When money is tight, everyday life can feel overwhelming. You may be able to access some of your super early if you’re finding it hard to cover essentials like rent, food or bills.
Here are the financial hardship rules, how to check if you are eligible, what you will need to apply and what to expect from the process.
If you’re struggling to cover everyday living expenses, you may be able to access some of your super early due to financial hardship. The amount you can withdraw and whether you’re eligible depends on your age and circumstances. Follow the steps below to check your eligibility, prepare your documents and apply.
Having everything ready helps us assess your claim faster. You’ll need:
Before you start, check that:
Online: Log in to Member Online and complete the financial hardship application form. You’ll need to upload your supporting documents and verify your identity.
Once we receive your application, we’ll assess it and notify you of the outcome. If approved, payments are made directly into your nominated bank account.
If your application is approved, we will pay the withdrawal directly into your nominated bank account.
You need to meet a few eligibility rules to apply to access your super early due to financial hardship.
All applications must be in your own name as an Aware Super member.
| If you’re under 60 and you: | If you're 60 or over and you: |
|---|---|
|
|
This depends on your age and situation. See more about the ATO’s eligibility rules.
| If you're | How much you can withdraw |
|---|---|
| Under 60 | Between $1,000 and $10,000 before tax, once every 12 months. If your balance is under $1,000, you can withdraw the full amount. |
| 60 or over — and receiving government income support payments continuously for at least 26 weeks | Between $1,000 and $10,000 (before tax), once every 12 months. |
| 60 or over — and receiving government income support payments for 39 weeks and not gainfully employed | Any amount, up to your whole balance. |
After you submit your application, we’ll review your documents and may contact you if we need anything extra.
Once approved, we aim to pay within 3 to 5 business days to your nominated bank account. Bank processing times may vary.
If you're eligible, we'll automatically waive your insurance premiums for 12 continuous months to help you maintain your cover during this challenging time. Learn more about our insurance premium waiver.
We’ll let you know by email or SMS when your payment is on the way. If you have questions, contact us.
Accessing your super early can help in difficult times, but it’s important to understand the impacts.
If you need support, get in touch with us – we’re more than happy to help.
You can access your super early in certain situations, including:
Otherwise, you'll need to wait until retirement age to access your balance.
Whether you pay tax comes down to your age.
More information can be found on the ATO's When you can access your super early page.
You can also read how super is taxed in the Super Handbook.
Yes. You can call us on 1300 650 873 and we'll help you apply over the phone, or you can download and complete our paper form and send it back to us with your documents.
If you're under 60, you can receive one financial hardship payment every 12 months. If you're 60 or over and meet the 39-week conditions, you can apply more than once a year.
Yes. If your claim is approved, your cover continues and we automatically pause your insurance premiums (payments) for 12 months. The only time this changes is if you take out your full balance and close your account. If that happens, your insurance cover will end.
[AD2] Members can get advice about their Aware Super accounts at no extra cost, or advice on their broader needs for a fee.
