Contributions

Contributions can be made to your super in many ways. Use this area to see what your employer contributes to your super, and how you can build it with personal contributions and transfers from other funds.

Your contributions

In the CSS, you can decide how much you contribute – either 5% of your salary or you can choose not to contribute at all (0%). These rates are referred to as your basic contributions, and form the basis for many benefit calculations.

In addition to your basic contributions, you may also voluntarily pay supplementary contributions. These do not have to be in whole percentage rates. For example, you could pay contributions of 6.5%. There is no upper limit on the amount of supplementary contributions that you can pay and you can change your contribution rate at any time to suit your financial needs. You can make supplementary contributions from your salary or through BPAY*. However, if you elect a zero (0%) basic contribution, you must pay any supplementary contributions via BPAY.

The earning rate of the fund will be applied to your basic and supplementary contributions.

The CSS is flexible, and you can change your contribution rate to suit your financial needs. To change your contribution rate, complete the CSS Election to change my contribution rate form and send it to your personnel section. You may also be able to change your contribution rate via email. Check with your personnel section to see which method they prefer.

* You will need an Access Number to use BPAY. If you don’t have an Access Number, call us on 1300 000 277 and we can provide one over the phone.

Your super salary

Your ‘super salary’ is the amount you’ve agreed to be paid by your employer through a certified agreement or Australian Workplace Agreement. If you don’t have an agreement, it’s your basic salary plus any recognised allowances. Additional payment such as overtime, accommodation or travel are not counted.

Please contact your personnel section if you have any questions about your super salary.

Employer contributions

Your employer makes contributions to your account in two different ways:

  1. A fortnightly contribution – the productivity component, and
  2. An employer component that is calculated when you leave the CSS and claim a benefit.

Your productivity component is paid fortnightly and the amount is based on your superannuation salary. Productivity contributions are designed to average 3% for all workers.

Your employer component is a notional amount that is paid to you when you leave the CSS and claim a benefit. The amount is generally paid as a CPI-indexed pension.

For more information, see How does the CSS work.

Australian Government Super Co-contribution

In some cases, the Government will make a contribution for people on incomes up to $60,342 per annum.

To qualify for the Super Co-Contribution, you must make a personal, after-tax contribution to your super account. The government will then contribute up to $1.50 for each $1 you contribute, up to a maximum of $1,500.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) determines if you are eligible to receive the Super Co-Contribution, based on your tax return.

If you are eligible, the ATO will send the amount straight to us.

For more information see The facts about super co-contribution or go to the Australian Tax Office website at www.ato.gov.au

Transfers from other funds

If you have money invested in other super funds, you might want to think about consolidating it into the CSS.

Consolidating your super can save you time and money, as you are just managing one account rather than many.

If you want to transfer money into the CSS, send a completed Transfer form to us. You will also need to contact your other funds and complete their paperwork.

Before making any decision, read our Product Disclosure Statement.

Contributions while on leave

Depending on the type of leave you take, you may have to keep contributing to the CSS.

Find out more in The facts about leave without pay.

Full-time to part-time employment

If you change from full-time employment to part-time, you must continue contributing to the CSS.

However, if you take up temporary part-time employment, you cannot remain a member and a resignation benefit is payable.

Find out more in The facts about changing from full-time to part-time.

More information