Commonwealth Government legislation permits early access to your superannuation only in very limited circumstances.

Generally, super can only be claimed when you retire from the workforce after reaching your preservation age (from 55 to 60, depending on your date of birth), or on earlier death or total and permanent disability.

Commonwealth Government legislation permits earlier access to your super only in very limited circumstances. These circumstances include severe financial hardship, or release due to compassionate reasons.

Who decides what the compassionate grounds are?

Commonwealth Government rules provide guidelines for determining whether compassionate grounds exist. QSuper is required to follow these guidelines when considering whether your super can be released. You, therefore, need to be able to show you are financially unable to meet the expenses associated with one or more of the compassionate grounds below for QSuper to be allowed to release your funds.

Release on compassionate grounds can only be considered where you are financially unable to meet the expenses associated with:

• medical treatment for you or a dependant, where the condition is life-threatening, or causes chronic pain or chronic mental illness
• transport to receive medical treatment for you or a dependant for life-threatening or chronic illness/injury
• modification to your home or vehicle to accommodate the severe disability needs of yourself or a dependant
• palliative care associated with your impending death or that of a dependant
• the death, funeral, or burial of a dependant
• loan repayments to prevent the potential loss of your family home (including arrears of rates owed to a council).

What proof do I need to supply QSuper?

You need to be able to show:

• evidence of compassionate grounds, and
• you do not have the financial capacity to meet the expenses related to those compassionate grounds.

Do I need to prove both of these conditions for my claim to be paid?

Yes. The Commonwealth Government guidelines state the trustees of any super fund, such as QSuper, must be satisfied these two conditions have been met for them to be able to release your money.

If you cannot show you meet these conditions, QSuper will be unable to release your super on compassionate grounds.