What happens to your super when you change jobs

When you change jobs in Australia, your super stays with you. Your account doesn’t reset, close or move with your employer. In most cases, you can choose your existing super fund (such as your stapled fund), a different fund, or your employer’s default fund to receive your employer contributions.

It can feel like another form to complete, but understanding how your super is paid and how you can choose where it goes helps you decide what to do next. A job change is also a natural point to check whether your super is set up the way you want. You may be able to bring old accounts together and reduce duplicate fees, but it’s important to check any insurance you hold and product features before making changes.

No. Your super stays with you. Your super account belongs to you, not your employer. When you leave a job, your employer stops contributing, but your account and balance remain where they are and continue to be invested.

What does change is where your future employer contributions are paid. Your new employer needs to know which fund to pay into. This can be your chosen fund, an existing fund, or your employer’s default fund.

What changes when you move jobs is not your super account, but where your employer pays contributions into it.

When you leave a role, your old employer stops contributing. When you start a new one, your new employer begins making contributions instead. Those contributions need to be paid into a super fund, and in most cases, you can choose either your existing super fund (such as your stapled fund), a different fund, or your employer’s default fund.

That is why the super section of your new starter paperwork matters. It’s where you confirm which fund your employer should pay into, so future contributions are directed to the place you intend.

A stapled super fund is an existing super account that the ATO has linked to you. For a super fund be eligible to be selected as your stapled super fund, it must be an open complying superannuation fund and you must be a member of the fund when the employer makes the request.

If you have accounts with multiple eligible funds, the ATO will apply 'tiebreaker' rules to select which should be selected as your stapled fund. These rules consider: 

• whether the ATO has previously identified a fund as your stapled super fund

• how recently contributions have been made to each of the funds 

• the account balances

• how recently each of the accounts were created. 

If you start a new job and don’t choose a fund, your employer will generally ask the Australian Taxation Office for your stapled fund details. Your employer then pays your super contributions into that existing account instead of opening a new one.

This approach was introduced to reduce the number of duplicate super accounts people build up over time. Without it, starting a new job without nominating a fund could result in a new account being established for you each time, each with its own fees and insurance. 

Stapling keeps your existing account in place by default, but it doesn’t remove your ability to choose. You can still nominate a different fund at any point.

You can choose where your employer pays your super, as long as the fund can accept contributions. When you start a new job, your employer should give you a Superannuation Standard Choice form to nominate your fund, whether that’s your existing fund or a new one.

• If you don’t choose a fund, your employer will generally pay your contributions into your stapled fund. This is your existing super account that the ATO has already linked to you.

• If the ATO confirms you do not have a stapled fund, your employer may instead pay your contributions into their default fund. You can still choose a different fund later, but making a choice at the start helps ensure your contributions go where you intend.

When you start a new job, your employer will ask where your super contributions should be paid. You make this choice using a Superannuation Standard Choice form. You can use this form to nominate your existing fund or choose a different one. Once your employer has the correct details, your contributions will be paid into that account.

In some cases, you may not be able to choose your super fund. For example, this can apply if your employment agreement specifies a fund, or if you’re part of certain government or defined benefit schemes.

If this applies to you, your employer can usually pay contributions according to the relevant employment award or agreement, workplace determination or trust deed and still meet their Super Guarantee obligations. 

However, if you started your job on or after 1 November 2021 and already have a stapled super fund, your employer cannot meet their choice of fund obligations by paying contributions into a fund specified in an enterprise agreement or workplace determination.

A job change is one of the points where it makes sense to stop and check your super. It’s often when people realise they have more than one account, usually built up across previous roles.

This can happen when contributions have been paid into different funds over time, or when older accounts have been left in place. These accounts can continue charging fees even when no new contributions are being made, which is why this moment is a natural point to check what you have, where your super is held and whether your current setup still makes sense.

Each super account can charge fees, and some include insurance premiums.

If you hold more than one account, you may be paying multiple sets of administration fees, investment fees or insurance premiums. Over time, these costs can reduce your total super balance.

Bringing accounts together may reduce overall costs, but it’s not just a fee decision. Before making any changes, it’s important to understand what each account offers, including any insurance cover or features you may want to keep.

You can find and consolidate your super with CFS, or view your super accounts through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) using myGov. This shows all accounts in your name, including any that are inactive or held by the ATO.

Seeing everything in one place helps you understand how many accounts you have, where your super is held and whether there is an opportunity to bring it together.

Before closing or combining super accounts, check the insurance attached to each one.

Some super accounts include life insurance, total and permanent disability cover or income protection. If you close an account, that cover may be lost and may not be available again on the same terms, or at the same cost.

Understanding what cover you have, and whether you still need it, helps you avoid giving up something valuable without intending to.

If you decide consolidating your super is right for you, it helps to follow a clear process. This is general information only and you should consider your own circumstances before making any changes.

Start by identifying all of your super accounts so you have a complete view of what you hold. Find out more about consolidating your super with CFS. You can also do this by linking your myGov account to ATO Online Services, which will show all accounts in your name, including any that are inactive or held by the ATO.

Once you have a full view, compare your accounts before making any changes. Look at fees, long term performance, investment options and features to understand which fund you want to keep. Don’t assume that the newest or largest account is the best place for your super.

Before consolidating, review the insurance attached to each account and check whether you would lose any cover by closing it. It’s also important to understand any fees and costs involved in moving your super, as well as any potential tax implications.

After deciding which fund to keep, you can bring your other accounts into that fund. You can then provide your employer with the correct details so future contributions are paid into the right place.

Changing jobs can also be a practical time to choose a different fund. You might consider switching if your current fund no longer suits your needs, if you’re reviewing fees and performance or if you want to bring your super into one place.

If you decide to switch, you can usually nominate your chosen fund using the Superannuation Standard Choice form so your employer pays future contributions into the fund you’ve selected.

If you’re weighing up a change, it can help to compare how different funds perform over time, what fees they charge and what features they offer. You may also want to understand how switching works before making a decision. When you’re ready, you can bring your super together into one fund, including with Colonial First State if that suits your needs.