Australians are accessing their super to pay bills and bolster savings

Most Australians who have withdrawn money from their retirement savings during the virus crisis have used the funds to pay household bills, mortgage and rent.

Cash ATM

More than half of Australians who have accessed their Superannuation early have used it for paying bills says the Australian Bureau of Statistics Source: AAP

Nearly three out of five people who accessed their superannuation early plan to use the money to pay household bills, mortgage, rent and other debts.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows 57 per cent intended to spend it on bills while 36 per cent planned to add the money to their savings.

As part of the coronavirus response, Australians are able to access up to $10,000 from their superannuation this financial year and another $10,000 next financial year.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, May 14, 2020. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING
Prime Minister Scott Morrison (L) and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg during Question Time Source: AAP
CommSec senior economist Ryan Felsman says there's been anecdotal evidence from retailers that younger Australians are using JobKeeper payments and superannuation withdrawals to buy footwear.

He says people should be cautious about withdrawing super, but he understands that people under financial stress who don't qualify for JobKeeper have little choice.

"It's not an ideal scenario," he told AAP.

"I have some misgivings about the scheme. I understand the rationale behind it but also at the same time, there will be some consequences from younger Australians that have drawn on it down the track if they're not able to rebuild their superannuation balances due to this setback."

People should ask themselves if withdrawing the money early is really necessary, he added.

Mr Felsman said the program should be changed next financial year so people who return to work can't access it.

"If people are back at work and they're earning an income, what we don't want to do is see their nest egg over their lifetime denuded unnecessarily."
More than $13 billion has been extracted from 1.62 million retirement savings accounts.

About a third of the people withdrawing money are under 30 years old.

The early access scheme was temporarily paused this month because of identity theft.


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Published 29 May 2020 9:28pm
Updated 30 May 2020 8:17am



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