What happens to my super when I pass away?

When you die, your super becomes known as a 'death benefit'. This includes the balance of your super account, plus any insured benefit that you may have within your super.

What happens to your death benefit will depend on your circumstances at the time of your death:

You have nominated beneficiaries

You can nominate who receives your death benefit, such as your partner or family members.

You have a valid will

If you haven’t nominated who receives your death benefit but have a valid will, your benefit will be paid to your estate as outlined in your will.

Your estate includes all your assets and investments, such as your properties, bank accounts, vehicles and super.

In Western Australia, for a will to be valid, it must have a certificate of Probate granted by the Supreme Court of Western Australia.

You don’t have a valid will

If you pass away without a valid will (known as ‘intestate’) and have no nominated beneficiaries, the court may grant ‘Letters of Administration’ to a person who will usually be a beneficiary of your estate.

Find out more about the process of claiming a super death benefit from us when there is no nomination in place.

The best way to control what happens to your super is to nominate a beneficiary.