Leave Without Pay

Your superannuation contribution options vary depending on the type of Leave Without Pay (LWOP) you take.

Ill heath

If you are on sick leave, without pay, your normal fortnightly contributions still need to be paid. Upon written application, ESSSuper may allow you to delay payment of your contributions until you return to work.

Less than four weeks

If you take LWOP (for any reason other than ill-health) for up to four weeks, you are required to pay contributions at the normal rate, to maintain all of your benefit entitlements.

More than four weeks

If you are on LWOP for more than four weeks, your normal fortnightly contributions are not required to be paid during this period.

More than six months

If you are on LWOP for more than six months, your LWOP contributions must be made at least as six monthly instalments in advance, unless otherwise agreed by ESSSuper. Payment must be made before the previous payment expires.

If you are on non-parental leave and you are eligible to make LWOP contributions for subsequent two year periods, you must complete a new election form for each two year period. If you fail to lodge an election form within one month of the expiry of the period of leave, you will be treated as if you had chosen Option 1.

Parental LWOP for up to seven years

You may contribute towards your superannuation for up to seven years while on unpaid parental leave if:

the purpose of the LWOP is to look after your children, and
you have not retired, resigned or been retrenched from your employer before applying for LWOP, and
your LWOP is approved by your employer or authorised under an award, and
you have a contractual or statutory right to return to your employer at the end of your unpaid leave period.