Super Short Answers

Setting up an income stream with your super is a flexible way to start receiving regular payments as you transition to retirement or once you’ve retired.

To set up an income stream, you’ll need to open a new Income Stream account and transfer at least $30,000 from your existing super into it. When the account is ready, you’ll start getting regular payments directly into your bank account, while the rest of your super balance continues to stay invested.

We’ve created a handy 3-step guide and checklist to help you through the process.

Your super is designed to support you in retirement, but there are key moments when you can start accessing it.

Here are the most common ways people become eligible (they’re officially referred to as ‘conditions of release’):

• You turn 65 – whether you’re still working or not.
• You reach age 60 and retire
• You reach age 60 and start a transition to retirement income stream – this lets you ease into retirement while still working.
• You qualify for early access – in cases like severe financial hardship, compassionate grounds, or total and permanent disability.

While most people won’t dip into their super until retirement (or close to it), life doesn’t always go to plan. For instance, if you're facing tough financial times or you’ve stopped working in the public sector after age 55, you might be able to access some of your super earlier.

Just note, accessing your super before age 60 could mean paying extra tax on what you withdraw. That can take a chunk out of your future savings, so it’s worth thinking carefully and getting advice if you’re unsure.

And remember, you don’t have to take all your super out at once. Many people choose to keep some of their super invested and draw it down gradually through a retirement income stream. This can help your savings last longer and continue to grow even after you stop working.

For more details, see section 4: ‘Accessing your super’, in the Triple S Reference Guide or contact us.

The very short answer is yes. Many Australians combine their super savings together with the Age Pension to give them a regular income during their retirement. 

The Age Pension provides regular fortnightly payments from Centrelink to help support your retirement. When applying, just keep in mind that your super balance and income will be considered in Centrelink’s income and assets test. This could affect how much Age Pension you’re eligible for.

So, while having super won’t automatically disqualify you, the amount you receive might be adjusted depending on your overall financial situation.

When the time comes to consider your options for accessing your super and making the most of government benefits, consider seeking professional financial advice.  

For more information on the Age Pension, visit the Services Australia website.

Great question! Triple S works a little differently from most super funds.

From 1 July 2025 you get a lifetime untaxed plan cap of $1,865,000 million. That includes all concessional contributions – like your employer contributions, salary sacrifice, and any investment earnings taxed at concessional rates. It’s a pretty generous limit!

Compare that to most other super funds, which have an annual concessional contributions cap of $30,000.

Something to watch out for
If you're contributing to both Triple S and another (taxed) super fund, your concessional (before tax) contributions to Triple S also count towards your annual cap in the taxed fund.

Let’s say your employer and salary sacrifice contributions into Triple S total $20,000 in a financial year, and you also have $15,000 going into another taxed fund. That’s a total of $35,000 in concessional contributions – which exceeds the current cap of $30,000 with the other fund. As a result, the $5,000 over the cap will be taxed at a higher rate.

While a small amount over the cap might not result in a significant tax impact, going significantly over could reduce the benefit of salary sacrificing. That’s why it’s worth keeping track of your total contributions across all funds.

To learn more, visit our Salary Sacrifice page.

It’s easy to do this and so much more, online.

When you log in to the member portal your balance will appear at the top of your homepage, and you can even print an Account Summary.

To check which options you’re invested in, click on ‘My investments’ and then ‘Investment summary’. If you’re invested in more than one option, you can see how much super is allocated to each option.

Please ask us if you have more questions about what you can do online, or visit our Member Portal FAQs page for details on how to access the portal.

Finding the right financial planner is a personal decision – it’s about what works best for you and your financial goals.

Many people start by asking friends or family. They may have a trusted planner they’ve worked with and would recommend.

Whoever you choose, make sure they’re qualified, licensed, and transparent about their services and fees. Look for someone who holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) and is registered with the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA).

You can also search for licensed planners near you on the FAAA website.