Super data: multiple accounts, lost and unclaimed super
On this page:
Trend
Over the past five years, the number of individuals who have consolidated their super has steadily increased. As at 30 June 2018, more than 10 million people, representing 64% of the population, had one super account only.
Your super is your savings for retirement. It is important for you to know how much super you are getting, what accounts you have and what insurance you may have.
Having multiple super accounts could mean you are paying multiple fees and charges, which may reduce your overall retirement income.
You can find and manage your super using ATO online services through myGov. Using ATO Online you can see all your super accounts, including any you may have forgotten about. You can also use ATO Online to combine multiple super accounts by transferring your super into one super account.
Simply log in or create a myGov account, link it to the ATO, select 'super', you can then find and choose to transfer your super.
Before combining multiple accounts, you should check with your fund to see if you will lose any valuable insurance. For more information, visit ASIC's MoneySmart websiteExternal Link.
See also:
Multiple super accounts held by Australians
At 30 June 2018, over 10 million Australians have one super account, with approximately six million people holding two or more super accounts.
Note: Figures are based on member data reported by funds to us for the year ending 30 June 2018. Percentages have been rounded.
Number of super accounts
Individuals by number of accounts held
Number of accounts
|
Total individuals
|
1 account
|
64%
|
2 accounts
|
23%
|
3 accounts
|
8%
|
4 accounts
|
3%
|
5 accounts
|
1%
|
6 or more accounts
|
1%
|
Number of accounts held by males/females
Number of accounts
|
Male
|
Female
|
1 account
|
51%
|
49%
|
2 accounts
|
52%
|
48%
|
3 accounts
|
54%
|
46%
|
4 accounts
|
55%
|
45%
|
5 accounts
|
57%
|
43%
|
6 or more accounts
|
60%
|
40%
|
Number of super accounts by age
Holding one, two, three or more accounts by age group
Age
|
1 account
|
2 accounts
|
3 or more accounts
|
18 and under
|
94%
|
5%
|
1%
|
19 to 25
|
71%
|
22%
|
7%
|
26 to 30
|
66%
|
23%
|
11%
|
31 to 35
|
64%
|
23%
|
13%
|
36 to 40
|
60%
|
24%
|
16%
|
41 to 45
|
56%
|
26%
|
18%
|
46 to 50
|
56%
|
26%
|
18%
|
51 to 55
|
57%
|
27%
|
16%
|
56 to 60
|
61%
|
26%
|
13%
|
61 to 65
|
67%
|
23%
|
10%
|
66 or more
|
82%
|
14%
|
4%
|
Unknown
|
94%
|
5%
|
1%
|
Number of super accounts by region
Holding one, two, three or more super accounts, by state or territory
State/Territory
|
1 account
|
2 accounts
|
3 or more accounts
|
ACT
|
60%
|
26%
|
14%
|
NSW
|
64%
|
24%
|
12%
|
NT
|
57%
|
26%
|
17%
|
QLD
|
59%
|
25%
|
16%
|
SA
|
63%
|
25%
|
12%
|
TAS
|
66%
|
23%
|
11%
|
VIC
|
66%
|
23%
|
11%
|
WA
|
62%
|
24%
|
14%
|
Unknown
|
80%
|
13%
|
7%
|
Note: Unknown refers to invalid addresses and accounts with overseas addresses
Number of super accounts held by individuals, 2015 to 2018 (%)
Number of superannuation accounts
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
1
|
57%
|
60%
|
61%
|
64%
|
2
|
25%
|
25%
|
24%
|
23%
|
3
|
10%
|
9%
|
10%
|
8%
|
4
|
4%
|
4%
|
3%
|
3%
|
5
|
2%
|
1%
|
1%
|
1%
|
6 or more accounts
|
2%
|
1%
|
1%
|
1%
|
TOTAL
|
100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
Individuals with 1 or 2 super accounts
|
82%
|
85%
|
85%
|
87%
|
Individuals with 3 or more super accounts
|
18%
|
15%
|
15%
|
13%
|
Lost super
Lost superannuation is super money that that is held by superannuation funds where the member is either:
- uncontactable – the fund has lost contact with the member and the account hasn’t received a contribution or rollover for 12 months, or
- inactive – where an account hasn’t received a contribution or rollover in five years.
ATO-held super refers to super money we hold for you. This includes amounts paid by employers, super funds, retirement savings accounts (RSA) or the government on your behalf.
Generally, super money will be transferred to us from super providers for any of the following:
- unclaimed super for members aged 65 years or older, non-member spouses and deceased members
- small lost member accounts and insoluble lost member accounts
- inactive low-balance accounts
- super for temporary residents who have left Australia for six months or more.
You can consolidate your lost or ATO-held super using ATO Online in myGovExternal Link.
See also:
Account numbers
Number of super accounts for both lost and ATO-held categories
Category
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
Fund held: Lost uncontactable
|
665,000
|
267,000
|
257,000
|
257,000
|
Fund held: Lost inactive
|
727,000
|
325,000
|
372,000
|
323,000
|
ATO-held: Unclaimed (general, small & insoluble) (see note)
|
3,796,000
|
4,085,000
|
4,599,000
|
4,571,000
|
ATO-held: Unclaimed (temporary resident)
|
776,000
|
781,000
|
786,000
|
790,000
|
ATO-held: Superannuation holding accounts (SHA) active
|
168,000
|
194,000
|
238,000
|
273,000
|
ATO-held: Superannuation holding accounts (SHA) inactive (consolidated revenue)
|
62,000
|
64,000
|
66,000
|
66,000
|
Total
|
6,194,000
|
5,716,000
|
6,318,000
|
6,280,000
|
Note: The increase in unclaimed super money (USM) paid to the ATO in 2016–17 was largely due to the increase in the small lost member account threshold from $4,000 to $6,000, effective 31 December 2016.
Account values
Value of super accounts for both lost and ATO-held categories
Category
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
Fund held: Lost uncontactable
|
$5.8b
|
$4.7b
|
$5b
|
$5.2b
|
Fund held: Lost inactive
|
$7.7b
|
$6.9b
|
$9.1b
|
$8.2b
|
ATO-held: Unclaimed (general, small & insoluble) (see note)
|
$2b
|
$2.5b
|
$3.2b
|
$3.3b
|
ATO-held: Unclaimed (temporary resident)
|
$571m
|
$585m
|
$590m
|
$595m
|
ATO-held: Superannuation holding accounts (SHA) active
|
$69m
|
$91m
|
$93m
|
$105m
|
ATO-held: Superannuation holding accounts (SHA) inactive (consolidated revenue)
|
$13m
|
$13m
|
$13m
|
$13m
|
Total
|
$16.2b
|
$14.8b
|
$17.9b
|
$17.5b
|
Note: The increase in unclaimed super money (USM) paid to the ATO in 2016–17 was largely due to the increase in the small lost member account threshold from $4,000 to $6,000, effective 31 December 2016.
Latest trend in numbers of accounts held by Australians as well as account numbers and values for lost and ATO-held super accounts.