Q1. I was a member of an Australian super fund in the 1990s. I have now left Australia permanently. Can I access my super benefits?
Trish’s response: Maybe.
If your super benefit includes a category of benefit known as ‘unrestricted non-preserved’, then you can access that portion of your benefit without having to satisfy another condition of release. See article Unrestricted access to super, sometimes.
Q2. My husband is not an Australian citizen, however he is a permanent resident. Can he access his superannuation, as we have moved to the US, and don’t know if we will be returning?
Trish’s response: No, not if the reason an individual is seeking early release of super benefits is due to leaving Australia. Quoting directly from the ATO website:
Australian and New Zealand citizens, permanent residents of Australia or holders of retirement visas generally cannot claim their super… because they have the option of retiring in Australia. However Australian and New Zealand citizen, and permanent Australian residents, are able to claim super money they earned while previously in Australia on a temporary visa if this money is now held by the Tax Office.
Australian citizens and permanent Australian residents who then relocate overseas are treated in the same way as Australians living in Australia: they cannot access preserved super benefits until they reach preservation age and retire, or satisfy another condition of release.
Q3: I’m an Australian citizen but I’m leaving Australia permanently. Can I access my super?
Trish’s response: No. See my response to Question 2.
If you have reached your preservation age (currently 55) when you depart Australia or at a later stage, then you may be able to access super benefits subject to certain conditions.
Note: If you had been a temporary Australian resident rather than a permanent Australian resident, then you would have been able to access your super benefits (see article Accessing super early: Temporary resident).
Q4: I’m leaving the country, AND taking out UK citizenship. Can I access my super?
Trish’s response: No.
Accessing super is not possible for the particular reason of permanent departure. In the past, the fact that an individual was leaving Australia permanently was an acceptable condition of release. If you supplied sufficient evidence, such as permanent residence in another country, job details and even citizenship application, then it was possible to access a super benefit before retirement. This condition of release no longer applies.
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