Defence is required to contribute to a super fund for each member of the Permanent Forces and Reserve members on continuous full-time service (CFTS). Superannuation exists to provide income in retirement.
If you joined the Permanent Forces or were a Reserve member on CFTS prior to 1 July 2016 you may be a member of either:
- Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme (MSBS), closed to new members from 1 July 2016
- Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB), closed to new members from 1 October 1991.
Visit the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) website to learn more about MSBS or DFRDB schemes.
If you joined the Permanent Forces or were a Reserve member on CFTS after 1 July 2016 you will be a member of ADF Super or have chosen your own superannuation fund (Choice member).
You can use the Superannuation standard choice form to tell Defence which super fund they should pay into.
Members of ADF Super or Choice members will have death and invalidity cover through ADF Cover.
ADF Super and Choice members
Defence makes fortnightly contributions of 16.4% of your income into your ADF Super or Choice fund.
You can make extra contributions to your super fund by arranging either:
- a pre-tax contribution through Smart Salary
- a post-tax contribution by submitting an ADF Superannuation Funds (AE689) form.
You can choose to move your super into another super fund at any time. You’ll need to contact your super fund of choice to set it up. Submit an AE689 form to get Defence to pay your super into the new fund.
You can complete and submit forms through ServiceConnect, inside and outside the Defence Protected Network (DPN). You can also download this form from the Web Forms portal on the DPN.
If you’re accessing these forms outside the DPN, you’ll need a myGovID. Follow the instructions on ServiceConnect to set one up.
To find the forms on ServiceConnect, click on Visit My Forms and search for ‘AE689'.
To learn more about ADF Super visit the CSC website.
Before making any decisions about your super, you should seek independent financial advice.
Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme
MSBS may be your super fund if you joined the ADF before July 2016. It's now closed to new members. Your MSBS account is made up of:
- your contributions
- fund earnings
- a lump sum from Defence.
The lump sum that Defence will pay when you claim your MSBS is calculated using your final average salary (FAS) and your period of service.
It is compulsory for you to contribute 5% of your pay each fortnight.
You can make extra contributions to your super fund by arranging either:
- a pre-tax contribution by contacting Smart Salary
- a post-tax contribution through ESS by submitting an AE689 form, or by contacting CSC.
If you are a contributing member of MSBS you can preserve your MSBS benefits and move to ADF Super or a fund of your choice at any time. Once you move into ADF Super, you can't move back into MSBS.
To learn more about MSBS visit the CSC website.
Before making any decisions about your super, you should seek independent financial advice.
Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits
DFRDB may be your super fund if you joined the ADF before October 1991 and you have not had a break in service since 1 July 2016. Returning members cannot return to DFRDB membership.
You must contribute 5.5% of your after-tax pay to your DFRDB account.
Your final employer benefit is worked out based on your final pay and your completed years of service.
You can make extra contributions to your super fund by arranging either:
- a pre-tax contribution by contacting Smart Salary
- a post-tax contribution through your pay unit.
Your extra contributions will be invested by CSC in a separate account.
To learn more about DFRDB visit the CSC website.
Before making any decisions about your super, you should seek independent financial advice.
