Choose your beneficiaries
Many people think that their super balance is an asset that becomes part of their estate when they die. But this isn’t always the case!
Super benefits are treated separately from your other assets and do not automatically go to your estate in the event of your death.
As a result, First Super has to follow super and tax laws to decide who is eligible to receive the super and any insurance payments (i.e. your beneficiaries).
Look after the people you love and care about by completing a Nomination of Beneficiary Form to let us know who you want to receive your super balance and any insurance benefits should you pass away.
Who can you nominate?
You can leave your super death benefits to one or more dependants, or your legal personal representative (the executor of your will or the administrator of your estate).
A dependant is generally a child, spouse (including a de facto or same sex spouse) or a person with whom you have an interdependency relationship.
Two people may have an interdependency relationship if:
- they have a close personal relationship
- they live together
- one or each of them provides the other with financial support
- one or each of them provides the other with domestic support and personal care.
You can nominate more than one person to receive a share of your benefits – you just need to specify the percentage of your benefit that you would like each person to receive.
Two types of nominations
You have the option of two types of nomination:
- a Binding Nomination, or
- a Non-Binding Nomination.
Non-Binding nominations
A Non-Binding Nomination is a request for the Trustee to pay your benefit in a certain way in the event of your death. It is not legally binding, but the choice you have expressed is taken into account.
The Trustee must follow the law in working out who should receive a death benefit. Your benefit will be paid to those considered to be financially dependent on you and, in some cases, this may not be the person or people nominated.
Binding nominations
A Binding Nomination is an instruction to the Trustee about who is to receive your benefit in the event of your death. The Trustee is bound by law to follow this instruction, provided that the nomination is legally valid at the time of your death and the person(s) nominated qualify for payment under the law when the benefit is paid.
A Binding Death Benefit nomination is valid for three years, therefore a new nomination must be made and returned to First Super every 3 years.
Special rules for Binding Nominations
How to nominate beneficiaries
It’s easy to let us know who you want to receive your benefits in the event of your death.
If you are making a Non-Binding Nomination, you can either mail or email the Nomination of Beneficiary Form back to First Super using the following details:
First Super, PO BOX 666, Carlton South VIC 3053
forms@firstsuper.com.au
You can also make, change or cancel a Non-Binding Nomination at any time using the firstonline member portal.
- In the top navigation, go to “My Details”.
- Then select “Beneficiaries”.
- Then click the “UPDATE NON-BINDING BENEFICIARIES” button.
If you wish to make or amend a Binding Nomination, the signed and witnessed Nomination of Beneficiary Form must be sent back to the First Super by mail only for processing at this address:
First Super, PO BOX 666, Carlton South VIC 3053.
WE’RE HERE TO HELP. SO LET’S TALK.
If you would like to discuss nominating beneficiaries, or if you have any other questions, please call our Member Services Team on 1300 360 988, or email us.