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Non-lapsing death benefit nomination

To make a nomination simply complete the Non-lapsing death benefit nomination form. If you have more than one account (for example, if you have both a super and a pension account) within the Fund, you can complete a separate non-lapsing death benefit nomination for each individual account. If you do not specify the additional account(s) to which your nomination is to apply, your nomination will apply to the account specified on the form only, until revoked or amended.

Because your nomination will not automatically lapse, it is important that you periodically review your nomination to ensure you still wish us to pay the person(s) you have nominated. In addition, unlike a will, your non-lapsing nomination will not automatically become invalid in the event of marriage, divorce or any other life-changing event. We will include the details of your nomination as part of your annual member statements and you can also view your nomination online.

Where we have consented to your nomination, we will pay your benefit to the person(s) you have nominated as long as:

  • the person(s) you have nominated are your dependants at the time of death, and
  • your nomination has been made in writing and is signed by you in the presence of two witnesses who are over 18 years of age and not named as beneficiaries in your nomination.

A non-lapsing death benefit nomination can only be made by you in respect of your benefit. We will not accept a non-lapsing death benefit nomination made by an attorney or any other agent.

We can only consent to a nomination in respect of one or more of your dependants or your legal personal representative.

If we have consented to your nomination to pay one or more dependants and that nomination, or a part of it, is no longer valid at the time of payment, we will pay the non-valid portion of your death benefit to your legal personal representative (your estate). The trustee will pay the valid portion of your benefit in accordance with that part of your nomination which is valid.

We can only pay your death benefit as a pension if, at the time of death, the recipient is either:

  • a dependant of yours (for example your spouse, a financial dependant, or a person with whom you have an interdependency relationship) who is not a child, or
  • child of yours who is:
    • less than age 18 or
    • aged 18 to 24 inclusive and is financially dependent on you, or
    • aged 18 or more and has a qualifying disability (broadly, this is a disability that is permanent or likely to be permanent and results in the need for ongoing support and a substantially reduced capacity for communication, learning or mobility).

Please refer to the payment of child pensions for further details about child pension nominations.

Because there are special rules regarding how benefits can be paid from a superannuation fund in the event of your death, care should be taken when making your nomination as you may need to consider the impact it could have on your overall estate planning. You may wish to seek legal advice.

In some cases, upon special request, the trustee will consent to nominations which are not catered for on the Non-lapsing death benefit nomination form (eg because they are complex or because payment is contingent upon certain events occurring). If you wish to make a more detailed nomination please speak to your adviser.

You may revoke or change your nomination at any time by completing a new Non-lapsing death benefit nomination form.