Find lost super

If you’ve ever had a job in Australia, even short-term, your employer probably paid money into a super fund for you.

This money is yours – even if you’ve moved, changed names, stopped using your old phone or email, or never signed up for an account.

To find out how much you have you can:

• search on your myGov account, which can be linked to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
• call the ATO automated super search line on 13 28 65
• call and speak to someone at the ATO on 13 10 20

There’s more than $17 billion in lost and unclaimed super in Australia. People have found thousands of dollars they didn’t know they had.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can call the ATO’s dedicated Indigenous helpline on 13 10 30.

ATO staff can help you find your super, get a tax file number, and lodge a tax return.

What is super

Super is money set aside for your retirement while you’re working.

If you’re eligible, your employer will put some of your pay into a super fund, who invests the money for you.

You can access your super when you turn 60 and retire from work or when you turn 65 even if you keep working. You might be able to access some of it earlier if you get sick or find yourself in trouble.

Even if you don’t remember opening a super account, you might still have money in super, so it’s worth checking.

You don’t need to pay anyone to help you find your super. You can do it for free through the Australian Taxation Office, or through your current super fund.

How to check if you have super

You can check if you have super online, by phone, by mail or in person.

Online

Visit the ATO at myGov and log in.

myGov will show what super accounts you have and how much is in them.

If you see a super account listed, you have super.

By phone

If you know your tax file number, call the ATO’s lost super search line on 13 28 65. They can check if you have super.

If you don’t know your tax file number, call the ATO on 13 10 20.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can call the ATO’s Indigenous helpline on 13 10 30.

By mail

Download a form to search for lost and unclaimed super from the ATO’s website. Print, fill out and post to the address on the form.

In person

Services Australia has service centres, mobile service centres, agents, and access points across Australia. They can help you contact the ATO, use the phone, and access a computer and printer.

Find your nearest Services Australia location.

Service centres, mobile service centres and agents have staff to help you. Access points are self-service.

What to do when you find super

The ATO will tell you if you have super and who’s holding it – either the ATO or a super fund.
If the ATO is holding it, they will explain how to claim it.

If a super fund is holding it, the ATO will give you the fund’s contact details.

Either way, you will need to prove who you are before you get the money.

What you need to prove it’s your super

To get access to your super, you’ll need to show who you are. This protects your money from someone else claiming it.

You can use identification (ID) like a driver’s licence, Medicare card or proof of age card.

If you don’t have ID, or if your ID doesn’t match the details on your super, you can still prove who you are.

Superannuation funds can have different ID requirements. So, once you know where your super is, give that fund a call and find out what types of ID they’ll accept.

Examples could be letters from government agencies, membership cards or community ID, or even a statement from a trusted person who knows you, like a health worker, teacher, Elder or community leader.

If you find it difficult to deal with the super fund, call the ATO, visit Services Australia, or contact a financial counsellor.

Keep track of your super

When you have found your super, it’s worth making sure you don’t lose it again. Make sure the contact details your super fund has for you are all up to date.

Other things you can do to help you keep track of your super are:

• Consider putting all your super into one account – find out more about consolidating super funds.
• Checking the super statement your fund will send you each year.
• Using your fund’s website, and downloading their app.

We are here to assist you if you have any questions about your superannuation.

Source: Reproduced with the permission of ASIC’s MoneySmart Team. This article was originally published at https://moneysmart.gov.au/how-super-works/find-lost-super

Important note: This provides general information and hasn’t taken your circumstances into account. It’s important to consider your particular circumstances before deciding what’s right for you. Although the information is from sources considered reliable, we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete. You should not rely upon it and should seek qualified advice before making any investment decision. Except where liability under any statute cannot be excluded, we do not accept any liability (whether under contract, tort or otherwise) for any resulting loss or damage of the reader or any other person. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns. Important Any information provided by the author detailed above is separate and external to our business and our Licensee. Neither our business nor our Licensee takes any responsibility for any action or any service provided by the author. Any links have been provided with permission for information purposes only and will take you to external websites, which are not connected to our company in any way. Note: Our company does not endorse and is not responsible for the accuracy of the contents/information contained within the linked site(s) accessible from this page.