The good news is that, yes, you will usually be allowed to return to work after retiring and accessing your super benefits. Even if you’ve taken a lump sum super payout or are receiving ongoing payments from your super fund, you still have the right to rejoin the workforce. However, depending on your age, you may need to prove that your personal circumstances have changed, and that you are required to return to work.
You're free to retire from the workforce at any age, but if you want to access your super you must also have reached your preservation age. The preservation age for Australians born before 1 July 1960 is 55 years old, while anyone born on or after this date has a preservation age of between 56 and 60. You can check your preservation age from the table below.
| Date of birth | Preservation age |
|---|---|
| Before 1 July 1960 | 55 |
| 1 July 1960–30 June 1961 | 56 |
| 1 July 1961–30 June 1962 | 57 |
| 1 July 1962–30 June 1963 | 58 |
| 1 July 1963–30 June 1964 | 59 |
| From 1 July 1964 | 60 |
If you've reached your preservation age and want to retire and access your super, you need to declare your genuine intention to retire and never work again. Most super funds require you to sign a declaration when you retire, stating that you never again intend to be gainfully employed. gainfully employed is considered working for more than 10 hours a week.
However, if your retirement savings take a hit or you decide you miss the independence and social connectedness of working, you can return to work. You can also do this while still accessing your super. You might need to prove to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) that your intention to retire was genuine and that you didn’t plan to return to work all along.
Turning 65 is a condition of release for superannuation, which means you can access your super regardless of if you're working or not. You only need to be retired if you want to access your super before you turn 65.
If you're over 65, retired and accessing your super you can decide to rejoin the workforce at any time, for any reason.
There's no limit to how much you can earn if you return to work after retirement.
However, once you return to work and earn more than $450 a month, your employer will be required to make superannuation contributions at the current rate of 11.50% into your super fund.
And, if you're over the age of 67 you will need to complete a work test requirement if you intend to make any voluntary contributions into your super fund. These are contributions you make yourself, not those that your employer is required to make for you. To pass the work test you need to prove you've been employed for more than 40 hours in a 30-day period during the year.
Once you reach age 75 you can still work however no super contributions can be made.
| Response | |
|---|---|
| Yes | 52.19% |
| No | 47.81% |
If, when you retired, you had the genuine intention of retiring permanently, your super fund would have been released, allowing you to begin a super pension (or take a lump sum payment). If your circumstances change and you return to work, this account-based pension can continue to be paid.
This is because the pension contains unrestricted, non-preserved super benefits, which can be accessed at any time as long as you satisfy the rules of the super fund and the pension itself. Ask your super fund, financial adviser or the ATO for information on your specific circumstances and how returning to work could affect your account-based pension.
It’s also important to be aware that there's a $1.6 million balance cap on pension income streams. If your pension balance remains under this cap, your pension remains tax free. But if you exceed the cap, penalty tax applies to the amount over the limit.
No, you will not be forced to stop working on your 60th birthday! You're entitled to keep working as long as you'd like, and once you turn 65 you're entitled to access your super benefits while still working. The preservation age is for those who wish to stop working, and access their superannuation.
The rules of superannuation in Australia when you retire can be quite detailed, but here's a simplified overview:
It's important to stay updated with the latest superannuation rules or seek advice from a financial advisor.
If you haven't yet reached your preservation age but you need to access your superannuation, there are situations when you can access it early. Read our guide to early release of superannuation for all the details.
For more information on entering the work force again after retirement, check out the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website, which provides more information around opportunities, skills upgrade and career transitions and more.
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I have closed my super fund by am still working for the same employer, do they have to pay super to me, I do not wish to open another fund
Hi EFC,
Thank you for reaching out to finder.
If, when you retired, you had the genuine intention of retiring permanently, your super fund would have been released, allowing you to begin a super pension. If your circumstances change and you return to work, this account-based pension can continue to be paid. You may also want to check with your employer on how this could be started again for you. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
I am 69 been retired for four years. I have the opportunity of returning to work 8 hours a week. I am on a Centrelink pension. My employer would have to pay super and I want to know if it can be paid to where my super is now. I read somewhere that part of the earnings could all be given to super and therefore won’t affect the pension. Look forward to a reply.
Thank you.
Hi Christine,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
Yes, you may ask your employer to do that for you. Many employees are entitled to choose the fund employers to pay their super contributions into.
Basically, you may still work without affecting your age pension. You may learn more about how you can earn more income from work if you’re an age pensioner without reducing your pension by checking out Services Australia’s Work Bonus.
I hope this helps.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
I withdrew my superannuation because of my circumstances. I don’t have a job so I close my account, can I still use my superannuation account on my new job or do I need to apply again for a new account?
Hello Tessa,
Thank you for your comment.
You can no longer use an account once you close it. It means the process is done. If you want another super by that specific superannuation trustee, you’ll need to apply for a new account.
But if in case you still have an active super with you, you may give that to your employer so they will continue paying that for you.
Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chat box on the lower right corner of our page.
Regards,
Jhezelyn
Hi. I retired when I was 59 and accessed my super. I am now 60 and my circumstances have changed where I may need to work on a casual basis. My question is about the 10 hour/week work ‘limit’. How is it calculated? For example if I work 40 hours/week for three months, and then nothing for the rest of the year, is my work averaged out over the year, which would bring me under the 10 hours/week? Or would this break the 10 hours/week rule, and what are the consequences? Thanks.
Hi Happy,
Thank you for reaching out to Finder.
Generally, you are entitled to work less than 10 hours a week and still be considered as officially ‘retired’ with full access to your super. On the other hand, working anything between 10 hours and 30 hours per week is considered part-time. Please note that working part-time may have an impact on your super. It’s better for you to contact ATO about this or you may also consider speaking to a financial adviser about your personal circumstances. Hope this helps!
Regards,
Charisse
Hi. I would like to retire and work 13 hours every second weekend. Is this possible or does it have to be less than 10 hours per week? Thanks
Hi Paul,
Thanks for reaching out to us.
There’s no limit to how much you can earn if you return to work after retirement. To read more relevant information, you may check out the topic “If I return to work after retirement, how much can I earn?” of this page.
Hope this helps! Feel free to message us anytime should you have further questions.
Cheers,
Nikki