Can I get some advise. Upfront I admit this is something I know absolutely nothing about. I am a healthcare worker, currently based in Europe ( left Oz 10 years ago); who sat out the vaccine rollout for ethical reasons, and now from the first of April will have a job/career that will be effectively over both here and in Oz. I dont want to sell any more PMs to continue to get by and would prefer to get my hands on my super. I'm hoping they let me claim hardship, being effectively now unemployed. But if that doesn't happen, I would rather have my recently re-discovered lost super in something Gold related than where it is at present. My question is: has anyone had any success transferring their super fund to a gold linked one? And if so how did you di it? and who would you recommend ? Thanks in advance.
I don't think you can access it if you are and Australian citizen or permanent resident according to this. Maybe you can access some of it under the hardship rules though. Dig deeper on the ATO website maybe. From ATO website: Your super If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident leaving Australia temporarily or permanently, your superannuation remains subject to the same rules. This means you can't access your super until you reach preservation age and retire or satisfy another condition of release. https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/...r-going-overseas/Australians-living-overseas/
I have changed super funds several times and it is relatively easy to do, but not from overseas. The easiest way I have found has been to find a super fund you like and do a switch to this fund search on their website (there should be a click on this tab somewhere). It will ask a few questions and lead you to the ATO where they should show your existing super fund. That is the easy part but when they start asking for all the ID, address and something is not right you will need to go in person to verify identity (usually at an Australian Post Office). I have been stuffed up in the past and had to do that. You will need to provide full ID, address and might need a JP to witness some documents and it may end up being a bit hard to do. Same as hardship payments, if your fund lets you it might take quite a few hoops to jump through and it might not be easy from overseas. Some super funds do let you invest in GOLD ETF's. I made sure I joined one that gives me access to buy my own shares and ETF's and GOLD was on the list. I am not plugging any super fund in particular but I know for sure that QSUPER offer QAU, GOLD and ETPMAG. You could give your present super fund a call and ask for a hardship payment and get some money out and see what they say. You could also try to switch to a better fund but just be prepared to face road blocks and don't be disappointed if it doesn't work. Just a thought, are you sure your super fund doesn't have any gold investment options? A lot of funds do these days.
