The purpose of super is to help you save money to provide an income for you in retirement, so there are rules around when you can withdraw it in cash – these are known as preservation rules.

Accessing your super

Your preservation age is one of the key things you’ll need to know to help understand when you can access your super:

Retirement and transition to retirement

For most people, you’ll only be able to withdraw your super in cash once you permanently retire at or after your preservation age.

However, once you reach your preservation age, you can begin receiving money from your super as a transition to retirement pension (also known as a pre-retirement pension), regardless of whether you are still working.

A transition to retirement strategy may help you top up your income if you reduce your work hours or semi-retire, while still allowing you to contribute to your super for when you fully retire. 

Find out more about transition to retirement.

Additional limited circumstances for access to your super

There may be some other limited circumstances in which you’re eligible to access your super in cash, including:

• You reach age 65 (regardless of whether you are still working)

• You leave an employer at or after age 60

• You retire early due to permanent incapacity*

• You meet the criteria of having a terminal medical condition*

• You meet the criteria for early release on financial hardship or compassionate grounds*

• You leave an employer and your preserved benefit is less than $200

* Eligibility criteria and/or approval from the trustee or a government body may be required in this case.