When and how you can access your super

Preservation age, the conditions of release, transition to retirement and the choice between a lump sum and an income stream.

3 min readReviewed November 2026

The short version

Your preservation age is 60 if you were born on or after 1 July 1964.
You can usually access super once you retire after 60, or at 65 even if still working.
A transition to retirement pension lets you draw up to 10% a year while still working.
Withdrawals after 60 are usually tax-free from most funds.

After decades of saving, there comes a point when you can start using your super. Knowing when you’re allowed to, and the different ways to take it, helps you make choices that suit your plans.

Your preservation age

Super is preserved, meaning it’s locked away until you reach a certain age and meet a condition. Your preservation age depends on when you were born.

Date of birth	Preservation age
Before 1 July 1960	55
1 July 1960 to 30 June 1961	56
1 July 1961 to 30 June 1962	57
1 July 1962 to 30 June 1963	58
1 July 1963 to 30 June 1964	59
On or after 1 July 1964	60

Everyone reaching preservation age now is 60 or over, so in practice it’s 60 for anyone not yet able to access their super.

Conditions of release

Reaching preservation age alone isn’t enough. You also need to meet a condition of release (a legal reason that allows the fund to pay you). The most common are:

Retiring after you reach preservation age. For super purposes, this means you stop work and don’t intend to work 10 or more hours a week again.
Leaving a job on or after age 60. You can access the super you built up to that point, even if you start a new job later.
Turning 65. You can access all your super, even if you’re still working full time.

Other conditions include terminal illness, permanent incapacity and severe financial hardship. These have strict rules.

Transition to retirement

If you’ve reached preservation age but are still working, you can start a transition to retirement (TTR) pension. This lets you draw some super as income while you keep working.

You must take at least 4% of the balance each year.
You can’t take more than 10% of the balance each year.
You generally can’t take lump sums until you meet a full condition of release.
Investment earnings in a TTR pension are still taxed at up to 15%, unlike a retirement pension.

Some people use a TTR pension to cut back their work hours without losing income. Others combine it with salary sacrifice. Whether this helps depends on your income, tax and plans.

Lump sum or income stream?

Once you’ve met a condition of release, you usually have three choices:

Option	What it means	Things to think about
Lump sum	Take some or all as cash	Flexible, but money outside super may be taxed on earnings and can be spent quickly
Income stream	Move super into an account-based pension that pays you regularly	Earnings are tax-free in retirement phase; minimum yearly payments apply
Mix of both	Take some cash, turn the rest into a pension	Common for paying off a mortgage or a big one-off cost

You can also leave your money in super (accumulation phase) for as long as you like.

Tax on withdrawals

For most people with a regular fund:

Withdrawals from age 60 are tax-free, whether as a lump sum or an income stream.
They don’t need to go in your tax return.

People in some public sector or untaxed schemes may pay some tax. Check with your fund.

Next steps

Check your preservation age using the table above.
Talk to your fund about the forms you’ll need and how long payments take.
Book a free session with the Services Australia Financial Information Service on 132 300 to see how super withdrawals affect the Age Pension.

Work out your numbers

Retirement incomeHow long your super will last at the lifestyle you want.Super projectionYour super at retirement, in today's dollars.

Sources and further reading

General information only. This video doesn't take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Figures are for 2026–27 and can change. Check the official sources above.