The following is an overview of the most common documents you will need to provide as evidence for your claim. These should be copies of the originals that have been certified and dated by an authorised person, see instructions here.
We may request additional documents to verify the claim. Your dedicated Case Manager will contact you to confirm which documents you need to provide.
1. Information about the deceased
- Death Certificate, including the cause of death
- Proof of identity - 1 current (not expired): passport, birth certificate, driver’s licence or proof of age card, or refer to here for alternate options – see instructions here
- A will, if one exists
2. Proof of identity for claimants
- 1 current (not expired): passport, birth certificate, driver’s licence or proof of age card, or refer to here for alternate options - see instructions here
3. Evidence of potential beneficiary’s relationship to the deceased
- Spouses: a marriage certificate
- De Facto’s: either proof of registration OR a Statutory Declaration by 2 of the deceased’s family members or friends
We may also ask for evidence of shared bills or accounts
- Children: a birth certificate OR adoption certificate
For Minor children, the guardian or parent will also need to provide proof of identity
4. Estates & Probate, if any
- Grant of probate OR Letters of administration
- A will, if one exists
- Proof of identity for each executor, administrator OR Legal Personal Representative – 1 current (not expired): passport, birth certificate, driver’s licence or proof of age card, or refer to here for alternate options – see instructions here
5. Third parties acting on behalf of the estate or claimants
- Written authority from your client(s) authorising your firm to act on their behalf in relation to this matter
6. Payment details
Subject to assessment, if you’re planning to receive the funds as a lump sum, providing your payment information now can help speed up the payment. An assessment will determine who the funds go to, and beneficiaries will be advised of the decision. If there is no valid binding beneficiary nomination and you are not one of the determined beneficiaries, you may have an opportunity to object to the decision. Decisions to pay beneficiaries with a valid binding nomination generally can’t be objected to.
For more information on how we determine the distribution of funds, in accordance with super law, we recommend visiting the ATO website here.
All potential beneficiaries should provide the following:
- Account details – A copy of a bank statement with account name, BSB and account number (provide the estate’s banking details if the estate is claiming the benefit)
- Tax File Number (TFN) declaration (provided in claim form) – if you do not provide us with your TFN you may have to pay more tax on the benefit payment than would otherwise have been necessary. It is not mandatory to provide your TFN.
If you’d like to ensure your payments are handled in the most tax-effective way or need guidance on how to invest your money, we recommend speaking with a qualified financial planner. At Aware Super, we have financial planners who can help. Your first appointment is free, general in nature and comes with no obligations, giving you an opportunity to explore how a financial planner can support you. If there is a benefit in pursuing a personal recommendation, our planners will explain any costs and what you can expect. Please give us a call on 1300 650 873.
