money

As superannuation is a long-term investment that is designed to help you lead the sort of lifestyle that you want in retirement, the government has placed restrictions on when you claim most of your superannuation benefits. These restrictions are known as preservation rules.

Preserved benefits

Generally, you can only claim your preserved benefit in the following circumstances:

you permanently retire after reaching your preservation age, which is between age 55 and 60 depending on when you were born (as follows):

Date of birth	Preservation age
Before 1/7/1960	55
1/7/1960 – 30/6/1961	56
1/7/1961 – 30/6/1962	57
1/7/1962 – 30/6/1963	58
1/7/1963 – 30/6/1964	59
After 30/6/1964	60

you reach age 60 and cease gainful employment
when you reach age 65
if in the Trustee's opinion you are totally and permanently disabled
you die (in which event your super may be paid to your dependants and/or your estate)
you satisfy the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) that you are suffering severe financial hardship or that your preserved benefit should be released to you on compassionate grounds, as determined by government rules
you are a foreign national (excluding New Zealanders) who has permanently left Australia.

Non-preserved benefits

It is possible that some of your super benefit is not subject to preservation rules, particularly any contributions that were made prior to 1 July 1999 (please note, all contributions made after 1 July 1999 are fully preserved). If this is the case, any non-preserved amounts will be shown on your annual Member Benefit Statement.

Further information

The information provided above is a summary only, and does not take into account your individual circumstances. For a more detailed outline of how and when you can claim your superannuation benefits, you should read the PDS for the category of Prime Super that you are a member of, or consult a professional financial adviser.

To access your super

To access your super you will need a Benefit Payment Request form.

To obtain this form, please call Prime Super on 1800 675 839 between 8.00 am to 10.00 pm Monday to Friday (Sydney time).