Who gets my super when I’m gone?
21 July 2025Section Heading
It’s not something any of us like to think about – but planning ahead for what happens to your super when you die is one of the most important things you can do for your loved ones. Here’s how it works at Super SA.
Your super is different from other assets
Many people assume their super automatically forms part of their estate, expecting it to be distributed according to their Will, along with other personal assets like property, savings or investments.
However, superannuation is generally not an estate asset and super funds have rules about how the money (known as your death benefit) will be distributed.
With some super funds, you can nominate beneficiaries, but this isn’t the case at Super SA.
So, who can get your super?
At Super SA, your death benefit is distributed according to the rules of the scheme you’re invested with. With Triple S, Super SA Select and Flexible Rollover Product, it will be paid out in this sequence:
Your Legal Personal Representative (LPR) if you nominated one.
This is the person(s) you appointed as the executor(s) or administrator(s) of your Estate following your death.
If you didn’t nominate an LPR, your death benefit will go to your spouse (or putative spouse) if you have one.
If you don’t have a spouse (or putative spouse), the money will go to your Estate.
However, if you don’t have a Will in place, the people you want to receive your super, may not get it.
What about the super in my Income Stream account?
The money will be paid out in the same sequence as it is with Triple S (refer to the section above) unless you’ve nominated a reversionary beneficiary.
If you’ve nominated a reversionary beneficiary, your regular payments can continue to go to your spouse after you die (provided they are still your legal or putative spouse at the date of death). This only applies if you’ve made that nomination at the time you opened your Income Stream account.
For more information, see the section ‘What happens to your money if you die?’ in the Income Stream Reference Guide.
What if I want my super to go to my children?
While you can’t nominate your children as beneficiaries with Super SA, there are two steps you can take to formalise your wishes:
Step 1: Nominate an LPR for your super account
This is simple – just complete and submit our ‘Binding Death Benefit Nomination Form (Estate)’.
You must extend this nomination every three years to ensure it remains valid. We’ll remind you prior to it expiring.
Step 2: Have a valid Will in place
To ensure your estate and super can be distributed according to your wish.
Without an LPR nomination and a Will, the process of paying out your super can take longer and may cause stress for your family. By making sure your nominations and your will are up to date, you can help give your family clarity and peace of mind.
So, what’s a legal personal representative?
A legal personal representative (LPR) is the person (or persons) you nominate as the executor(s) or administrator(s) of your Estate following your death.
Nominating an LPR should not be confused with nominating beneficiaries, which is common with other super funds. At Super SA, if you want your death benefit to go to someone other than your spouse, you must nominate a legal personal representative and have a Will in place.
Want to check your LPR nomination?
You can log in to the Super SA member portal or refer to your Annual Statement to check your nomination and the date it expires. If you have any questions, we’re here to help.
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