What happens to my super when I die?

It's important for you to tell us who you want to receive your super when you die - your beneficiaries - because your super is not automatically included in your Will.

This can give you peace of mind that your loved ones can have more financial security after you're gone.

When you die, your beneficiaries can claim your death benefit. This is your account balance which may include any death cover (life insurance) you may have had through your account.

Choose who gets your super

For all QSuper products
Binding nomination

A binding death benefit nomination lets you decide who will receive your super (which includes any insurance you have) in the event of your death.

You can choose one or more of your dependants, or your legal personal representative. Your nomination will be valid for three years and your annual statement or Member Online account will show whether you currently have a valid nomination in place.

Find out more about who you can choose to receive your super or read the Binding Death Benefit Nomination fact sheet and form (pdf).

Nominate who gets your super

For Income accounts only
Reversionary beneficiaries

A reversionary beneficiary is someone who will receive the money in your Income account if you pass away. You can choose one dependant to continue to receive regular income payments from your account.

Your reversionary beneficiary nomination will be taken into account over any binding death benefit nomination you have in place.

Find out more about who you can choose to receive your super or nominate a reversionary beneficiary by logging into Member Online.

Nominate a reversionary beneficiary

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If you don't choose who will receive your super, or your nomination is invalid or out-of-date, in most cases your benefit is paid to your dependants if you have any, or your legal personal representative (e.g. the executor of your Will).

One main disadvantage of not choosing who gets your super ahead of time is that it may take us longer to find out who will receive your benefit and how to pay them.

A financial adviser can help you make a nomination. Find out more.

When we pay your super to your chosen beneficiaries, it will include any death cover you may have had through your Accumulation account. If you have a Defined Benefit account and are under age 55, your beneficiaries will be paid your projected benefit to age 55.

You can check whether you currently have death cover in Member Online.

If you are diagnosed with a terminal illness, you may be able to access your account balance including any insurance you have.

To make a claim, send us a completed Terminal Medical Condition Claim form (found at the back of the Claiming a Terminal Medical Condition Benefit factsheet (pdf)). 

If you've chosen the spouse protection option for your Lifetime Pension, your spouse will continue to receive regular tax-free income payments for life after your death.

If you die before receiving income payments equal to the original purchase price, then our money-back protection means a death benefit may be payable to your estate or beneficiaries (subject to the government’s capital access schedule).

Because the spouse option on your Lifetime Pension takes priority over your binding death benefit nomination and you can't change this choice after your purchase, it's important to consider your choices carefully.

Find out more

It may take us longer to find your beneficiaries if we don't have their most recent contact details. 

So let them know you’ve nominated them. This makes sure they can claim your death benefit as quickly as possible.

If a loved one dies and leaves you their super

If you have lost a loved one, we understand this may be a difficult time, so we aim to make the process of claiming their super as simple as possible.

When someone leaves you their death benefit when they die, this means we pay you their superannuation account balance, which may include any death cover (life insurance) they had through their account.

If your spouse has passed and they had the spouse protection option on a Lifetime Pension, you will continue to receive regular tax-free income payments for the rest of your life.

Ways you can receive a death benefit

There are a few ways you can access a death benefit if you are eligible:

  • Start an income stream: With a death benefit income stream, you can receive regular payments to your bank account.
  • Take a lump sum: You can receive the full amount at once as a payment to your bank account or cheque.
  • Lump sum and income stream: Another option is to take out a lump sum, then use the rest of the money to start an income stream.

Each of these options has different benefits and disadvantages, and the amount will be taxed differently depending on which you choose. A financial adviser can help you decide which option might be best for your circumstances.

How to make a death benefit claim

We aim to make the process as simple as possible. To make a claim:

  1. Contact us: We know this can be an emotional time, so you can ask someone else to contact us - it doesn't have to be a family member.
  2. Gather documentation: We’ll let you know what documents you’ll need to provide and which forms to complete.
  3. We'll work with you: We’ll help you through the claims process and answer any questions you may have.

For more information about how to make a death benefit claim, read our Death Benefit Claim Guide (pdf).

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We're here to help

If you'd like any help with nominating who gets your super or making a death benefit claim, please get in touch.

Contact us