Being made redundant or deciding to take a voluntary redundancy can be stressful. If you’re weighing up your options for your super, we can help.

What happens to my super in redundancy?

After redundancy, what happens to your super will depend on whether you plan to find a new job or retire.

Stay with us to keep enjoying the benefits of being with QSuper.

alt-text

Moving to a new job

Give your new employer your QSuper details so your contributions continue to your QSuper account.

alt-text

Retiring

Retire with security and confidence with QSuper's retirement products.

alt-text

Taking a withdrawal

If you have any unrestricted non-preserved super, you can withdraw this or keep investing it.

alt-text

Making a plan

Getting financial advice about your super can help you feel confident you're making the right decisions.

alt-text

For Defined Benefit members

You might need to close your Defined Benefit account - find out more.

 

Is super payable on a redundancy payment?

Unfortunately, according to the ATO, super is not payable for redundancy or termination payments because they are not counted as part of your ordinary time earnings.

But some employers may provide a separate payment representing your superannuation benefits, which is not counted as part of your redundancy payout.

Can you put a redundancy payout into superannuation?

Yes, you can contribute your redundancy payment to your Accumulation account as a non-concessional (after-tax) contribution. Find out how.

Make sure you check that contributing your payment won't put you over the contribution caps for the year.

What happens to your account

When you are made redundant, what happens to your super and any insurance you hold through your account depends on what type of account you have.

For more information, please see our Redundancy and your super factsheet (pdf).

If you have an Accumulation account and move to a new job, you can keep your account open by giving your new employer your QSuper details. It's important to make sure your account receives contributions at least every 13 months so the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) knows your account is active.

Redundancy can affect any insurance you may have with your Accumulation account. For more information, check our frequently asked questions about insurance or see our QSuper Insurance Guide (pdf).

View your current level of cover in Member Online, and use our Insurance Needs Calculator to check you have the insurance you need.

If you plan to retire upon your redundancy, consider retiring with QSuper for a more financially secure retirement. Our Retirement Income account provides the flexibility to make withdrawals, and our Lifetime Pension is designed to provide you with an income for life.

If you have a Defined Benefit account and you accept a redundancy package, your benefit will usually be transferred to a QSuper Accumulation account. You need to send us a Transfer Your Defined Benefit to an Accumulation Account form to let us know how you want to invest your benefit and whether you would like insurance through your super.

You may be able to keep your Defined Benefit account open if you get a new job with a Queensland Government employer within 1 month and you haven't withdrawn any of your benefit yet.

Ask your payroll or HR department whether your new employer can provide for your defined benefit.

If you have any unrestricted non-preserved (cashable) super, you can withdraw this. The rest of your super stays in your account until you retire or meet the release conditions.

If your new job pays less, reducing the superannuable salary used to calculate your final benefit, you may be entitled to a salary reduction benefit. Find out more in our Defined Benefit account FAQs or our Defined Benefit Account Guide (pdf).

What happens to your Defined Benefit account insurance after your redundancy depends on whether or not you keep that account open. For more information, check our Defined Benefit account FAQs or our Defined Benefit Account Guide (pdf).

What you can do next

There are several things you can do to help keep your super on track following a redundancy:

Your new details

Let your new employer know your QSuper details, and/or send us your transfer form (for Defined Benefit accounts).

Find out how

Contributions

Contributing some of your redundancy payment to your super may be helpful in building your future (within the annual limits).

Find out how 

Insurance

Permanently opting in means you keep your insurance even if you don't find a new job right away.

Opt in 

If you would like more information about your options for your super around redundancy, please contact us.

alt-text

The right advice

Speaking with a financial adviser about what to do with your redundancy payment could make a big difference to your future.