Small Superannuation Accounts Act 1995

When Can You Get Your Money Out?

You can withdraw or transfer your balance if:

• You want to transfer it to a super fund or RSA (Retirement Savings Account — a type of personal retirement account)
• Your balance is under $200 and you've stopped working for the employer who made the deposits
• You've been on government welfare payments (like Centrelink) for long enough
• You're permanently disabled
• You have a terminal illness
• You've turned 65
• You're 55+ and no longer an Australian tax resident, and you're not working in Australia
• You're a former temporary visa holder who has left Australia
• You've died (your estate can claim it)

What Happened to Inactive Accounts?

If no money was added to your account for 10 consecutive financial years, the balance was moved out of the Special Account and recorded separately. You (or your estate) can still claim it back from the ATO.

Important Limits

• New deposits were closed off from 1 July 2006 — employers can no longer make fresh deposits into this system. The scheme is essentially in wind-down mode, dealing with historical balances.
• Interest only accrues on the first $1,200 of your balance — a deliberate nudge to move funds to a proper super fund.

Government Co-contributions & Paid Parental Leave

The system was later expanded to also hold government top-up payments for low-income earners and superannuation contributions paid under the Paid Parental Leave scheme. Slightly different rules apply to these deposits.

Your Rights

If the ATO makes a decision you disagree with, you can:

1. Ask the ATO to reconsider the decision (within 21 days)
2. If still unhappy, apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal for an independent review