Misleading advertising
Some health practitioners will advertise on social media or online about accessing super early, particularly to pay for dental or cosmetic treatments. These advertisements will often:
- exaggerate what the law allows
- include inaccurate or incomplete information about access to super
- entice you to pay higher costs unnecessarily.
Compassionate release of super (CRS) is available for use in very limited circumstances and as a last resort.
Be cautious of advertisements that:
- suggest super can be accessed to pay for cosmetic or elective procedures – these treatments usually don’t meet eligibility
- advise a fee will be charged to help complete your application – health providers are not registered tax agents and aren't allowed to charge you for this service
- ask for treatments to be paid upfront – paying upfront is not a requirement for CRS and you should not feel pressured by your provider
- promise 'guaranteed', 'fast' or 'easy' approval – early release can only be approved in very limited circumstances and the ATO provides the same service standard to all applications
- ask for your myGov sign‑in or personal details so they can apply for you – this puts your account security at risk and breaches the myGov terms of use
- encourage you to access your super to fund treatment costs – only licensed financial advisers can provide financial advice.
If you see misleading advertising about early access to super or if you feel pressure by a health practitioner to access your super, report it:
- by phoning us on 1800 060 062 or by making a tip‑off
- to Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra)External Link
- on the social media platform you are using.
Impacts of using your super
Accessing your super early can have significant impacts short and long term, including:
- increasing your assessable income and tax payable
- impacting family tax benefits and child support payments
- significantly reducing your final super balance for retirement.
Before applying, it’s important to think about whether there are other ways to pay the expense, such as:
- a payment plan with your health provider
- using your savings to pay part or all of the expense.
Promotions that advise procedures can be funded through accessing your super can often:
- lead to inflated prices
- encourage you to have unnecessary treatments
- result in you missing out on the long term benefits of your super.
For more information, see when you can access your super early.
Eligibility for access to super
Early access to super is only available as a last resort, when people have no other means to pay for eligible expenses and in very limited circumstances. These circumstances include:
- treating a life-threatening illness or injury
- alleviating acute or chronic pain
- alleviating an acute or chronic mental illness.
Before applying, check if you are eligible to make sure you meet the rules and protect your future.
Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra.