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It details two eligibility categories: Category A (continuous eligible Commonwealth income support payments for 26 weeks plus inability to meet immediate family living expenses) and Category B (reaching preservation age plus additional weeks of eligible support and not being in paid employment). 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Eligibility depends on meeting the requirements in either Category A or Category B.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"What are the key differences between Category A and Category B?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"Category A requires continuous eligible Commonwealth income support payments for 26 weeks and inability to meet reasonable and immediate family living expenses. Category B requires reaching preservation age plus 39 weeks (or more) of eligible support and not being in paid employment at the time of the request.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What documents are required to make a severe financial hardship claim?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"You generally need your Centrelink CRN or a Q230/Q251 letter (depending on the category), a fully completed and signed application form, and certified proof of identification. 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You may be able to access some of your super if you’re experiencing ‘severe financial hardship’.  \nThe early release of super funds on the grounds of severe financial hardship is strictly controlled under legislation, which Brighter Super Trustee (the Trustee) also needs to follow. Each severe financial hardship claim is assessed on an individual basis and we do not guarantee payment. The rules for accessing super under severe financial hardship are broken into two categories.  \nWhich category do you belong to?  \nThe Trustee can only release a portion of your superannuation benefit if you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident and if:  \nCategory A  \n• you are receiving eligible Commonwealth income support payments for a continuous period of 26 weeks (please see from list below for eligible and non-eligible income support payments); and  \n• you are unable to meet reasonable and immediate family living expenses. This means that your income is not enough to cover the basic necessities of everyday living and you have no other assets or resources which could reasonably be used, in the foreseeable future, to cover the gap.  \nEligible  \n• Carer Payment  \n• Newstart Allowance  \n• Pension  \nNon eligible  \n• Abstudy  \n• Austudy  \n• Family Tax Benefits  \n• Youth Allowance (If the applicant is in full-time study)  \nPlease note: this is not a complete listing. Types of eligible benefits change from time to time according to changes in government policy. For a complete and up to date listing of eligible benefit payment types, please refer to Centrelink.  \nOR  \nCategory B  \n• you reach your preservation age* and 39 weeks, or over  \n• you have been receiving an eligible Commonwealth income support payment for a period of no less than a total of 39 weeks since reaching preservation age; and  \n• you can declare that at the time you are making your request you are not in paid employment (working for 10 or more hours each week) .  \nSevere financial hardship benefits are released from your super account in the order of unrestricted non-preserved, restricted non-preserved and finally, preserved benefits.  \n* Your preservation age depends on your date of birth.  \nDate of Birth Preservation Age  \nBefore 1 July 1960 55  \nBetween 1 July 1960 and 30 June 1961 56  \nBetween 1 July 1961 and 30 June 1962 57  \nBetween 1 July 1962 and 30 June 1963 58  \nBetween 1 July 1963 and 30 June 1964 59  \nOn or after June 1964 60  \nEligible Commonwealth income support payments  \nTo consider your claim, we need a certified copy (or the original) of a Q230 or Q251 letter from Centrelink (now merged with the Department of Human Services or DHS) or Veterans’ Affairs. This letter confirms that you are receiving benefits and have done so for the required period. Alternatively, you may provide your Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN) with your authority to allow us to contact DHS directly. Please refer to page 10.  \nIf you elect to provide the Q230/Q251 letter, let DHS or Veterans’ Affairs know that the Trustee requires this letter so that we may consider your early release application. The letter needs to be dated within 21 days of us receiving your application form.  \nThere are a number of pensions and benefits which are eligible, not just unemployment benefits. You (the owner of the super account) need to be the person receiving the DHS benefits.  \nContact the relevant DHS number for more information Department of Human Services 1300 131 060 Employment Services 13 28 50  \nOlder Australians 13 23 00  \nDepartment of Veterans’ Affairs 13 32 54  \nBrighter Super Trustee ABN 94 085 088 484 AF","cbCaih545TPqd2b4","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaih545TPqd2b4","pdf",708036,"English","# Eligibility overview\n## Definition of severe financial hardship\n## Eligibility category A\n## Eligibility category B\n# Access rules and limits\n## Benefit release order\n## Preservation age and date of birth\n## How much can be received\n## Taxation\n# How to apply\n## What you need to supply\n## Required Centrelink or Veterans’ Affairs documentation\n## Contact details","[{\"question\":\"What qualifies as severe financial hardship for early release of super benefits?\",\"answer\":\"Severe financial hardship allows access to super under controlled legislative rules. Eligibility depends on meeting the requirements in either Category A or Category B.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the key differences between Category A and Category B?\",\"answer\":\"Category A requires continuous eligible Commonwealth income support payments for 26 weeks and inability to meet reasonable and immediate family living expenses. Category B requires reaching preservation age plus 39 weeks (or more) of eligible support and not being in paid employment at the time of the request.\"},{\"question\":\"What documents are required to make a severe financial hardship claim?\",\"answer\":\"You generally need your Centrelink CRN or a Q230/Q251 letter (depending on the category), a fully completed and signed application form, and certified proof of identification. Additional evidence may be required for Category A, including proof of weekly income, recent bank statements, and evidence of debts.\"}]","Superannuation Severe Financial Hardship Information Sheet - Early Release of Super Benefits | PDF",1789841346]