State Superannuation Scheme (SSS)

Are you in a super scheme that doesn’t fluctuate?

SSS is the State Superannuation Scheme. It’s a defined benefit scheme, and your final superannuation payment will be based on a formula that is unique to your particular fund. This means that your retirement benefit is not affected by the ups and downs of investment markets.

What will suit your lifestyle: Pension or Lump Sum?

When you retire and access your final SSS benefit, you generally have the option of:

• Taking it as a pension
• Converting it to a lump sum
• Taking a combination of pension and lump sum

The importance of timing

Deciding whether to convert some of your pension (if any) to a lump sum and how much to convert will depend on your individual circumstances, your goals and lifestyle objectives.

However, it’s important to know that you can only ever make the decision to convert your pension to a lump sum once and then only at prescribed times.

If you commence your pension on or after age 55, you need to elect to convert a lump sum within 6 months either before or after your pension commences. If you don’t make an application before reaching age 60, you have a second chance to apply within six months of your 60th birthday.

However if you commence your pension after age 60, you have six months from then however there's no second opportunity.

Knowledge may be power, but it also delivers results

There are also different rates which apply depending on when your pension is exchanged for a lump sum, so you really need to know your scheme options to make sure you’re maximising your benefit.

Deciding what to do, and whether to adjusting any amount of your SSS pension to a lump sum is an important life-style decision, and will be different for each individual.  As it can only be done once and at specific times, it’s important you speak with your financial planning team at Aware Super to ensure you understand your options and can make the decision that’s right for you.

Obligation-free options

You can meet with one of our professional financial planners without any obligation.

Give your member service team a call on 1800 620 305, or book an appointment right now to speak to the experts who understand your SSS scheme choices.

How our planners can help

To get the best results with your financial planning, speak to your friendly team at Aware Super. They’ll make sure you’re maximising the opportunities that come from being a SSS scheme member.

Can you relate to John?

For example: John, age 57, is a SSS member earning $150,000 pa with a retirement age of 60. His employer concessional contributions are calculated as $150,000 x 6% = $9,000. He is also salary sacrificing his member contributions of $23,000 pa. While the $9,000 of employer contributions and $23,000 of salary sacrifice contributions to SSS mean John has $32,000 of concessional superannuation contributions, SSS will only report $27,500 of concessional contributions. Any other pre-tax superannuation contributions John makes or receives outside SSS will be excess contributions.

Learn more about ways you can contribute to your super

Visit one of our SSS seminars to find out more about preparing for retirement.