• Personal
  • Employers
  • Advisers
  • Calculators & forms
  • News Hub
  • Contact us
QSuper QSuper
  • Products
    • Why QSuper
    • Can I join QSuper
    • Investment options
    • Fees
    • Financial advice
    • Compare us
    • Insurance
    • Account types
      • Accumulation account
      • Transition to Retirement Income account
      • Retirement Income account
      • Lifetime Pension
      Why QSuper?

      A focus on strong performance

      More reasons to feel good
  • Super
    • Grow your super
      • Salary sacrifice
      • Super co-contribution
      • Voluntary contributions
      • Spouse contributions
      • Contribution caps
      • Tax deductions
    • Consolidate your super
    • Find your lost super
    • Changing jobs
    • Nominate beneficiaries
    • Early access
    • Seminars and education
  • Retirement
    • Why retire with QSuper
    • Retirement accounts
      • Transition to Retirement Income account
      • Retirement Income account
      • Lifetime Pension
    • Retirement planning
      • Make your super last in retirement
      • The Age Pension and Super
    • How much super do you need to retire
    • Access your super
      • When can you access your super
      • Withdraw your super
    • Seminars and education
      Award-winning

      SuperRatings' Pension of the Year 4 years in a row4

      Find out more
  • Investments
    • Investment options
      • Lifetime
      • Moderate
      • Balanced
      • Socially Responsible
      • Aggressive
      • Cash
      • Diversified Bonds
      • Australian Shares
      • International Shares
      • Self Invest
    • Performance
      • Overview
      • Graphs
      • Unit prices
    • Online investment advice
    • Compare options
    • Change your investment options
    • How QSuper invests
  • Insurance
    • Insurance options
      • Income protection
      • Total & permanent disability cover
      • Death cover
    • How much insurance cover do you need
    • Change or cancel your insurance
    • Make an insurance claim
  • Advice
  • Calculators & forms
  • News Hub
  • Contact us
Join
  • Call
Join Log In - Open navigation
Member Online

Forgot username?
Forgot password?
Register
 
Upcoming outage

Due to required maintenance, Member Online will be unavailable from 9:00pm on Saturday 20th August until 9:00am Sunday the 21st August. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Navigation

QSuper
  • Personal
  • Employers
  • Advisers
  • Search
  • Join Log In
  • Products Expand
    • Why QSuper
    • Can I join QSuper
    • Investment options
    • Insurance
    • Fees
    • Financial advice
    • Account types Expand
      • Accumulation account
      • Transition to Retirement Income account
      • Retirement Income account
      • Lifetime Pension
    • Compare us
  • Super Expand
    • Consolidate your super
    • Grow your super Expand
      • Salary sacrifice
      • Super co-contribution
      • Voluntary contributions
      • Spouse contributions
      • Contribution caps
      • Tax deductions
    • Find your lost super
    • Changing jobs
    • Nominate beneficiaries
    • Early access
    • Seminars and education
  • Retirement Expand
    • Why retire with QSuper
    • Retirement accounts Expand
      • Transition to Retirement Income account
      • Retirement Income account
      • Lifetime Pension
    • How much super do you need to retire
    • Retirement planning Expand
      • Make your super last in retirement
      • The Age Pension and Super
    • Access your super Expand
      • When can you access your super
      • Withdraw your super
    • Seminars and education
  • Investments Expand
    • Performance Expand
      • Overview
      • Graphs
      • Unit prices
    • Investment options Expand
      • Lifetime
      • Moderate
      • Balanced
      • Socially Responsible
      • Aggressive
      • Cash
      • Diversified Bonds
      • Australian Shares
      • International Shares
      • Self Invest
    • Online investment advice
    • Compare options
    • Change your investment options
    • How QSuper invests
  • Insurance Expand
    • Insurance options Expand
      • Income protection
      • Total & permanent disability cover
      • Death cover
    • How much insurance cover do you need
    • Change or cancel your insurance
    • Make an insurance claim
  • Advice
  • Your account Expand
    • Super Expand
      • Investments
      • Transactions
      • Statements & history
      • Consolidate
      • Add to super
      • Insurance
    • Profile Expand
      • Personal details
      • Security
      • Authorities
      • Employer
      • Beneficiaries
    • Online Advice
    • Self Invest
  • Calculators & forms Expand
    • Superannuation & Retirement Calculators Expand
      • Super and retirement planning calculators
      • Retirement planning
      • Insurance
      • Maximise your super
      • Savings
      • Investing
    • Forms Expand
      • All
      • Forms for claims, withdrawals, and transfers out
      • Forms for deposits, contributions and transfers in
      • Insurance forms
      • Investments
      • Transfer
      • Other forms
    • Publications Expand
      • PDS
      • Guides
      • Annual reports
      • Factsheets
      • Other publications
      • Target Market Determination
  • News Hub Expand
    • Category Expand
      • News
      • Superannuation
      • Retirement
      • Finances
      • Investments
      • Community
      • Wellbeing
      • Employer
  • Contact us Expand
    • Email QSuper
    • Language assistance
    • Browser support
    • Formal enquiries and complaints
    • FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
    • QSuper Member Centres

