Changes to your pension

Our merger with Spirit Super will take effect from 1 November 2024. We’ll still be called CareSuper and we’ll still be here to help you enjoy your retirement.  But we’ll be a bigger and stronger fund, with new and improved services to help you manage your pension. 

There will be a few changes to your pension as a result of our merger with Spirt Super.

Watch the video and read more below. All the details are also available in the Significant Event Notice.

Pension Payment TIMING

There will be some changes to the payment frequencies. If you currently receive a bi-monthly payment you will move to fortnightly payments. For other payment frequencies there will be a slight change to the dates, with payments moved to the 20th of the month.  

Additional pension payment

You may also receive an extra payment prior to the merger. This is because we need to make sure you’ve met your minimum pension payment for the period before we merge. This is a standard process, and you don’t need to worry if you receive this extra payment.  

Pension drawdown method

From 1 November all pension payments will be drawn down using the percentage method. This means the way you drawdown on your investments may change over time but on day one of the merger there will be no immediate change. Please read the SEN for more details about this.  

Client ID becomes Member Number

Your Client ID will become your member number once we merge and you can use this number to log into Member Online from around 21 November. You will need to reset your password though.

CUT OFF DATE and limited ONLINE Access

While we merge our systems, most of our services will be temporarily unavailable. This means for a short time before and after the merger, you won’t be able to make changes to your account.

If you want to update your personal details or anything else related to your account such as beneficiaries or investments, you’ll need to get your request to us before 5pm on 22 October 2024. Have a look at the SEN for all the key dates. You’ll continue to have access to your account online but won’t be able to make changes from 22 October until around 21 November. 

FAQs
Are there changes to my account?

Yes there are changes to pension accounts. These are detailed in your Significant Event Notice and you can watch an overview of the changes here. 

What is the change to my draw down method?

Currently, you can nominate the investment option(s) and the method your pension payments are drawn down from your account. The current available methods are percentage, proportionate or sequential.

From 1 November 2024, only the percentage method will be available in the merged fund and your preferences
will be carried across as detailed below:

Drawdown optionCurrentFrom 1 November 2024 
PercentageYour payment is drawn based on the percentages you have instructed across your investment options. Your instructions will be continued in the merged fund. 
ProportionateYour payment is drawn proportionally from each of your investment options. You will be moved to the percentage method based on the investment percentages you hold at the time of your first payment. This percentage profile will be used for future payments unless you change it. 
SequentialYour payment is drawn in the order you have instructed from your investment options. Once an option is depleted the remaining payment is taken from the next option in the sequence.You will be moved to the percentage method. Only the first investment option in your sequential instruction will be considered and it will receive an allocation of 100%. This percentage profile will be used for future payments unless you change it.
No selectionDefault to proportionate.A percentage profile will be created for you based on the investment percentages you hold at the time of your first payment. This percentage profile will be used for future payments unless you change it
Why did I receive an extra pension payment?

Each year, you’re legally required to withdraw a minimum amount of pension payments. Your minimum amount will be recalculated based on the balance of your account on 1 November 2024 and as a result, you may see adjustments to the payments you receive. 

Your account will be reviewed and assessed to check if the minimum pension payment for the period 1 July – 31 October 2024 will need to be paid to you. 

If your account hasn’t met the minimum pro-rated pension payment requirement for this period, a supplementary pro-rata pension payment will be made to you. CareSuper may make adjustments to the payments you receive: 

  1. A pro-rata payment to your nominated bank account to ensure we’ve paid your minimum amount for the period from 1 July 2024 - 31 October 2024 
  2. An adjustment to your payments to ensure you receive the minimum amount for the period from 1 November 2024 - 30 June 2024

If we determine that you will need an additional payment, you will receive it around 22 October 2024.

Will my pension be paid on the same date?

Payments will be made on the 20th of the month of payment, instead of 22nd of the month.

You can still update how often you want your pension payments to be made. New details below. 

New FrequencyPrevious pay dayNew pay day
Fortnightly8th and 22nd day of each monthEvery second Thursday commencing 14 November 2024
Monthly22nd day of each month 20th of each month
Quarterly22nd March, June, September, and December20th of every third month
Twice-yearly22nd June and December20th of every sixth month 
Yearly22nd June or the month that you choose20th of the month that you choose
Will my payment frequency stay the same?

All payment frequencies are staying the same except by-monthly.

The frequency of bi-monthly pension payments will change to fortnightly pension payments in the merged fund. This means instead of receiving 24 payments throughout the year, you will now receive 26 payments throughout the year. Your regular pension payments will change to reflect this additional payment.  

New FrequencyPrevious pay dayNew pay day
Fortnightly8th and 22nd day of each monthEvery second Thursday commencing 14 November 2024
Monthly22nd day of each month 20th of each month
Quarterly22nd March, June, September, and December20th of every third month
Twice-yearly22nd June and December20th of every sixth month 
Yearly22nd June or the month that you choose20th of the month that you choose
Are CareSuper’s contact details changing due to the merger?

Yes, our contact details are changing from 1 November 2024. But rest assured we’ll still be here to answer your super questions.

Phone number 

1800 005 166 / Overseas +61 3 7042 2723 (Weekdays from 8am – 7pm AEST/AEDT)

Postal Address

GPO Box 1547
Hobart TAS 7001
 

How can I access my new Member Online account in the merged fund?

You’ll be able to log in to your new look Member Online account from 21 November using the email address you currently use and by resetting your password. 

You can also then head over to the app store and download our new mobile app. The current one will no longer work so it’s best to uninstall it and then download the new one. 

Will my member and account numbers stay the same?

Your current Client ID will become your member number in the new fund and you’ll receive a new account number for each account you have with us in your welcome pack. 

You can use your member number to log in to Member Online. 

Will I receive any confirmation or notification after the merger’s complete?

You will receive your welcome pack for the merged fund in late November. This will include a statement confirming your balance when we transferred this to the merged fund.

Are there any other important changes I should know about?

Two further important changes to the merged fund include: 

  • The Capital Guaranteed investment option will close: if you’re invested in this option, your investment will move to the Cash option from 1 November 2024 
  • Buy-sell spread fees will no longer apply to transactions: you’ll no longer incur these charges if you switch investment options or make withdrawals. 

Need help?

Don’t worry, we’ll automatically transfer your super to your new CareSuper account, so you can be confident your super is safe and remains invested for your future.

For the latest news and the answers to your merger related questions, go to the merger hub.