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.
There are two ways you can access your super at age 60 and still work; either by using your super to start a transition to retirement pension, or by meeting the superannuation definition of retirement.
Under the "Proportioning Rule" and where the Member is aged between preservation age and 59, the "Tax Free" Component of the Lump Sum withdrawal is tax free. The "Taxable" Component of the Lump Sum withdrawal is taxed as follows: The amount up to the low rate cap amount is tax free.
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.
A super income stream is when you withdraw your money as small regular payments over a long period of time. If you're aged 60 or over, this income is usually tax-free.
There are no special tax rates for a super withdrawal because of severe financial hardship. It is paid and taxed as a normal super lump sum. If you are under 60 years old, this is generally taxed between 17% and 22%. If you are older than 60 years old, you will not be taxed.
Accessing your Super Benefit when aged over 65
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.
You may be able to take your superannuation as a lump sum payment when you retire. This is usually tax-free from age 60.
Pre-planning helps
A good place to start is the ASFA Retirement Standard, March quarter 2022. ASFA estimates people who want a comfortable retirement need $640,000 for a couple, and $545,000 for a single person when they leave work, assuming they also receive a partial age pension from the federal government.
You can get your super when you retire and reach your 'preservation age' — between 55 and 60, depending on when you were born. There are special circumstances where you can access your super early.
For most people, an income stream from superannuation will be tax-free from age 60.
If you are aged 60 or over and decide to take a lump sum, for most people all your lump sum benefits are tax free. If you are aged 60 or over and decide to take a super pension, all your pension payments are tax free unless you are a member of a small number of defined benefit super funds.
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.
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.
For a couple to qualify for the full Age Pension, your combined assets must be below $419,000 if you own your own home, or $643,500 if you don't own your own home. Note: The above thresholds apply 1 July 2022 to 19 September 2022.
In Australia, you're generally eligible to apply for a Seniors Card from your state or territory government once you turn 60 and are no longer working full time. The cards are non-means tested, but eligibility criteria and the benefits you're entitled to vary depending on where you live.
To be eligible for Age Pension you must be Age Pension age and meet some other rules. On 1 July 2021, Age Pension age increased to 66 years and 6 months for people born from 1 July 1955 to 31 December 1956, inclusive. If your birthdate is on or after 1 January 1957, you'll have to wait until you turn 67.
You can access your super when you turn 65 regardless of whether you're still working. You can also make contributions up until you turn 75, provided that you pass the work test. To satisfy the work test, you must work a minimum of 40 hours in any consecutive period of 30 days.
Age Pension is the most common income support payment available for people aged 65 and over (referred to as older Australians). It is paid to people who meet certain requirements, such as age and residency, and is subject to income and asset testing.
You can withdraw your superannuation at 55 if you have reached your superannuation preservation age. You will have limited access to your savings if you are still working, but may have full access to your super in the form of an income stream or lump sum if you have permanently retired.
Can I Access My Super At 57 And Still Work? Provided you have met your superannuation preservation age, you are able to access your superannuation and continue to work.
The tax-free thresholds for seniors and for younger people have diverged over the last 20 years. Seniors do not pay tax until they earn $32,279 a year, whereas younger households have an effective tax-free threshold of $20,542. These outcomes are hard to justify.