When can I access my super?
Your superannuation is intended for your retirement and most people can access their super once they retire or turn 65, whichever comes first. However, there are limited circumstances when a person can access super early (including under compassionate grounds for medical treatment). Applicants for this option must meet all of the early access requirements to be eligible.
Can I access my super for dental work?
Some people may be eligible to apply for the early release of superannuation on compassionate grounds to pay for medical treatment for themselves or their dependant. This includes some dental treatments.
Some patients may choose to apply for the early release of their super to cover the cost of All-on-4 or dental implant treatment if they do not have savings or cannot access another type of payment plan to fund their treatment.
The amount of super you withdraw on compassionate grounds to pay for dental treatment is paid and taxed as a normal super lump sum.
Who is eligible to access super for dental?
If you’re considering accessing your superannuation for dental work, you must have sufficient funds in your super account to cover the cost of the treatment.
Additionally, there are five conditions that you must meet to be approved for the early release of super to pay for dental work:
Condition 1
You are or have been a citizen or permanent resident of Australia or New Zealand.
Condition 2
You meet the eligibility requirements of the specific compassionate ground that you’re applying for, i.e. medical treatment (refer to the section below for the eligibility conditions that the medical treatment must meet).
Condition 3
You (or your dependant) have not yet paid for the treatment or had to borrow money to pay for the treatment and the loaned amount remains outstanding.
Condition 4
You cannot afford to pay part or all of the expense without accessing your superannuation, i.e. you’re unable to cover the treatment expenses by:some text
- paying with your savings
- selling shares, investments or assets
- getting funding through other means (such as the NDIS)
- borrowing money, getting a loan, redrawing your mortgage or using credit facilities (if you have borrowed money but are unable to repay the loaned amount, you may still be eligible to apply)
Condition 5
You must provide all required supporting evidence and invoices or quotes for the dental treatment, such as:some text
- a quote (no more than 6 months old) or invoice (no more than 30 days old)
- two medical reports (one report must be from a registered medical/dental specialist in the field that you're applying to have treatment for, and the other must be from either a registered medical/dental practitioner or another registered medical specialist)
- evidence of your dependent relationship (if you’re applying to pay the treatment costs of another person)
- documents to support the borrowed amount (if the treatment expense has been paid by loaning money)
What treatments are covered?
When it comes to using super for dental, the treatment must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- You or your dependant must require the medical treatment to either:
- treat a life-threatening illness or injury
- alleviate acute or chronic pain
- alleviate acute or chronic mental illness
- The medical treatment is not readily available through the public health system
When a patient applies for the early access to super to pay for dental treatment, their case will be assessed individually as to whether it meets the eligibility criteria. As such, there is no set guideline as to what treatments can be covered by this option.
However, as a general guide, some patients may choose to apply to access super early for such dental procedures and treatments as:
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How to access super for dental work
If you wish to apply for the early release of your super on compassionate grounds, you can either:
- Apply yourself via ATO Online (or via a paper form if you don’t have access to the ATO’s online services)
- Use a third-party service that assists you in your application (these companies typically charge a fee for this service)
We’ll explore these two processes in more detail below.
At Macquarie Street Dental, we can help you navigate the early release of super application process if you require some assistance but don’t want to use or pay for a third-party service. However, we always recommend that you first seek financial advice and consider how accessing your super early may impact your financial circumstances before engaging our help with this process.
Whether you choose to apply yourself or use a third party, you will need to ensure that you meet all of the eligibility criteria and have all of the relevant supporting documents, as outlined by the ATO. If you do not meet all the criteria or do not provide the correct documentation, your application may be delayed or denied.
How to access super by applying to the ATO yourself
Before starting this application, you should:
- Determine your eligibility
- Understand the impact of accessing your super
- Collect all the documents and evidence needed to support your application
- Confirm your super fund allows early release of super
- Check that you have sufficient funds in your superannuation account to cover the total expense of the treatment (including withholding tax)
To complete the online application form via ATO online services, you’ll need a myGov account that’s linked to the ATO.
To access the form online, start from the ATO online services homepage:
- Select heading option ‘Super’
- Select ‘Manage’
- Select ‘Compassionate release of super’
Make sure you have digital copies of all of your supporting documents in the correct file formats (PDF, gif, jpeg or png).
Once you’ve submitted your application, it will be reviewed by the ATO and they will notify you of the outcome.
If you are unable to apply online, you can call the ATO to request a paper application form. The completed paper form, plus any supporting documents, must be submitted via post. It’s important to note that online applications are processed quicker than paper applications.
If your application is approved, you will need to provide your approval letter to your super fund to arrange the release of the approved amount. This will be provided in one lump sum payment.
How to access super by using a third-party service
There are a number of external companies that can help you determine your eligibility and guide you through the application process for the early release of your super for dental treatment. Keep in mind that these companies will charge a fee for providing this service.
At Macquarie Street Dental, we are not affiliated with any external parties providing this service and do not provide any recommendations on which company to use. We encourage you to do your due diligence before entering into this process with a third-party service.
Helpful resources on accessing super for dental
Not all patients and treatments are suitable for the early release of super. While we cannot provide you with any financial advice, we can direct you to some helpful government resources if you’re interested in exploring this option further.
Below is a list of where to find more information:
If you have any questions about accessing your super for dental treatment, please don’t hesitate to ask us. We’re always happy to help you further understand this option or point you in the right direction for more information.
Also, if this option is not right for you or you don’t meet the criteria, don’t be discouraged. At Macquarie Street Dental, we also offer affordable payment plans through SmileFund which allow you to pay for your treatment in easy instalments over time.
