Applications for the 2020/21 financial year can be made from 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2020.

Yes. The ATO will advise where you can withdraw funds from as part of their application process.

For example, you can apply to withdraw $1,000 from one fund, and $9,000 from another fund if it’s part of the same application.

The ATO has indicated it will take 4 business days. You’ll receive an email in your MyGov inbox and may receive an SMS notification. The ATO will let us know if your application is approved.

If you apply after 22 December 2020, the processing of your application may be delayed until January 2021 due to the planned ATO shutdown over the Christmas/ New Year period.

The ATO will let us know if your application is approved.

We’ll send you a confirmation SMS and/or email. We’ll also send a confirmation letter through the post.

The payment will go directly into the bank account we have on record for you as soon as possible. Please ensure your personal details (name, residential address, email address, phone number) are up to date. Log in to your account to update you details.

Yes, but you still must meet the eligibility criteria.

Balances as at 30 June are provided to the ATO on an annual basis, this is the balance that appears on your myGov account. This should not hinder your application for the COVID-19 early release. We recommend checking your super balances before submitting your early release request. You can log in to your account to check your UniSuper balance.

If you’re a Defined Benefit Division member, you can still apply for early access to your super if you meet the eligibility criteria. Note that some or all of your defined benefit component may be used to provide the total withdrawal amount that you have requested if you do not have a sufficient balance in your accumulation component. There may be significant implications to your defined benefit. Please contact us if you need more information.

Yes, if you’re a temporary resident, you can apply to release up to $10,000 of your super (until 30 June 2020) if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You’ve held a student visa for 12 months or more and you’re unable to meet immediate living expenses.
• You hold a temporary skilled worker visa and are employed and you cannot meet immediate living expenses.
• You hold a temporary resident visa (excluding a student or skilled worker visa) and you cannot meet immediate living expenses.

No. Super can’t be released from a pension account under the coronavirus early access arrangements.

Visit the ATO website for more information about early access to super.

Super is a long-term investment, and our expert team is used to working with fluctuating markets. At this time, as our investments team’s role is of utmost importance to our members' retirement outcomes, we’ve put additional measures in place to ensure the team can continue to function effectively, from any location, through the COVID-19 crisis.

If you're considering your investment options or are curious about switching, we recommend you make sure you’re aware of the investment basics of risk and return before deciding to make a switch. You’ll find more information on our Investment switching page.

If you'd like more information or help with switching your investments, contact us.

For help with choosing the right investment option for you, contact UniSuper Advice to speak to a financial adviser.

In the interests of minimising risk to members and UniSuper staff, we’ve made the considered decision to cancel all our upcoming seminars until further notice. We’ll keep you updated as we look for alternative ways to keep you informed about your super and post further updates here.

You can access our online webcasts to take advantage of previously recorded seminars and information sessions.

Insurance through your super can provide important financial protection if you become seriously ill and are unable to work.

The Death & Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance provided through our insurer TAL, doesn’t have any exclusions related to COVID-19. Therefore, the usual claims process would apply, if a claim is required.

Scammers have been taking advantage of the Coronavirus crisis to exploit Australians, using fake emails, phone calls or text messages to try and obtain personal data.

These are also known as ‘phishing’ scams. They look like a genuine email or text message and contain links or attachments leading to malicious software or fake websites.

Be on the lookout for phishing emails or phone calls impersonating the ATO, Centrelink, the World Health Organisation as well as other government authorities and legitimate companies.

UniSuper will never call you to ask for your personal details or to request a payment.

Always access your UniSuper online account via the UniSuper website (don’t use links in emails or SMS). Be particularly wary of anyone asking for your tax file number or trying to pressure you into something over the phone.

Scammers are also targeting Australians by offering ‘COVID-19 assistance’ payments if they complete an application form attached in the email. Opening the attachment may download malicious software onto your device.

The government’s early super access scheme does not start until mid-April, so anyone calling you about accessing your super before then is likely to be a scammer.

Visit the Scamwatch website for more information.

If you’ve experienced a reduction in work hours, a reduction in your salary or redundancy, you may have some questions. We’re here to help. Check out our fact sheets below:

• Redundancy fact sheet (PDF, 667 KB)
• Salary reductions and working less fact sheet (PDF, 120 KB)

You may also like to talk one of our super consultants. There’s no extra charge for an appointment, it’s all part of being a UniSuper member.
Book an appointment with a super consultant