Financial hardship

You may be able to access your super early if you're facing financial hardship

As superannuation is there to support you once you stop working, you normally can't withdraw it until you reach a certain age and retire. However, some super funds allow you to take it out early if you are facing severe financial hardship and meet the requirements set by the Australian Government.

Who can access their super in financial hardship

How much and how often you can withdraw super for financial hardship depends on your age.

Your age How much super you can withdraw Eligibility notes
Under 65 $1,000 - $10,000

You must:

  • Have received eligible income support payments from Centrelink for 26 weeks in a row and are still receiving these payments when you apply
  • Show you are unable to pay reasonable and immediate family living costs, such as utility bills, groceries, or rent
  • You own less than $50,000 in assets (not including your home).

You can only apply to access your super after 12 months has passed since your last financial hardship payment.

If your super balance is less than $1,000, you can apply to take out the full amount.

Reached your access age Up to your full balance

You must be:

  • The age you can access your super + 39 weeks
  • Not working 10 hours or more per week
  • Receiving income support payments from Centrelink for at least 39 weeks in total since you reached the age you can access your super.

You don't need to wait 12 months between financial hardship payments, and you can apply through the under-65 rules if you don't meet these eligibility criteria.

Reached your access age and retired Up to your full balance If you've reached your access age and retired, you can access your super any time, even if you're still under 65 years old.
65 years and over Up to your full balance Once you're 65 years old, you can access your super any time without applying for financial hardship, even if you're still working or looking for work.

Financial hardship vs compassionate grounds

Taking out your super due to "financial hardship" is different from accessing your super on "compassionate grounds".

The main difference is that you don't need to be receiving income support payments from Centrelink to access your super early on compassionate grounds.

Additionally, you can only get your super money on compassionate grounds if you are unable to afford things like medical treatment, your mortgage, or a funeral.

Find out more about compassionate grounds.

How to apply for your super due to financial hardship

  1. Find your Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN) as you will need this when completing your application form. You can find your CRN on letters you've received from Centrelink or on your Centrelink concession card, if you have one.
  2. Complete our Severe Financial Hardship Application form, which can be found at the back of the Early Release of Superannuation Benefits due to Severe Financial Hardship factsheet (pdf).
  3. Send your completed form to qsuper@qsuper.qld.gov.au or to our postal address.
  4. Once we receive your application, we'll aim to process your request within seven working days.

What else to consider

  •  Your superannuation is designed to help you prepare financially for retirement, so if you take it out now, you will have less money to spend once you finish work.
  • If you access your super before you reach the required age set by the government, the taxable part of your super will be taxed at a maximum rate of 20% (plus applicable levies). If you wait until you reach age 60 to access your super, no tax is payable.
  • An early release of super may reduce your Centrelink payments or impact the amount of child support you receive or pay. Contact Centrelink for more information.

For more information about accessing your super early, visit the Australian Taxation Office.

 

We're here to help

If you have any questions about how to withdraw your super due to financial hardship, please give us a call or send us an email.

Contact us
  • Our products
    • Why QSuper?
    • Investment options
    • Fees
    • Insurance
    • Financial advice
  • Super & retirement
    • How much do you need?
    • Grow your super
    • Consolidate
    • Changing jobs
    • Seminars
    • Access your super
  • Investments
    • Performance
    • Unit prices
    • Graphs
    • Compare options
  • Calculators & Forms
    • Calculators
    • Forms
    • Publications
    • PDSs
    • TMDs
    • Member Outcomes Assessment
  • Contact us
    • 1300 360 750
      Mon-Fri 8.00am to 6.00pm AEST
  • About us 
  • Careers 
  • Sitemap 
  • Privacy 
  • Security 
  • Disclaimer 
  • Terms and conditions 
  • Disclosure 
We're part of Australian Retirement Trust
2020 awards
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube