There are absolutely no restrictions to accessing your Super Benefit when aged between 60 and 64 after you are retired. There are two ways you can access your Super; either as a lump-sum payment or as a pension.
You may be able to take your superannuation as a lump sum payment when you retire. This is usually tax-free from age 60.
You can access your super, without restrictions, even if you're still working. Rules for accessing your super: You can access your super as long as you've permanently retired. If you end an employment arrangement on or after age 60, you can also access the super you've earned up until then.
There are restrictions on the amount you can withdraw each financial year. For example, if you are under 65 years old, you can access between 4–10% of the balance of money in your super account each financial year.
Can I Get the Pension if I Have Super? Having superannuation savings does not deny you from receiving Age Pension payments. Eligibility for the Age Pension is based on an Assets Test and an Income Test.
If you're aged 60 or over and withdraw a lump sum: You don't pay any tax when you withdraw from a taxed super fund. You may pay tax if you withdraw from an untaxed super fund, such as a public sector fund.
Can I access super at 65 and keep working? Yes. You can access your super when you turn 65 regardless of whether you're still working. You can also make certain types of super contributions up until you turn 75, even if you're retired and drawing a super pension.
The minimum amount that can be withdrawn is $1,000 and the maximum amount is $10,000. If your super balance is less than $1,000 you can withdraw up to your remaining balance after tax.
Super is a great way to save money for your retirement. It is generally taxed at a lower rate than your regular income. You typically pay 15% tax on your super contributions, and your withdrawals are tax-free if you're 60 or older.
When withdrawing your superannuation, you can generally choose to receive it as a lump sum, a retirement income stream, or a mixture of both. If you choose a lump sum, the entirety of your superannuation balance is transferred to your bank account.
You may withdraw a lump sum from super at retirement of any amount up to your total balance. A lump sum payment can be useful if you need to repay debts, or you have some large expenses such as making home renovations or purchasing a vehicle.
The Bottom Line. For some, a lump-sum pension payment makes sense. For others, having less to upfront capital is better. In either case, pension payments should be used responsibility with the mindset of having these resources support you throughout your retirement.
A lump sum withdrawal is a cash payment from your super to your bank account. You can request to withdraw a lump sum if you've met certain conditions set by the Government.
The disadvantages of early access to super
Getting money from you super may result in you: paying more tax. paying more child support. getting lower Centrelink payments.
You can choose to access all or some of your super, subject to the rules of your fund. There are no legal restrictions on the amount you can access, but withdrawals must be taken as tax-free lump sums. Learn more about early release of super for illness or injury.
How much super you'll need in retirement depends on the lifestyle you want. According to the government's MoneySmart website, if you own your home, the rule of thumb is that you'll need two-thirds (67%) of your current income each year to maintain the same standard of living.
This obviously depends on what annual income you want to fund but if you want to be able to afford a comfortable retirement—which is an income of just over $48,000 a year for a single according to the ASFA Retirement Standard—then you need a balance of at least $500,000.
You can get your super when you retire and reach your 'preservation age' — between 55 and 60, depending on when you were born.
While you're under Age Pension age
We don't count you or your partner's superannuation in the income and assets tests, if your fund isn't paying you a superannuation pension. If your fund is paying you a superannuation pension, it is assessable as an income stream.
(i) Lump sum withdrawal up to 33% of a superannuation fund, if employee is eligible to receive a gratuity. The employee would be eligible for gratuity only if he works for 5+ years in the same company. (ii) Lump sum withdrawal up to 50% of a superannuation fund, if employee is NOT eligible to receive a gratuity.
Assume, for example, you will need 65 per cent of your pre-retirement income, so if you earn $50,000 now, you might need $32,500 in retirement.
Your super balance continues to grow in retirement
If you had $300,000 in super and were invested in our Balanced pension option, you would have seen average returns of 8.6% per annum over the last 10 years^. That's $25,800 per year (before fees).