Pension Requirements Halved by Australian Government

Important superannuation measures have now been put in place in response to the current challenges we are facing due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). 

Pension Requirements halved

The key measures include:

Temporarily Reduce Superannuation Minimum Drawdown Rates

The Government is temporarily reducing superannuation minimum drawdown requirements for account based pensions and similar products by 50 per cent for 2019-20 and 2020-21. This measure will benefit retirees by providing them with more flexibility as to how they manage their superannuation assets.

Individuals who have already taken their minimum pension amount for the 2019/20 financial year will not able to put that money back into his superannuation account under these changes.

Superannuation table

Early Release of Superannuation

Eligible individuals will be able to apply online through myGov to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation before 1 July 2020. They will also be able to access up to a further $10,000 from 1 July 2020 for approximately three months (exact timing will depend on the passage of the relevant legislation).

The exact eligibility requirements will be formed in the coming days but broadly, to apply for early release you must satisfy any one or more of the following requirements:

  • You are unemployed; or
  • You are eligible to receive a job seeker payment, youth allowance for jobseekers, parenting payment (which includes the single and partnered payments), special benefit or farm household allowance; or
  • On or after 1 January 2020: You were made redundant; or your working hours were reduced by 20 per cent or more; or, if you are a sole trader — your business was suspended or there was a reduction in your turnover of 20 per cent or more.

People accessing their superannuation will not need to pay tax on amounts released and the money they withdraw will not affect Centrelink or Veterans’ Affairs payments.

If you are eligible for this new ground of early release, you can apply directly to the ATO through the myGov website: https://my.gov.au/.

You will be able to apply for early release of your superannuation from mid-April 2020.

Separate arrangements will apply if you are a member of an SMSF.

Reducing Social Security Deeming Rates

As of 1 May 2020, the upper deeming rate will be 2.25 per cent and the lower deeming rate will be 0.25 per cent. The reductions reflect the low interest rate environment and its impact on the income from savings.

The change will benefit around 900,000 income support recipients, including around 565,000 people on the Age Pension who will, on average, receive around $105 more from the Age Pension in the first full year that the reduced rates apply.

The changes will be effective from 1 May 2020.

Please don’t hesitate to contact our superannuation team at Allan Hall Business Advisors should you have any queries or questions regarding the superannuation measures that are now in place.

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