You may be able to withdraw some of your super on compassionate grounds if you meet certain criteria. Visit the ATO website for eligibility criteria and to apply to access some of your super on compassionate grounds.

You must also have applied for and received ATO approval for the release of your super on compassionate grounds prior to completing our Early Release on Compassionate Grounds form. Other conditions apply. These withdrawals may be subject to tax. 

If you are experiencing severe financial hardship you may be able to access your super to help. The maximum amount of withdrawal is $10,000 (gross of tax) in any 12 month period. Visit the ATO website for eligibility criteria to apply for early release of super due to severe financial hardship.

If you meet the ATO eligibility criteria to apply for the release of your super due to severe financial hardship, you’ll need to complete the Early Release due to Financial hardship form. These withdrawals may be subject to tax.

If you’ve earned super in Australia and you’re not a permanent Australian resident, or not a New Zealand or Australian citizen, you may be entitled to withdraw all your super when you leave Australia as a departing Australia superannuation payment (DASP). For more information and to see if you are eligible to apply visit the ATO website.

If you meet the ATO eligibility criteria to apply to claim you superannuation when you depart Australia, you’ll need to complete the Departing Residents Benefits Payment form. These withdrawals may be subject to tax.

If you’re an Australian permanent resident or citizen moving overseas, your super remains subject to the same rules, even if you are leaving Australia permanently. This means your super must remain in your super fund until your reach preservation and are eligible to access it. It’s important that you keep your contact details updated so we can always contact you about your super.

If you are diagnosed with a terminal illness, you may be able to access your super and any death benefit insurance cover your hold tax-free.

If you have a terminal medical condition and your life expectancy is less than 24 months from the date of written certification, please read the Terminal Illness factsheet and FAQs which contains information on eligibility requirements and how to make a claim.

If you are temporarily unable to work or need to work fewer hours due to illness or accident, you may meet this condition of release. This condition of release is generally used to access insurance benefits linked to your super.  Conditions apply. For more information, see your relevant product disclosure statement or call us.

You may be able to access your super if you are permanently incapacitated due to illness or accident. Conditions apply. These withdrawals may be subject to tax. For more information, see your relevant product disclosure statement or call us.

These are funds that you can access at any time however you may pay some tax on the benefit you apply prior to the age 60.

To check if you have unrestricted non-preserved benefits and the amount with TelstraSuper, log into SuperOnline and click Balance. You’ll need to ‘request a real-time account balance’ to see the total unrestricted non-preserved amount including the tax-free component and taxable component.

If you are buying your first home to live in and you have added extra money to your super (contributions by you, not the regular contributions made by your employer), there is a way you can access your super to buy this home called the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) set up by the Australian government.

For more information about the FHSSS click here.

If you are eligible and ready to withdraw from you super account under the FHSSS, you can apply to the ATO. They will help work out how much you’re entitled to and help you withdraw the money from your TelstraSuper account to buy your first home.