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. The investment earnings on your super are also only taxed at 15%.
If you're aged 60 or over, this income is usually tax-free. If you're under 60, you may pay tax on your super income stream.
You can access your super if you're aged 60 and over and you stop working, even if you subsequently get another job with another employer. As mentioned earlier, super payments are generally tax free once you turn 60.
Once you reach age 65, you can access your Super Benefit at any time whether you have retired or not. There are absolutely no restrictions to accessing your Super Benefit when over 65. Your Super Benefit can be accessed as either a Pension or Lump Sum withdrawal.
If you are under age 75, you can make voluntary personal contributions regardless of your employment status. Are there limits on how much I can contribute into my super? The general concessional contributions cap is $27,500 per financial year for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years.
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.
Many people start using their super savings as soon as they retire and can access their super, but you don't have to. If you have other income sources or savings to live on, you could leave your savings in your super account. This means your money stays invested and could continue to benefit from investment returns.
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.
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.
Adding to super before tax
You can contribute up to $27,500 each year. These are contributions you have not paid any personal income tax on. They are called 'concessional contributions' because the concessional rate of tax paid on super is 15%.
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.
Withdrawals are paid and taxed as a normal super lump sum. If you're: under 60, this is generally taxed between 17% and 22% over 60, you won't be taxed.
Benefits of a bank account in retirement
If you transfer your super to a bank account, your balance only changes if you spend money or earn interest. Knowing your balance will remain steady can offer a sense of financial control.
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.
The Government Age Pension is an income support payment to help eligible older Australians afford their basic living expenses in retirement. More than 60% of Australians over the age of 65 receive extra income from the Government Age Pension.
A monthly pension payment gives you a fixed amount every month over your whole life, so you don't have to worry about changes in the stock market. In contrast, a lump-sum payout can give you the flexibility of choosing where to invest or save your money, and when and how much to withdraw.
Should I have my super in Cash? The Cash option has a very low risk level when measured over the short term. However, if you intend to stay invested in this option for a longer timeframe, you should consider whether the current low returns will be enough for your situation.
Generally, while you are working, all of your superannuation will be in accumulation phase. When you stop working, you can then convert your superannuation to pension phase and draw an income to assist in covering retirement expenses, provided you have reached your superannuation preservation age.
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.
The asset value limit is the amount of assets a person can own before their pension or payment will reduce from the maximum rate under the assets test. Example: Currently the asset value limit for a single service pension homeowner is $280,000 and for a single service pension non-homeowner is $504,500.
Assets include any: financial investments. home contents, personal effects and vehicles. real estate, annuities, income streams and superannuation pensions.
Once you reach age 60 you can normally access your super tax free. If you choose, from preservation age you can roll your superannuation balance into a TransPension account with TWUSUPER – this is our Super Pension product. Members who have met a condition of release may have access to tax-free payments.
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.