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Find your lost super

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What is lost and unclaimed super?

Lost or unclaimed super is any super that belongs to you but not in your current account. So, it could be from an old job you had years ago with a different fund, or from a different account you no longer use but didn’t realise was still holding money.

Your super might go missing as lost or unclaimed:

 

What is lost super?         What is unclaimed super?        
Lost super is still with a fund, but they can’t contact you. This might happen if you change jobs, address or your name. Your account might be ‘lost’ if you haven’t been active for a long time, like making contributions to your accountUnclaimed super is money that your super fund might send to the ATO for various reasons, like if your account has been inactive for a long time or you move overseas.
 
Did you know?

Australians have nearly $19 billion of dollars sitting in lost and unclaimed super.

Source: Australian Tax Office, June 2025

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When is super considered lost?

Your super account might be considered ‘lost’ if you’re:

  • Uncontactable, which is when your fund can’t reach you and you haven’t made a contribution or rollover for 12 months
  • Inactive, which is when you haven’t made any contributions for five years.

A fund might hold your lost super while they’re trying to find you, but they might eventually have to transfer your account to the ATO.

What do I need to start looking for lost super?

  • Your tax file number (TFN)
  • A myGov account linked to the ATO or your Aware Super login
  • Two forms of Australian ID, like a driver’s licence and Medicare card
  • Your Aware Super member number (if you’re already with us)
  • Any known fund names and account numbers (mainly if using a paper form).

How to find lost super

If your partner earns under $40,000, you may be eligible for a tax offset of up to $540. 

 

Method                  What to do                       
Online through Aware Super or the app
  1. Log in to your account online or on the app
  2. Go to ‘Consolidate super’
  3. Follow the prompts to search and combine.

This method is faster and easier when compared to other options.

MyGov (ATO)
  1. Log in to myGov and select your linked ATO account
  2. Go to ‘Super’
  3. Select ‘Manage or transfer super’ to search and combine.
ATO paper formDownload and fill out an ATO form if you can’t use online services.
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Why finding and combining your super helps

When it comes to your lost super, chances are that there might be some money in the account you didn’t know existed. Plus, you might be paying fees for this extra account on top of your current super account.

Combining your super makes it a lot easier to manage, and you’re also saving money.[C1] With one account, you only need to pay a single set of fees, remember one account login, and check your balance and investments all in the same spot.

If your super is with the ATO, it earns interest based on CPI instead of market returns. Moving it into an active fund sooner helps your money work harder for you.

 

Case study: Sarah discovers thousands in lost super

Meet Sarah, a 34-year-old nurse who works full-time. One day, when Sarah checked her super, she discovered three old accounts she’d forgotten about. After logging in to her Aware Super account and running a quick search, she found over $5,000 in lost super. Within a few days, those balances were combined into her current Aware Super account.[C1] Now she can see her full balance in one place and pay only a single set of fees, which gives her more confidence about her retirement savings.

Quick tips to avoid losing your super

  1. Update your contact details if you’ve moved houses, changed names, jobs or phone numbers, or switched up your email address.
  2. Take your super with you to a new job. Share your Aware Super info with your new employer to prevent duplicate accounts.
  3. Download the app for quick access to your super balance and investments.
  4. Make regular contributions if you can, which can help keep your super account ‘active’.[S1]

Find out how much you can contribute

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FAQ

If you lose track of your super, it may be held as lost super by a fund or transferred to the ATO as unclaimed super. As an Aware Super member, you can search for and reclaim lost super through your account. If your money has been moved to the ATO, you can also find it via myGov or by calling the ATO. Keeping your details up to date and consolidating accounts helps prevent it from going missing.[C1]

Unexpected messages or calls claiming you have lost super can be scams. Always use trusted methods, such as logging into your Aware Super account or accessing the ATO via myGov, to check for lost super securely. Never share your personal details with unknown groups.

  • Lost super is money that’s still held by a fund, but they can’t contact you or your account has been inactive.

  • Unclaimed super is money that a fund transfers to the ATO when certain conditions are met, such as inactivity for years or moving overseas.

Lost super can later become unclaimed super if it’s sent to the ATO.

The ATO holds unclaimed super until they can transfer it to an active account in your name or you claim it. When this money is with the ATO, it earns interest based on the consumer price index (CPI), not market returns. This means the returns are often lower than when the money is in a super fund. If you’re 65 or older, the ATO might pay it directly to you, but you can also nominate a fund (like Aware Super) to keep it invested for your retirement.

Where to next? 

Consolidate your super
Bring all your super accounts together so you only pay one set of fees.[C1]
Consolidate your super
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Grow your super
Explore simple strategies to boost your balance for retirement.
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Manage your super
Log in to view your statements, make a withdrawal or update your details.
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[C1] Before consolidating, consider if this is right for you, including the loss of any insurance cover from your other funds, the impact on your investments, and potential tax implications and read the PDS and TMD at aware.com.au/pds. You may wish to speak with a qualified financial planner before making this decision.

[S1] Before contributing, consider the current annual contribution limits. Exceeding these limits may reduce any tax benefits you could receive. Visit Grow your super for more information.