CAN I LEAVE MY MONEY WITH THE FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES SUPERANNUATION FUND AFTER I LEAVE WORK?
Yes, you can! When you leave FESA, you can leave your benefit with the Fire and Emergency Services Superannuation Fund. Your benefit will continue to grow in a Retained Benefit account and, in most circumstances, you can continue
to make extra contributions (conditions apply).
A Retained Benefit account offers many advantages:
To find out more about leaving your money in the Fund, refer to the Retained Benefit section.
I'D LIKE TO SALARY SACRIFICE CONTRIBUTIONS. WHERE DO I START?
The Fire and Emergency Services Superannuation Fund can help you understand what salary sacrificing your super will mean for you. The Fund's staff can help you calculate the possible tax savings that may apply to you, if you start salary sacrificing.
To start salary sacrificing, download the Salary Sacrifice Application form and forward the form to the Superannuation Office.
CAN I ROLL OVER SUPER FROM ANOTHER SUPERANNUATION FUND?
Yes, you can. As a member of the Fire and Emergency Services Superannuation Fund you are able to roll over your super from another superannuation fund. Simply complete and forward our Transfer Form, and we will contact your other superannuation fund and arrange the roll over on your behalf.
You will also need to provide a copy of certified identification as outlined in the Transfer Form before another fund will roll over your benefit to us.
Alternatively, you can use a roll over form provided by the other superannuation fund. We recommend you contact your other fund to check if they charge any exit fees when rolling over your super, and to confirm they will accept out transfer form.
WHAT IS THE FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES SUPERANNUATION FUND'S SUPER FUND NUMBER (SFN) AND ABN?
The Fire and Emergency Services Superannuation Fund's Superannuation Fund Number (SFN) is 2682 919 49, and
our Australian Business Number (ABN) is 43 198 502 058.
CAN MY SPOUSE BECOME A MEMBER?
Yes! Although your spouse may not be employed, you can now open an account for them to build up their
retirement savings. Opening an account for your spouse has many advantages.
Members can now make superannuation contributions on behalf of their spouse and be eligible to claim a tax rebate.
If you have a spouse or defacto and:
The rebate commences at 18% for a spouse earning $10,800 per annum or less, gradually reducing to nil, where
the spouse is earning $13,800 per annum. Only after tax contributions of up to $3,000 a year count towards this rebate.
After contributing after tax contributions on behalf of your spouse into the Fund, or transferring (roll-over) other superannuation money into the Fund, your spouse will become a member of the Fund and have a separate superannuation savings account set up in his or her name. Your spouse's superannuation account will receive investment earnings based on the investment option selected and the only deductions made from this account
will be for administration expenses and any tax payable.
Your spouse can benefit from the savings facilities provided by the Fund but your spouse cannot access the
insurance covers, which are only available to employees.
As the fees of small accounts are required by government regulation to be subsidised, there is an initial minimum investment into a spouse account of $1,000 or you must contribute a minimum of $20 per week for the first year.
For your spouse to join the Fund, please complete the Spouse Application Form.
In most cases, any contributions you made into super before 1 July 1999 can be accessed when you leave employment. Your annual Member Information Statement shows this amount as a cash value. However, since this date, the Commonwealth Government requires that all contributions (and the interest they earn) stay in a super
fund until you permanently retire after reaching your preservation age. The table below shows your preservation age.
Date Born 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
1 July 1964 or after 60
Under limited circumstances, your benefit may be accessed on financial hardship or compassionate grounds or in the event of total and permanent disability. The Fire and Emergency Services Superannuation Fund can determine your eligibility for this type of payment.
CAN I CONTRIBUTE TO MY SUPER ACCOUNT AFTER I LEAVE WORK?
Yes, but there are the following restrictions:
Contributions will only be accepted in respect of a member who has reached 65 years of age but not age 75, if in the current financial year the member has worked in paid employment for at least 40 hours in a period of not more that 30 consecutive days.
Contributions for members over 75 years of age will not be accepted.
A member may make contributions provided a contribution is not less than $100 or as approved by the Board.
HOW DOES LEAVE WITHOUT PAY (LWOP) AFFECT MY SUPER?
If you contribute to an Accumulation account, your benefit will continue to grow with investment earnings. There
will be no employer or voluntary contributions going into your account during this time.
If you have a Defined Benefit account, your final benefit is a multiple of your final average salary. The multiple
grows based on your time in service. While you are on leave without pay your multiple stops growing, as leave
without pay does not qualify as service.
WILL THE FUND ACCEPT CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OTHER EMPLOYERS?
No. The Fund is administered under an Act of Parliament and under that Act, the only employers who are allowed to contribute to the Fire and Emergency Services Superannuation Fund are the:
The Fire and Emergency Services Superannuation Fund offers a range of investment choices to all members with an accumulation account. Member Investment Choice allows you to take an active role in the growth of your superannuation account and select an investment plan to suit your personal approach towards investment risks and returns.
If you have investments outside of the Fire and Emergency Services Superannuation Fund, Member Investment Choice allows you to choose an investment plan for your superannuation that fits in with your overall investment savings strategies.
If you have a Defined Benefit Account, you will not have access to Member Investment Choice for that account, as
the calculation of your benefit is predetermined – investment returns do not affect your benefit. However, if you
make voluntary contributions, or have rolled other money into the Fund, these funds will be placed in an
accumulation account where you can choose an investment plan to suit your needs.
As everyone's financial situation is different, the investment plan you choose should be determined with your
personal circumstances in mind.