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Death benefit entitlements vary depending on who the recipient is/will be in the event of your death.
Death of a member in service
Under the rules governing the Revised Scheme, a death benefit in the form of a fortnightly pension entitlement is payable to the eligible partner. A child’s pension may also payable to any eligible children and in some circumstances to adult disabled children.
If there is no eligible partner or child, then the minimum benefit payable under the rules of the Revised Scheme is paid to the Estate.
If you are single and die while in service, before retirement, without leaving any eligible dependents:
| Death Benefit (Payable to your Estate) |
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Refund of your total contributions and interest |
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If applicable, a minimum benefit top-up consisting of Superannuation Guarantee (employer component) |
Married or in a domestic relationship (children’s benefits appear below)
Your eligible partner will generally be entitled to a lifetime pension based on your age 60 retirement pension or your current age retirement pension if you are aged over 60 at the time of death. Generally the partner pension will be approximately two thirds of your pension.
Your eligible partner's lump-sum options will depend on whether he/she is under or over age 60 at the date of death.
If you have a Limited or Service Benefits medical classification, your death benefit may be reduced.
Who is your eligible partner?
Generally your eligible partner is:
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your spouse through marriage;
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a domestic partner, who is someone to whom you are not married but with whom, in the Board’s opinion, you were living with at the time of your death as a couple on a genuine domestic basis (irrespective of gender).
If you are employed on a part-time basis at the date of your death, prospective service to age 60 is calculated by using the average of your service over the last three years to determine your full-time equivalent.
Accordingly, if you have been employed on a part-time basis in the three years prior to your death, your eligible partner's benefit may be reduced.
If you have reduced your hours from full-time to part-time due to a medical condition, we may recognise this service as full-time for benefit purposes. If this is the case please contact us on 1300 655 476.
Eligible partners under age 60
If your eligible partner is under the age of 60 at the date of your death, they may choose, within 12 months of the date of death, to convert the total partner pension into a lump sum benefit equal to approximately seven years of pension payments.
In this case, the eligible partner will have no further entitlement to a benefit or pension from ESSSuper. The lump sum conversion will not have an effect on any associated children's pension.
If the lump sum is not elected, the indexed pension will continue and, at age 60, a further opportunity to convert to a lump sum will be available as described below.
A lump sum is available to an eligible partner:
- who is receiving a partner pension and reaches age 60, or
- where the original member dies and the partner is more than age 60.
An eligible partner can:
- convert up to 50% of the pension to a lump sum, or
- convert 100% of the pension to a lump sum.
The election must take place within 12 months of the eligible partner's 60th birthday or the date of death of the Revised Scheme member.
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