Nominate a beneficiary

Leave your super to the right people

Your super doesn’t automatically become part of your estate when you die, even if there are instructions in your will. That’s why it’s important to nominate at least one beneficiary to receive your super.

It’s important to nominate a beneficiary

If you die, Cbus Super will decide who receives your super and any associated insurance benefits, in accordance with Fund rules and superannuation law.

Taking steps to let Cbus Super know your wishes can make it easier for the loved ones you leave behind.

The simplest way to do this is to make a binding nomination.

Watch our video to learn more about nominating beneficiaries.

The benefits of making a binding nomination

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It's legally binding

A valid binding beneficiary nomination is legally binding. Cbus Super must pay your death benefit to the person or people you’ve nominated.

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It saves time

Because we save time figuring out who to pay your super to, we can pay out your super faster.

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Support your loved ones

Rest assured that your super will go to the people you want to have it.

Types of nomination

There are two main ways you can nominate who will receive your super, and any associated insurance benefits, in the event of your death.

You should make sure you regularly review your nomination, especially if your circumstances change (such as marriage, divorce, new children, etc). You can also update or cancel your nomination at any time.

Binding nomination

Binding nominations are legally binding, so Cbus Super must follow your instructions and pay the people you’ve nominated.

Binding nominations must be signed and witnessed by two people who are not named as beneficiaries.

Nominations expire after three years, so you’ll need to renew your nomination if you want it to continue. We’ll write to you to remind you before this happens.

You can make a binding nomination on your account by completing the Binding death benefit nomination form (PDF) (super accounts)
If you want to renew an existing binding nomination you should complete the Renew your binding death benefit nominaton form (PDF) (super accounts)

Non-binding nomination

If you prefer you can make a non-binding nomination to notify Cbus Super who you’d prefer your super to be paid to.

These nominations aren’t legally binding but we’ll consider who you’ve nominated. The final decision on who to pay your super to will be made by Cbus Super in accordance with Fund rules and superannuation law.

Because we’ll need to look into all potential dependants, a non-binding nomination may mean it takes longer to pay out your super, which could be more stressful for your loved ones.

You can make (or update) a non-binding nomination by:

Logging into your member account online, or
Completing the Non-binding beneficiary nomination form (PDF) (super accounts)

If you have an income stream account

When you open a Cbus Super Income Stream, you have the option to nominate a reversionary beneficiary instead of making a binding or non-binding nomination. This means your income stream will be paid to your eligible spouse (including de facto spouse and partners of the same sex) when you die.

They’ll continue to receive regular income payments until there is no money left in your income stream account. This amount will count towards the person’s transfer balance cap and may impact their Centrelink benefits.

Who you can nominate

Not everyone can be nominated as a beneficiary, so it’s important to know who is eligible to receive your super. You can nominate:

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A dependant, who must be:

Your spouse (including de-facto spouse and partners of the same sex)
Your child/children (including your partner’s children)
Someone you’re in an interdependency relationship with (see FAQs below), or
Someone who is financially dependent on you.

Any person you nominate must still be a dependant when you die for your nomination to remain valid.

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Your legal personal representative (LPR)

This is the executor of your will, or the person who will administer your estate if you don’t have a will
This option may suit you if you want your super to go to someone who doesn’t fit within the definition of a dependant, such as a parent, sibling or close friend. You can include them in your will, and nominate your LPR as your beneficiary.

Frequently asked questions

What is an interdependency relationship?

An interdependency relationship exists when two people (even if they are not related):

Have a close personal relationship, and
live together, and
one or both of them provides the other with financial support, and
one or both of them provides the other with domestic support and personal care.

If two people, related or not, have a close personal relationship but don’t meet the other requirements, they may still be considered as ‘interdependent’ if the reason that they don’t meet the other requirements is because of the physical, intellectual or psychiatric disability of one of the people.

People who share accommodation, such as housemates, and people who provide domestic care under a contract for service don’t qualify.

What if I don’t nominate a beneficiary?

If you don’t nominate a beneficiary, Cbus Super will decide who your super is paid to in accordance with the law and the Fund rules. Because we may need to gather more information to decide who to pay your super to, it may take longer to pay out your super.

Can I nominate a minor child to receive my super?

Yes. With minor children, some or all of the money will usually go into a trust for their education and other needs.

What if I don’t have any dependants?

You can still make a nomination to your legal personal representative. They can include your super payout as part of your estate and decide how to distribute it.