Retirement
Early super release to ‘come back and bite’
Superannuation members who take advantage of the government’s new early access to super will see tens of billions of dollars of assets dumped in a declining market and funds potentially being forced to freeze withdrawals, according to a research institution.
Early super release to ‘come back and bite’
Superannuation members who take advantage of the government’s new early access to super will see tens of billions of dollars of assets dumped in a declining market and funds potentially being forced to freeze withdrawals, according to a research institution.
SuperRatings has called for a reshaping of the current proposal for early release of super to those in financial stress, which allows individuals to withdraw $10,000 before July and a further $10,000 in the next financial year, tax-free.
The researcher is concerned the eligibility criteria is open to virtually anyone on a self-assessment basis to make a claim, with the potential for rorting the system being significant.
Jeff Bresnahan, chairman of SuperRatings, said “there must be a better way”, noting nearly all of the scheme’s problems will arise because its eligibility criteria is too generous.
“This shotgun approach has the potential to come back and bite the government,” the specialist research house has warned, noting the early superannuation release measure will see tens of billions leave the system.
SuperRatings also expressed fear that as a result of unnecessary claims, some funds will be forced to freeze withdrawals to protect remaining members.
“This is not new. Every financial crisis has resulted in a small number of investment funds being frozen, although this might be a first for super funds,” the researcher said in its analysis.
It has calculated, based on ASIC’s MoneySmart calculator using a growth option with an assumed investment return of 5 per cent before fees and taxes on earnings, $20,000 out of a 35-year-old’s account over the next 12 months will forego around $80,000 in future benefits.
“The focus absolutely needs to be on those who truly do need access to cash, and fast. Quite simply, those displaced from their jobs due to this horrific COVID-19 virus. In reality, those in hardship. This shouldn’t be a self-assessment process for all Australians.
“The government has less than three weeks to tweak what is a valid and morally sound strategy to protect, as best they can, the financial stability of those who have been displaced due to COVID-19 consequences. The idea is sound – the execution not the greatest.”
SuperRatings has proposed three options to improve the early raid measure:
- Allow funds to take a loan out from the RBA to meet all claims, which would be secured against members’ benefits and repayable after a period such as five years. Members would supposedly then be able to recoup lost investment earnings, while the government is protected, individuals get emergency funding and the funds don’t have to sell assets into a declining market.
- A variation on the first option, but with the ATO handling all claims, making all payments and retaining the loan register. SuperRatings said this is a cleaner payment portal and protects the government, member and fund.
- Protect funds against having to sell into declining markets by ensuring that payments are only made to those in genuine hardship (which SuperRatings has defined as having registered as unemployed or being stood down and remain so after four weeks).
“By winding back the eligibility criteria, the level of claims will be lower and hence more manageable. This in turn creates more flexibility for the government on how to best work with the funds to ensure those in need receive assistance as quickly as possible,” SuperRatings stated.
“Opening the floodgates to allow virtually anyone and everyone to drag up to $20,000 out of their super fund, with the current market volatility, is not the answer. All this after bipartisan governments have spent over 27 years – and half a working lifetime – getting Australians’ retirement savings into shape.”
About the author
About the author
Superannuation
Should the government add $5k to low-income super balances?
Superannuation funds are proposing that the Morrison government should add $5,000 to low-income earners’ retirement funds, after 1 million young workers have emptied their super during the COVID-1...Read more
Superannuation
2020’s top-performing super funds revealed
Australia’s top 10 performing growth superannuation funds for the 2020 calendar year have been revealed. ...Read more
Superannuation
SA’s $2bn superannuation drain puts 34k residence in zero territory
More than 34,000 South Australian residences have almost emptied their superannuation coffers, as members take advantage of the government’s early access to superannuation scheme, new research has s...Read more
Superannuation
How did your super fund perform in 2020?
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, superannuation funds have delivered a positive return for members over the 2020 calendar year, new research has revealed. ...Read more
Superannuation
Senator slams super funds: ‘People are smarter than super funds think’
Senator Andrew Bragg has hit out at superannuation funds after they stood up in opposition to the government’s alleged plan to ask workers to choose between putting money in their super or having m...Read more
Superannuation
Why opt-in super proposal is a ‘secret tax’ on Aussie workers
A proposal to give workers the option to pick between a wage rise or a super contribution increase has been slammed by industry funds, branding it as “a secret tax” on workers. ...Read more
Superannuation
Early super access could be less than expected
Money accessed through the early release of super scheme looked to be coming in under the government’s revised expectations as the scheme drew to a close at the end of 2020. ...Read more
Superannuation
Proposed super reforms to rob millions of Australians
Australia’s largest union has rejected the government’s new super reforms on the basis it will leave members worse off long-term due to being “stapled” to a high-fee fund. ...Read more
Superannuation
Should the government add $5k to low-income super balances?
Superannuation funds are proposing that the Morrison government should add $5,000 to low-income earners’ retirement funds, after 1 million young workers have emptied their super during the COVID-1...Read more
Superannuation
2020’s top-performing super funds revealed
Australia’s top 10 performing growth superannuation funds for the 2020 calendar year have been revealed. ...Read more
Superannuation
SA’s $2bn superannuation drain puts 34k residence in zero territory
More than 34,000 South Australian residences have almost emptied their superannuation coffers, as members take advantage of the government’s early access to superannuation scheme, new research has s...Read more
Superannuation
How did your super fund perform in 2020?
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, superannuation funds have delivered a positive return for members over the 2020 calendar year, new research has revealed. ...Read more
Superannuation
Senator slams super funds: ‘People are smarter than super funds think’
Senator Andrew Bragg has hit out at superannuation funds after they stood up in opposition to the government’s alleged plan to ask workers to choose between putting money in their super or having m...Read more
Superannuation
Why opt-in super proposal is a ‘secret tax’ on Aussie workers
A proposal to give workers the option to pick between a wage rise or a super contribution increase has been slammed by industry funds, branding it as “a secret tax” on workers. ...Read more
Superannuation
Early super access could be less than expected
Money accessed through the early release of super scheme looked to be coming in under the government’s revised expectations as the scheme drew to a close at the end of 2020. ...Read more
Superannuation
Proposed super reforms to rob millions of Australians
Australia’s largest union has rejected the government’s new super reforms on the basis it will leave members worse off long-term due to being “stapled” to a high-fee fund. ...Read more
More articles
Website Notifications
Get notifications in real-time for staying up to date with content that matters to you.
