When Can I Access My Super? — Conditions of Release Explained

You cannot access your superannuation at any time — it is preserved until you meet a condition of release set by the government. The most common condition is reaching your preservation age and retiring. But there are other conditions that apply at different ages, and some limited early access options.

Key Takeaways

• You cannot access super simply by reaching a certain age — you must also meet a condition of release
• Preservation age is 60 for everyone born after 30 June 1964 (fully phased in from 1 July 2024)
• At age 60 and retired, all super withdrawals from a taxed fund are completely tax-free
• At age 65, super is fully accessible regardless of employment status — no need to retire
• Limited early access exists for severe financial hardship, terminal illness, compassionate grounds, and permanent incapacity

The Short Answer

• Before preservation age: Generally cannot access super (limited exceptions apply)
• At preservation age (age 60 for anyone born after 30 June 1964): Can access super as a Transition to Retirement income stream; full access if retired
• At age 60 (if retired or changing jobs): Can access all preserved super tax-free
• At age 65: Can access all super regardless of employment status — no need to retire

What Is Preservation Age?

Preservation age is the minimum age at which you can access your super, provided you also meet a condition of release. For everyone born after 30 June 1964, preservation age is 60.

For the vast majority of current workers, preservation age is 60. The phased increase from age 55 was fully implemented from 1 July 2024.

See Superannuation Preservation Age Explained for more detail.

Conditions of Release

Reaching preservation age alone is not enough — you must also meet one of the following conditions of release.

1. Retirement (Most Common)

If you have reached your preservation age and have retired — meaning you have genuinely ceased employment and do not intend to return to work — you can access your full super balance as a lump sum, an income stream (account-based pension), or both.

What counts as retirement?

• If you are under 60: you must have ceased an employment arrangement and intend never to work again for 10 or more hours per week
• If you are 60 or over: you simply need to have ceased an employment arrangement (you can still work later — past age 60 the standard becomes easier to meet)

2. Reaching Age 65

At age 65, you can access your entire super balance regardless of your employment status. You do not need to have retired. This is the simplest condition of release — just turning 65 unlocks everything.

3. Transition to Retirement (TTR)

Once you have reached preservation age, even if you have not retired, you can access your super as a Transition to Retirement income stream. This is a regular pension drawn from your super while you continue working. Key rules:

• Annual drawdown is capped at 10% of account balance
• Lump sum withdrawals are not available under TTR (only an income stream)
• The investment earnings within a TTR account are taxed at 15% (unlike retirement phase, which is tax-free)

See Transition to Retirement Pension — Full Guide for full details.

4. Permanent Incapacity

If you are permanently incapacitated — meaning you are unlikely to return to work in any capacity for which you are reasonably qualified — you can access your super regardless of age. TPD insurance within super is often also triggered at the same time.

5. Terminal Medical Condition

If two registered medical practitioners (at least one being a specialist) certify that you have a terminal illness and are likely to die within 24 months, you can access your super tax-free regardless of age. See Terminal Medical Condition — Early Super Access.

6. Severe Financial Hardship

In very limited circumstances, you may be able to access a small amount of super early if you have been receiving a qualifying government income support payment for at least 26 consecutive weeks and cannot meet reasonable and immediate living expenses. Maximum $10,000 (and minimum $1,000) per 12-month period. See Severe Financial Hardship — Early Super Access.

7. Compassionate Grounds

The ATO can approve early super release for specific compassionate grounds, including:

• Medical treatment for you or a dependant not covered by Medicare or health insurance
• Preventing foreclosure or forced sale of your home
• Palliative care for a terminally ill person
• Funeral and burial costs for a dependant

Applications are made through the ATO’s myGov portal. The amount approved is limited to what is reasonably needed.

8. Death

Your super is paid to your nominated beneficiaries (or to your estate if no valid nomination exists) upon your death. This is not “accessing” super in the traditional sense but is a condition of release.

9. Departing Australia Permanently (Temporary Residents)

If you were a temporary resident (e.g. on a working visa) and have left Australia permanently, you can claim your super as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) after you leave. Tax is withheld from the payment (at higher rates than for citizens/permanent residents).

What Changes at Age 60?

Age 60 is a significant milestone for super access:

• Tax-free access: All super drawn as a lump sum or pension after age 60 (and after meeting a condition of release) is completely tax-free, regardless of your other income. This applies whether the money is from the taxable or tax-free component.
• Retirement condition becomes easier: You just need to cease an employment arrangement — no declaration of never working again is required.
• No need to stop working permanently to access super as a TTR income stream.

What Changes at Age 65?

• No condition of release required: You can access your entire super balance without having retired, without being incapacitated, and without any other qualifying event — just by turning 65.
• Work test abolished (from 1 July 2022): Members aged 67–74 can make voluntary contributions without meeting the old work test. This is separate from the access rules but often relevant at this life stage.

COVID Early Release — No Longer Available

During 2020, the government temporarily allowed individuals to withdraw up to $20,000 ($10,000 in each of two application windows) under financial hardship from COVID-19. This scheme has permanently closed and is not available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I access super while still working? Yes — in two ways: (1) as a Transition to Retirement income stream once you reach preservation age (subject to the 10% cap and other TTR rules), or (2) if you reach age 65, you can access super while still employed.

Can I access super if I’m under 60 and unemployed? Not simply because you’re unemployed. You would need to have reached preservation age and meet the retirement condition of release, or qualify under another condition (severe financial hardship, compassionate grounds, terminal illness).

I’ve heard I can withdraw $10,000 from super — is this still available? The COVID-19 early release scheme that allowed $10,000 withdrawals ended in late 2020 and is no longer available. The only current early access option for financial hardship requires 26 consecutive weeks of qualifying government income support payments.

Does taking super early reduce my retirement income? Yes — significantly over time. Any money taken early loses the compounding investment return it would have otherwise earned. For example, $20,000 withdrawn at age 40 and invested in super at 7.5% per year would grow to approximately $130,000 by age 65. Early access should be considered carefully.

For advice tailored to your situation, speak with a licensed financial adviser. You can find one through the ASIC financial advisers register or MoneySmart.