Do you meet the eligibility criteria?
You can’t pay your reasonable and immediate living expenses.
You own less than $50,000 in “net assets” (e.g. car, bank account, etc.).
You’ve been receiving government payments for at least 26 weeks in a row.
How much you can withdraw
Once in a 12-month period, you can take out up to $10,000 less tax, so you receive less than you apply for. The minimum you can take out is $1,000, unless the account balance is less than that. In which case, you'll have to withdraw the whole amount and close the account.
Special rules if you’re 60 and over
Once you've reached your preservation age (generally age 60), you can apply using other criteria.
- You've been receiving government payments for a total of 39 weeks since turning your preservation age.
- You're either unemployed or work less than 10 hours a week.
You can take out any amount from your super, up to your entire account balance with us.
If you don't meet these criteria, you can still apply using the 26-week criteria instead (even though you've reached your preservation age).
How to apply to access super for financial hardship
Before you start
Find out how tax will reduce your withdrawal, what to do if you have insurance, and more.
Even if you're not eligible, we can help you find support services for your situation.
Have all your documents ready
You’ll need these with you to apply:
- Your Customer Reference Number (CRN). You'll find this on your Centrelink concession card, or on letters from Centrelink (Services Australia).
- Identity documents (e.g. driver’s licence)
Use our online form
Log in and apply in Member Online. Our online application form checks your eligibility for you.
Approx. time: 15 minutes
Don't want to apply online? Use this form instead.
We’ll be in touch
Our team will run checks with Centrelink (Services Australia) and your ID documents. We'll call you if we need any more information.
Approx. time: 1–3 weeks. In busy periods, this can take longer.
FAQs about super in financial hardship
If you have any trouble with the online form or have any questions about early access, please call us for help.