Unpaid Super

End the $4.7 billion a year rip off super

On the 2^nd May, the federal government announced that it will mandate the payment of super with wages, to tackle the $5 billion a year unpaid super scourge.

This is a great outcome for every Australian worker that could deliver up to $50,000 more at retirement.

This will take effect from 1 July, 2026. Once the change kicks-in, your employer will need to pay your super at the same time as your wages.

While it’s still a good idea to regularly check your super balance and make sure that you’re receiving the money you are owed, payday super will significantly reduce the scope for misalignment between the super that appears on your payslip and the super that’s deposited in your account.

This change is especially important for:

Younger and blue collar workers, as well as those in hospitality, retail, childcare, and other feminised industries
Women in their 20s earning less than $25,000 a year, 40% of whom are currently underpaid super; and
2 million Australians who only receive their super quarterly

If you think you’ve been unpaid your super, read more about how you can take steps to reclaim it here

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How can you get back what you are owed?

Employers are only required to pay super quarterly – making it easier for amounts to fall through the cracks. While a super amount appears on your pay slip, this does not always mean super has been paid into your account.

Here are some steps to take to ensure you get what you are owed:

Most employers don’t set out to fall behind in their superannuation payments but when times are tough they may not prioritise super. Therefore it is important to check your super is being paid regularly. First you will need to check your super statement or contact your super fund to confirm whether your employer has paid your super or if what is on your payslip matches what was paid.
If you find that you haven’t been paid your super or haven’t been paid enough super, the next step is to talk to your employer.
Your super fund or union may also be able to help you if you are not comfortable speaking to your employer.
After speaking to your employer, if you still believe they are not paying any super or not paying enough super then it may be time to lodge an enquiry with the ATO. You can also call the ATO on 1800 060 062 to make a confidential tip-off if you want to keep your identity confidential.

One simple solution to make it fairer would be by aligning the payment of super with wages. This would make cash flow easier for small business and it would be easier for employees to track if they’re being paid.

Everybody wins.

Get the super you're owed.

Hospitality worker: It’s just your wage, your money that you’ve earnt. You know, that I’m going to need later in life.

Tradie: You feel like you’re being robbed. You’ve done all this work, broken your back, what for? You know, a couple of dollars in your pocket and nothing at the finishing line.

Voiceover: 1 in 4 Australian workers are being ripped off to the tune of $5 billion dollars a year. Check to make sure you’re being paid the super you’re owed.

Read transcript

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