Forum Discussion
Denied early access to my Super fund
Hi all
Found out today I have been denied accessing my Super early as my onc refuses to sign the form.
My life expectancy is 3-5 years. What is the point in having to wait until I'm on my deathbed to be granted MY money that I have been MADE to save all these years by the government?
I am not coping well with this news, feel like the quality of my life is being restricted by beaurocratic bullshit. I had to give up my job because of the gruelling treatment, I need the money NOW not in my final days.
interested in other's experiences and if there's anything I can do to turn this around.
X
Found out today I have been denied accessing my Super early as my onc refuses to sign the form.
My life expectancy is 3-5 years. What is the point in having to wait until I'm on my deathbed to be granted MY money that I have been MADE to save all these years by the government?
I am not coping well with this news, feel like the quality of my life is being restricted by beaurocratic bullshit. I had to give up my job because of the gruelling treatment, I need the money NOW not in my final days.
interested in other's experiences and if there's anything I can do to turn this around.
X
18 Replies
- Etta - I second onemargie suggestion to get your surgeon/GP as your signatures - they tend to have a more practical approach to sorting out issues. There is also an emotional/human component with oncologists - many of them struggle to give clear prognostic estimates unless you are in the last 6-12 months of life - eternal optimists, which is a good thing when it comes to treatment ....
If you are planning to reopen this with your onc - just ask for data that places you with any certainty in the 3-5 year group - he/she will not have it. No one has the book or a crystal ball on this disease.
Option 2
If you are struggling with that - meeting the terminal illness criteria - speak to your accountant - you may be able to get a part of your super released on compassionate grounds.
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/enablers/about-compassionate-grounds-early-release-super
This would include - plan to travel for treatment or pay for treatment in Australia, modify home to suit, pay mortagage etc you would need a good accountant familiar with Super practice and a tight application. - Thanks @Rosie_BCNA that link is really helpful x
- Hi there @Etta your gp and your surgeon can fill out the forms for you. You don’t need your oncol just attach any necessary paperwork to it if you need it and it will be fine also the team at the early release of super hotline can help you too they are great ask speak to Anne or Jen. 1300131060. Hope this helps. And get a new oncologist. Margie xx
- Hi@Etta, Im one of the Cancer Nurses working on the Helpline at BCNA. I'm sorry to hear about your issues accessing Superannuation. You may already have seen this information on our website but if not, here is a link to BCNA's fact sheet on Superannuation and insurance payments for people with a terminal illness. https://www.bcna.org.au/media/4246/bcna-fact-sheet-superannuation-jan-2017.pdf
- Your GP should be able to sign. When I was on Centerlink they said the GP had the same weight in reports and I didn't need to see each and every specialist for one.
- Wow thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and advice.
@Zoffiel your experience sounds terrible, sending love and thoughts to you (about as much as I can do given our 'powerless' situations!)
I will look into the tribunal option, the irony being of course is I don't have the mental strength to even begin...
x @etta I'm in a similar battle. If I do live long enough to access my super I'll be able to afford a bottle of cheap wine and a takeaway meal. I haven't worked full time since August 2016 and have been receiving benefits so would qualify for hardship except that I did some work, as a cancer consumer rep, for a government agency which paid me for work I'd done over a month in one hit. Three months after I'd done it.
Anyway, because that pushed me past the Newstart threshold, for a fortnight, I'm back to square one and have to be destitute for another six months before I can apply for the release of 10% of my super. Which is not very much.
I can understand, to a point, medicos not wanting to sign off that you are going to cark it within two years. That's crystal ball stuff that doesn't work for many reasons. Six months, different story but, and this is the but, none of them want to be held to account if you lived for longer than expected and ripped your money out.
There are a couple of avenues, financial hardship and the need to get at YOUR money to pay medical expenses. Unfortunately, most of the time you have to pay the bills then claim compensation--otherwise we would all be lining up for top shelf reconstructions then changing our minds when we have the money. Or so the reasoning goes.
It's exasperating.
Mxx
- Grrr - mean rules. I hope you work out a way round it. Some good suggestions above. Best wishes from jennyss
- If your life expectancy is less than 24 months they'll pay but you have to pay tax on it, less than 12 months you don't have to pay the tax. My oncologist was very reluctant to sign, but hey, I may not have lived 12 months. Just so happens, I'm still alive. Don't give in.
- There also is a Superannuation Complaints Tribunal - details online and might be a good starting point.
