Palliative care
If you are requesting early release of your superannuation to pay for palliative care expenses for yourself you do not need to go any further.
Please contact your superannuation fund and your fund will arrange the release.
You need to complete this form if you would like to apply for the early release of your superannuation for any of the following expenses:
- palliative care for your dependant, or
- payment of a dependant's funeral expenses.
Are you eligible?
To check whether you are eligible, ask yourself the following questions about possible early access to your superannuation on palliative care grounds:
- Do you or your dependant suffer from a terminal illness?
- Do you or your dependant require assistance in meeting costs of palliative care?
- Are you unable to pay for the expenses by any means other than accessing your superannuation?
If you answer "No" to any of the above questions, it is unlikely that you are eligible for the Early Release of Superannuation on Specified Compassionate Grounds.
What supporting documentation will I need?
The supporting documentation is dependent upon the type of expenses you are applying for.
You must obtain the required documentation prior to submitting your application to avoid delays in processing your application.
You should provide:
- A letter from a registered medical practitioner who has treated you/your dependant for your/their medical condition, which states that:
- you/your dependant’s medical condition can be categorised as a terminal illness, and
- you/your dependant requires palliative care.
- The letter must:
- be on the doctor’s letterhead and is signed
- clearly show the doctor’s qualifications, and
- be dated and not more than 6 months old.
- The quotes, invoices and/or receipts provided must:
- indicate any amounts claimable through private health insurance, and
- be dated and not more than 30 days old.
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.
If you have borrowed money to pay expenses
If you have borrowed money to pay expenses and are claiming Early Release of Superannuation on Specified Compassionate Grounds to repay this loan, you must provide specified supporting documentation.
This information must 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 must provide:
- a statutory declaration written by the person you borrowed the money from which confirms:
- the date 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
- 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), and
- receipts showing how the borrowed funds were spent.
- If the loan was provided by a financial institution, you must provide:
- 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
- the amount of arrears owing (if any), and
- receipts showing how the borrowed funds were spent.
- If the expenses were paid using a credit card, you must 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 details the:
- current balance owing
- minimum monthly repayment
- arrears owing (if any), and
- total credit limit.