Make a claim

To notify us that a UniSuper member has passed away, you can complete the online Death claim notification form or call us on 1800 825 246.

We may ask for the following documents:

• a certified copy of the death certificate
• a certified copy of the deceased member’s proof of identify documents
• a completed Statement of dependants form.

We may ask about your relationship to the deceased member. While anyone can notify us of a death, only certain people can receive a death benefit under superannuation law, including the deceased member’s:

Spouse

• A person either of the same sex or a different sex who, at the time of the member’s death, was:

i. legally married to the member, or
ii. in a relationship with the member that was registered under a prescribed Australian State or Territory law as a prescribed kind of relationship, or
iii. not legally married, but lived with the member on a genuine domestic basis in a relationship as a couple.

Child

• A child of any age, including adopted or foster children, wards and a child as defined under Family Law legislation. If the member was in a de facto relationship, it also includes the partner’s children unless the relationship is over or the partner pre-deceased the member (unless the member continued to maintain a financial or interdependent relationship with the children).

Interdependent

• Includes someone who lived with the deceased member at the time of their death in a close personal relationship, and one (or both) of them provided the other with some degree of financial support, domestic support and personal care.
• This may include a close personal relationship between the member and another individual that does not meet all the stated criteria due to a physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disability of one or both individuals, or because they are temporarily living apart.

Typically, interdependent relationships don’t include friendships, housemates, or when someone is paid to provide domestic support or personal care to another person.

Financial dependent

• Someone who was in any way financially dependent on the deceased member at the date of their death, irrespective of their age.

Legal personal representative

• The executor(s) of the deceased member’s Will or the administrator of their estate.

We’ll work with the insurer to assess the claim based on the information we receive. If we require more information, we may contact you or other people, such as potential beneficiaries.

We’ll let you know the claim outcome. If the claim is approved and there are no objections or disputes, we’ll request payment instructions and certified proof of identity from the relevant beneficiaries.

We’ll pay the benefit according to the binding beneficiary nomination if there’s one in place. Otherwise, we’ll consider all possible beneficiaries before deciding who to pay. These may include:

• dependants listed in the non-binding beneficiary nomination, if there is one
• people named in the Will, or
• any dependants as defined under superannuation law.

For more information on how the death benefit claim process works, refer to the How to make a death benefit claim fact sheet.

To let us know you’d like to make a claim, call us on 1800 825 246. We’ll let you know what information the insurer needs to progress your claim.

To be eligible for a terminal illness benefit, your medical practitioners will need to certify that your life expectancy is less than 24 months.

You can also access your super early. However, there could be significant consequences, including forfeiting your insurance cover. Call us on 1800 825 246 and we can take you through your options.

As part of your claim, the insurer may ask for:

• certification from two of your medical practitioners, one of whom specialises in your medical condition
• additional information from your doctors
• a Medicare history report.

For more information about medical practitioners qualified to provide certification, refer to the Insurance in your super booklet (827 KB).

The insurer will assess the claim based on the information received. If they need more information, they may contact you or others, such as medical practitioners.

We’ll let you know the claim outcome and arrange payment if your claim is approved. The terminal illness benefit is the amount of Death insurance cover you had on the date of the most recent certification provided by your medical practitioners, capped at $3 million.

If your Death insurance cover is greater than $3 million, it will be reduced by the terminal illness benefit paid, and the residual amount may continue and be payable in the event of your death.

After you tell us about your intention to claim, we’ll let you know what information to provide. This may include:

• reports from your doctors, specialists and allied health providers
• a medical assessment from an independent specialist or practitioner on your condition or capacity to work
• financial information.

If you need help collecting information important to your claim, you can authorise us to collect it on your behalf.

We’ll let you know your claim outcome and make payment arrangements if your claim is approved. As part of your payment, we’ll:

• request certified copies of ID documents
• detail any waiting periods that may apply
• outline the conditions for ongoing payments.

We also conduct regular reviews of entitlements. How often we review your case depends on the type and cause of your claim, but as a guide we review:

• disablement claims every two years
• temporary incapacity and Income Protection claims every six months.

If you’re a DBD member, you receive inbuilt benefits that cover you if you:

• become temporarily incapacitated due to illness or injury
• become totally and permanently disabled,
• have a terminal illness, or
• pass away.

To learn more about inbuilt benefits, including special conditions and limitations, refer to the following fact sheets:

• Temporary Incapacity benefits fact sheet (PDF, 177KB)
• Inbuilt Disablement benefits fact sheet (PDF, 175 KB)