What is preservation age?

Your super is designed to help you save for retirement and has tax benefits, so there are rules about when you can access the money.

Your 'Commonwealth preservation age' is the minimum age you can access your super. Until you reach this age and have retired, you can’t access your super benefit, except in certain defined circumstances.

Use our preservation age calculator to figure out your preservation age.

Your preservation age depends on your date of birth:

• If you were born on or before 30 June 1964, you can access your super when you turn 59
• If you were born on or after 1 July 1964, you can access your super when you turn 60

If you’re a Gold State Super member, you can access your super once you turn 55¹ and you retire from the WA public sector.

1 If you access your benefit before you reach your Commonwealth preservation age you may be liable to pay a higher rate of tax. The Commonwealth preservation age is higher than the age at which you can access your Gold State Super benefit. Please contact your Member Services Centre and review our Tax and super brochure for more information.