When can I access my super?

What is superannuation - and why can't I touch it (yet)?

Superannuation is a fundamental part of the Australian retirement plan. Superannuation savings grow over your working life, thanks to regular contributions from your employer (and you can make your own super contributions, too). Withdrawing from your superannuation account is subject to specific criteria known as "conditions of release" which makes it extremely difficult to access until you're retired (or close to it).

The reason you can't access your super early is because superannuation is designed with the sole purpose of funding your retirement. If you accessed it too early, you potentially wouldn't have the money you need when you're no longer working.

When can I access my super?

In general, you can access your super when you meet a condition of release.

• Condition 1: You've reached your preservation age (more on this below) and retired
• Condition 2: You've reached your preservation age and changed your employment in order to start a transition to retirement pension
• Condition 3: You've turned 65

Note that you only need to meet one of these conditions, not all, to be able to access your super.

Expert insight

"Understanding when you can access your super is key to achieving financial independence. Planning early—especially for women, who often retire with less—means you'll be better positioned to fund the lifestyle you want later in life."

Pascale Helyar

Superannuation and wealth expert

Condition 1: Accessing your super at your preservation age

Your preservation age is the age at which you can access super if you have retired. Since 1 July 2024, the birth-year sliding scale that used to set this between 55 and 60 has fully phased in, so your preservation age is 60 no matter when you were born.
You'll need to wait until you're 60 and also retired to access your super this way. Note that if you plan to retire and access your super at this age, your intention to retire must be genuine and your super fund will likely get you to sign a declaration on this.

Is preservation age the same as pension age?

No, preservation age differs from pension age. Preservation age is when you can access your superannuation upon retirement or when transitioning to a retirement pension account.

In contrast, the age pension is a government payment designed to provide income to eligible Australians who may not have sufficient means, like superannuation, to retire comfortably. For people born in 1957 onwards the pension age is 67 years.

Condition 2: Starting a transition to retirement pension

If you've reached your preservation age and want to start accessing your super without having to retire, you can start a transition to retirement (TTR) pension instead.

This involves speaking with your super fund and transferring some of your balance into an account-based pension that you can access. The rest of your balance stays in your super fund.

Pros and cons of a transition to retirement pension

Condition 3: Accessing your super at age 65+

Once you turn 65 you can access your super without needing to retire (although you can if you want to!). This is because turning 65 is a condition of release in itself - you only need to retire if you're planning to access your super before you turn 65.

You have the choice of receiving your super as one lump sum payout, or setting up an account-based pension and receiving a portion of your balance each year like a salary.

How can you access your super early?

If you don't meet one of the above 3 conditions of release, it's very difficult to access your super. However, there are some situations when you can be grated early release of your super. These grounds are very limited and include:

On compassionate grounds

You can make a claim for an early superannuation release on one or more of the following compassionate grounds:

• Maor medical treatment
• Mortgage assistance in cases of severe financial hardship
• Home or motor vehicle modifications in the event of a disability
• Palliative care
• Funeral assistance

Severe financial hardship

If you're under your preservation age, you can apply on severe financial hardship grounds if you've received eligible government income support payments for a continuous 26 weeks and can't meet reasonable and immediate family living expenses. You can withdraw between $1,000 and $10,000 once every 12 months. If you've reached your preservation age plus 39 weeks, there's no dollar limit provided you've received income support for a cumulative 39 weeks since then and weren't working when you applied. Apply directly to your super fund - the ATO doesn't process these requests.

Permanent disability and death

Death and permanent incapacity can also allow you access; provided that you have complete medical proof that you will be unable to work again.

Here's when you can't access your super early

As mentioned above, you can only access your super early in very limited and extreme circumstances. You can't access your super early to:

• Buy a car
• Fund a home rennovation
• Pay off general debt
• Pay rent or mortgage payments
• Travel overseas

Our expert says

"Be cautious with any businesses or schemes that promise to help you get access to your super early. These could be promoted to you via social media, email or even in person by someone claiming to be a financial advisor. These are most often scams, and will charge you a fee without ever providing you access to your super. If you're ever unsure, it's always best to speak with your super fund directly."

Alison Banney

Editorial Manager, Money

How to access your super when eligible

Once you've met a condition of release and are eligible to access your super, here's how to get it:

1. Decide how to access it. Choose if you want to start an account-based pension or make one big lump sum withdrawal (or a few big lump sum withdrawals).
2. Submit a request. If you want to withdraw your super, log into your super account online and submit a transaction request. Once approved, you should be able to complete your withdrawal in just a few business days.
3. Open an account-based pension. If you want to start an account based pension, open the account online by completing the online application form. You don't need to choose the account-based pension offered by your current super fund, but you might find it easier to do so. You can then submit a transaction request from your super fund.

Frequently Asked Questions

• When can I access my superannuation?

  You can generally access your super when you reach preservation age and retire, or once you turn 65 regardless of retirement.

• Can I access my super before 60?

  No, unless you meet a limited early-release condition, such as severe financial hardship or a terminal medical condition. Preservation age is 60 for everyone, so you generally can't access your super until you turn 60 (and retire) or 65.

• What is the preservation age for super?

  Your preservation age is 60. The birth-year sliding scale (55 to 60) fully phased in on 1 July 2024, so everyone now has a preservation age of 60.

• Can I access my super while I'm still working?

  Yes, once you turn 65 you can access your full super balance even if you're still working.

• How long does it take to get super after applying?

  Most funds release super within 5–10 business days after approving your application, though processing times vary.

• Is there a trick to getting my super early?

  No, you can only access your super early in very rare, extreme situations. this needs to be approved by your fund and also the ATO.

Written by

Alison Banney

Editorial Manager, Money

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Alison is an editor at Finder and a personal finance journalist with over 10 years of experience, having contributed to major financial institutions and publications such as Westpac, Money Magazine, and Yahoo Finance. She is frequently quoted in media outlets like SmartCompany and SBS, offering expert insights on superannuation and money management. Alison holds a Bachelor of Communications in Public Relations and Journalism from the University of Newcastle, and has earned three ASIC RG146 certifications in superannuation, securities and managed investments and general financial advice, ensuring her expertise is fully aligned with ASIC standards. See full bio

Alison's expertise

Alison has written 592 Finder guides across topics including:

• Superannuation
• Savings accounts, bank accounts and term deposits
• Budgeting and money-saving hacks
• Managing the cost of living