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Open a
retirement account

Whether you’re retiring completely or winding down your working hours, a Hostplus retirement account can be a smart way to secure a regular income.

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Are you eligible for a Hostplus retirement account?

There are two types of Hostplus retirement accounts: Hostplus Pension and Hostplus Transition to Retirement. With your choice of investment and income payment options, you’re in control of your retirement lifestyle with a Hostplus retirement account. But you’ll need to meet the following requirements to be eligible.

Age and work

To open a Hostplus Pension account, you must meet one of the following conditions:

  • have reached your preservation age  (between 55 and 60, depending on your birth date) and be retired
  • be aged 60 or over, and be leaving or changing your job
  • be aged 65 or over
  • be totally and permanently disabled, terminally ill or an eligible dependent receiving a death benefit income stream.

 

If you’ve reached your preservation age but are still working, you can open a Hostplus Transition to Retirement (TTR) account. 

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Opening balance

To open a Hostplus Pension account, you’ll need to invest a minimum of $10,000, and can invest up to a maximum of $1.9 million (this limit is called the transfer balance cap). 

You can transfer money from any super fund or pension account, including your Hostplus super account.

Get ready to apply

for a Hostplus retirement account

What you need to know

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Tax requirements

  • Finalise any tax deductions on your super contributions for the current year. To do this, you’ll need to submit a notice of intent to claim a tax deduction form with your super fund.
  • If you’re under 60, you must provide your tax file number. If you’re over 60, you don’t have to give your tax file number, but the taxable component of your pension may be taxed at the highest marginal rate plus the Medicare levy (if applicable) if you don’t.

Documentation

In preparation for your application, please make sure you have:

  • your tax file number (if you’re providing it)
  • superannuation and/or SMSF account details
  • bank account details and a matching bank statement, and
  • a current passport (or an Australian passport that has not been expired for more than two years), driver's licence, and/or Medicare card details.

Investments and beneficiaries

As part of the application process, you’ll have the option to choose your investments, nominate your beneficiaries and choose your payment amount and frequency (subject to the minimum limit set by the Federal Government. See our Pension Guide for details).

If you're unable to apply online for any reason, please call us on 1300 348 546 or contact us to discuss your options.

Make an
informed choice

Learn more about a Hostplus Transition to Retirement account in our detailed guides.

Advice on your retirement

If you’re trying to decide if a Hostplus retirement account is right for you, or you’re looking for the best investment options for your needs, our financial planners can help you plan for the retirement you deserve.

Make your pension investments go further

The right investments can make a big difference to your finances in retirement. Check out our investment options – including our innovative pension investment option, CPIplus  – to understand what might suit your needs.


Get ready for a positive future with a Hostplus retirement account

It takes about 20 minutes to apply for a Hostplus retirement account online, or you can call us on 1300 348 546 to discuss your options.


Have a question 

about Hostplus retirement? 

Find answers to some of the questions we commonly get asked about our pension accounts. 

To invest in a Hostplus Pension account, you must invest a minimum of $10,000 from your current super fund, but no more than the transfer balance cap. You must also meet a condition of release.

Temporary residents are unable to access pension accounts.

TTR accounts are available to all super fund members who’ve reached their preservation age but are still working. You must invest a minimum of $10,000 from your current super fund. 

Temporary residents are unable to access TTR accounts.

Under federal legislation, superannuation benefits must be ‘preserved’ for retirement. This means they must be kept within a complying superannuation or rollover fund until a ‘condition of release’ is met, which allows benefits to be paid. The conditions of release are:

  • You have reached the preservation age and are permanently retired from the workforce.
  • You have reached age 60 and terminated employment.
  • You have reached age 65.
  • You are totally and permanently disabled.
  • You are terminally ill.
  • You are an eligible dependant in receipt of a death benefit income stream.

In most cases, superannuation benefits are released once you reach your ‘preservation age’ and are permanently retired. Your preservation age depends on when you were born.

Date of birthPreservation age
Before 1 July 196055
1 July 1960–30 June 196156
1 July 1961–30 June 196257
1 July 1962–30 June 196358
1 July 1963–30 June 196459
After 1 July 196460

On 1 July 2017, the Australian government introduced the ‘transfer balance cap’. The cap (currently $1.9 million) is a lifetime limit on the total amount of super that can be transferred to retirement income streams. This includes a Hostplus retirement account. 

Head to the ATO website to learn more about the transfer balance cap.

The Australian Government has set guidelines around the minimum you can withdraw each year. You can read more about the guidelines in the Pension Guide

There’s no maximum withdrawal limit for pension accounts, but it’s a good idea to plan for how much you’ll need each month. If you need help, give our financial planners a call. They’re on hand to help you with all your retirement questions.

The Australian Government has set guidelines around the minimum you can withdraw each year. You can read more about the guidelines in the Pension Guide.

A maximum annual income limit also applies to TTR accounts. This is 10% of your account balance at the beginning of each financial year, or on the start date of your TTR account in its first year. 

You won’t be able make lump sum withdrawals out of a TTR account until you meet a condition of release, except for any unrestricted non-preserved component.

Your Hostplus Pension account may not provide an income stream for the remainder of your life. Pension payments will only be made while there is enough money in your account. How long your pension account lasts depends on several factors, including:

  • your initial investment amount
  • the amount taken as income
  • any amounts withdrawn as a lump-sum
  • administration and investment fees and costs
  • investment performance.

The Government Age Pension is dependent on several elements such as your income and assets. These are assessed each year and/or when there is a change in your circumstances.

If you’re intending to claim the Government Age Pension as well as setting up a Hostplus Pension account, chat to one of our financial planners about your goals. 

When you die, the remaining balance of your account can be paid to your spouse, dependants, estate or beneficiaries. Learn more about nominating a beneficiary.