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Back to Super tips
March 11 2024
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Lost super waiting to be found?

According to the ATO, there’s $17.8 billion* in lost or unclaimed super in accounts across Australia. Here are some simple steps to help you find out if any of it is yours.

First stop - find your lost super

A good place to start is the ATO, as they have a simple process to help you find any unclaimed or lost super.

All you need to do is:

  • Go to my.gov.au.
  • Log in or create an account.
  • Link your myGov account to the ATO.
  • Select 'Super'.

This will allow you to:

  • see details of all your super accounts, including any lost or unclaimed super
  • find any ATO-held super - this is held on your behalf when your super fund, your employer or the government can't find an account to deposit your super into.

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Hint

If you've recently opened a new super account, it may take up to six months to appear on myGov.

Second stop - combining your super accounts

According to the ATO, around 4 million Australians had more than one super fund as at 30 June 2024^. Having multiple super accounts could mean you are paying unnecessary fees and charges and most importantly reducing your overall retirement savings.

Consolidating super takes just a few minutes and could help make managing your super easier. Generally, the fewer accounts you have, the easier it is likely to be to manage your super and understand how much money you’ll have in retirement.

Before combining your super, consider if Rest is right for you. Check out the fees and costs of your other funds plus any benefits that would be lost, such as insurance cover. Make sure your other fund knows about any contributions you intend to claim a tax deduction for, before combining with Rest. If you have any questions, speak to a licensed financial adviser, or visit the MoneySmart ASIC website for more information.

Combine in the Rest App

  1. Head to the ‘combine my super’ section
  2. Have your ID ready to complete a quick verification check (if you’ve already done this, you’ll skip to step 3)
  3. Start your search, and choose the funds you’d like to combine into Rest

Open Rest App

Combine in MemberAccess

  1. Log in to MemberAccess.
  2. Click on the 'Combine your super' tab.
  3. Have your ID ready to complete a quick verification check (if you've already done this, you'll skip straight to step 4).
  4. Start your search, and choose the funds you'd like to combine into Rest.

Open MemberAccess

Last stop - make sure you keep track of all your super

After finding any lost super, it’s important to try and make sure you don’t forget about your super. One easy way to do this is keeping your details up to date with your super fund. So next time you change details make sure you update your details with your super fund.

Consider taking your super with you when you change jobs. If you already have a super fund that you would like to stick with, you can. Once you start your new job, you simply need to fill out the details of your existing fund on the superannuation standard choice form and provide it to your new employer who should then pay your super contributions to your chosen fund.

*As at 17 Sep 2024. Source: ‘$17.8 billion of your super can’t find you’, the Australian Taxation Office

^Source: Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Super accounts data overview. Figures are based on member data reported by funds to ATO for the year ending 30 June 2024. Visit the ATO for more information. This information is current as at September 2024.