Early Release of Superannuation on Specified Compassionate Grounds – medical treatment and/or transport

Medical treatment and/or transport

You may be eligible for early release of superannuation on specified compassionate grounds to pay for the following expenses for yourself or your dependant:

• medical treatment
• transport to access medical treatment
• dental treatment
• transport to access dental treatment

Download Guidance for medical/dental practitioners and specialists

You or your dependant must need the treatment to:

• treat a life-threatening illness or injury
• alleviate acute or chronic physical pain, and/or
• alleviate an acute or chronic mental disturbance.

The treatment must not be readily available through the public health system and the cost of the treatment not be completely covered by your (or your dependant's) private health insurance and/or worker's compensation.

Are you eligible?

To check whether you are eligible, ask yourself the following questions about possible early access to your superannuation on medical grounds.

• Do you or your dependant suffer from a life threatening illness or injury, acute or chronic pain or an acute or chronic mental disturbance?
• Do you or your dependant require medical treatment for this condition which is not readily available through the public health system or require transport to access treatment for this condition?

If you have answered 'No' in response to any of the above questions, it is unlikely that you will be eligible for the early release of superannuation on specific compassionate grounds.

What supporting documentation will I need?

You must obtain the required documentation prior to submitting your application to avoid delays in processing your application.

For medical/dental treatment

1. You will need to obtain a letter from a registered medical/dental specialist qualified in the area of medicine relevant to you or your dependant's medical treatment and a registered medical practitioner.

• The letter needs to state:
  • that you or your dependant's condition can be categorised as one of the following:
    • a life threatening illness or injury
    • acute or chronic pain, or
    • an acute or chronic mental disturbance.
  • that the treatment required is not readily available to you/your dependant through the public health system.
• The letter should:
  • be on the doctor's letterhead and signed
  • clearly show the doctor's qualifications
  • be dated and not more than six months old, and
  • be in English or translated into English by a certified translator.

2. You will need to obtain supporting documents from relevant service providers which demonstrate the amount required to be paid for each expense you are claiming. You need to:

• indicate any amounts claimable through private health insurance, and
• provide quotes or invoices that are dated and not more than 30 days old, or
• provide receipts that are dated.

Note: It is important that all expenses are substantiated by quotes, invoices or receipts from the required service providers. Without these, we can't process your application.

For medical transport

1.  You need to obtain a letter from a registered medical/dental specialist as well as from a registered medical practitioner stating that you/your dependant require/s transport to access treatment.

Each letter needs to state:

• that you or your dependant’s condition can be categorised as one of the following:
• a life threatening illness or injury
• acute or chronic pain
• an acute or chronic mental disturbance
• the type of transport that is required
• how often you/your dependant must attend treatment
• the location/s where the treatment is provided, and
• how long you/your dependant are expected to require the treatment.

2. You will need to obtain quotes and/or outstanding invoices and/or receipts from relevant service providers which demonstrate the amount required to be paid for every expense you are claiming.

The quotes and/or invoices and/or receipts provided must:       

• indicate any amounts claimable through private health insurance
• be dated, and
• be not more than 30 days old (except in the case of receipts).

Where you are applying to purchase a vehicle for medical transport purposes and already have a vehicle, you need to provide:

• confirmation of the trade-in value of your existing vehicle from a relevant service provider or online vehicle pricing service, and
• a written statement explaining why the existing vehicle is not suitable for providing the necessary transport to access medical treatment.

If you have borrowed money to pay expenses

If you have borrowed money to pay expenses and are claiming early release of superannuation benefits to repay this loan, you must provide specified supporting documentation.

The following information should be provided in addition to the information listed above.

• If the money was borrowed from an individual, such as a family member or a friend, you need to provide:

• a statutory declaration written by the person you borrowed the money from which confirms:
  • the date on which they gave you the money
  • how much they gave you
  • their understanding of what the money was needed for
  • how much you still owe them
  • the agreed date the loan was to be repaid by
• receipts showing how the borrowed funds were spent, and
• documented evidence that the loan took place (this could be demonstrated by bank statements, money transfer receipts, cheque stubs, or credit card/bank statements in the lender’s name showing the payment of your expenses).

• If the expenses were paid using a credit card, you need to provide:

• copies of your credit card statements showing the payment of the claimed expenses
• receipts showing the payment of the claimed expenses
• a currently dated credit card statement which shows the:
• current balance owing
• minimum monthly repayment
• arrears owing (if any), and
• total credit limit.

• If the expenses were paid using a loan from financial institution you need to provide:

• receipts showing how the borrowed funds were spent
• a written statement from the institution which gave you the loan which states:
• the amount of the loan
• the date the loan was given
• the purpose of the loan, if known
• the date by which repayment was required
• the amount still owing
• the repayment amount and frequency, and
• the amount of arrears owing (if any).

Application for Early Release of Superannuation on Specified Compassionate Grounds – medical treatment and/or transport