Updated on 6 May 2025
3 minute read
Understanding when you can access your super can help you plan for the retirement you want.
Preserved super includes all contributions you or your employer make to your super and the earnings you make from it. It can also be called preserved benefits.
Any rollover money from another fund may also contain preserved benefits. Preserved super is your money that's locked away until you reach preservation age or meet certain conditions of release.
Your super may have up to 3 components:
Your annual statement will have more information about whether you have any money in restricted non-preserved or unrestricted non-preserved super.
Super preservation helps set you up for a comfortable retirement. Keeping your super invested over time allows your money to grow. Over time, compound earnings can increase your super. Of course, market volatility can see your super balance fluctuate.
Generally, you can access your super once you reach age 60 and retire. The Australian Government sets the age limits and other conditions of release for super.
Find out more about preservation ageTo get money from your super, you generally need to be 60 and over and/or meet conditions of release. They are:
In some special cases, you may be able to withdraw some of your super early (e.g. financial hardship, medical or funeral costs, terminal illness, or disability payouts).
You can access your super when:
Everyone can get their super when they turn 65, even if you haven't retired.
Unrestricted non-preserved super is money you can access on demand, because the money has already met a condition of release. You can use this money to open a Retirement Income account at any time, leave them in your super account, or the money can be withdrawn in full.
This type of super includes employment-related contributions (but not the Super Guarantee payments). You can only access restricted non-preserved super when you meet a specific condition of release, like when you leave the job it's linked to.
Note: Your employer's compulsory Super Guarantee payments aren't part of restricted non-preserved super.
You can access unrestricted non-preserved super whenever you want.
Your funds will generally become unrestricted non preserved when you've met a condition of release (like reaching preservation age and retiring). They include amounts that were in the fund when a relevant condition of release was satisfied, or may have been rolled in from another super fund.
While you can access this money anytime, taxes may apply based on your age and how you withdraw it. It's best to chat with a financial adviser about your specific situation. With ART, you can access financial advice about your account – it's included as part of your membership.1
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1. Sunsuper Financial Services Pty Ltd (ABN 50 087 154 818 AFSL No. 227867) (SFS) is a separate legal entity responsible for the financial services it provides. Eligibility conditions apply. Refer to the Financial Services Guide for more information.
