| dbo:abstract | - In Australia, superannuation, or just super, is the term for retirement pension benefit funds. Employers make compulsory contributions into these funds on behalf of their employees. Superannuation is compulsory for all employed people working and residing in Australia. The total balance of a person's superannuation is then used to provide an income stream upon reaching retirement. Federal law dictates minimum amounts that employers must contribute to the super accounts of their employees, on top of standard wages or salaries. Most employees have their super contributed to large funds - either industry funds (not-for-profit mutual funds, managed by boards composed of industry stakeholders), or retail funds (for-profit commercial funds, principally managed by financial institutions). However, some Australians can have their super deposited into self-managed superannuation funds. The Australian Government outlines a set percentage of employee income that should be paid into a super account. Since July 2002, this rate has increased from 9% to 10% in July 2021, and will stop increasing at 12% in July 2025. Employees are also encouraged to supplement compulsory superannuation contributions with voluntary contributions, including diverting their wages or salary income into superannuation contributions under so-called salary sacrifice arrangements. An avoidable issue with Australia’s superannuation system is employees failing to consolidate multiple accounts, thus being charged multiple account fees. Of Australia’s 15 million superannuation fund members, 40% have multiple accounts, which collectively costs them $2.6 billion in additional fees each year. The federal budget estimates put the number of unnecessary duplicate accounts at 10 million. Plans are in place to facilitate consolidation of these accounts. An individual can withdraw funds out of a superannuation fund when the person meets one of the conditions of release, such as retirement, terminal medical condition, or permanent incapacity, contained in Schedule 1 of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Regulations 1994. As of 1 July 2018, members have also been able to withdraw voluntary contributions made as part of the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSS). As of 30 March 2022, Australians have AU$3.5 trillion invested as superannuation assets, making Australia the 4th largest holder of pension fund assets in the world. (en)
|
