When you can access your super

You can get your super when:

• You reach your preservation age and permanently retire.
• You reach your preservation age and start a Transition to Retirement strategy, where you continue to work and access some of your super.
• You reach age 60 and resign from your current employment.
• You reach age 65.

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. You can only access your super before your preservation age if you qualify for special circumstances, such as severe financial hardship or on compassionate grounds.

Accessing your super before you reach Commonwealth preservation age

You might be able to get your super before you reach preservation age if:

• You become totally and permanently disabled.
• Your super account holds less than $200 and you no longer work for the employer who contributed to the fund for you.
• You receive approval from us to release your super on financial hardship or compassionate grounds.
• You are diagnosed with a terminal illness by certified medical practitioners or in the event of your death (in which case your super is paid to your estate).

If you would like to know if you’re eligible to access your super early, please contact your Member Services Centre on 13 43 72.

Know how your super is taxed

The way your super is taxed depends on your age, how your benefit is paid and whether you have a taxed (GESB Super) or untaxed (West State Super and Gold State Super) account.

For details, see how is super taxed or the Tax and super brochure.

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.