Invalidity retirement
Generally speaking, an invalidity retirement pension is payable to you if the Trustees agree to your retirement because of a permanent medical condition which is likely to stop you from working again.
However, an invalidity benefit is not payable if the condition which leads to your medical retirement has been caused by wilful action on your part with a view to you getting an invalidity benefit.
Also, invalidity retirement benefits are not payable if your retirement on medical grounds occurs after the age of 60.
Provided you are not a Limited Benefits Member, your invalidity benefit will be based on the total benefit accrual you would have received if you had worked to age 60.
If you have a preserved benefit, your options are the same as shown below, however, no prospective service is taken into account, i.e. your benefit will be based on your equity in the PSS at the time of your invalidity retirement.
In brief, your invalidity retirement options are to:
Take a pension only |
You can convert your entire benefit to a CPI-indexed pension. PSS pensions are indexed twice yearly and payable for life. Reversionary benefits are payable to eligible spouse and children in the event of your death. |
Take part of your benefit as a pension and part as a lump sum |
You can take a lump sum of your member component and covert the remainder of your lump sum to a CPI-indexed pension. PSS pensions are indexed twice yearly and payable for life. Reversionary benefits are payable to eligible spouse and children in the event of your death. |
If you are terminally ill you may be able to access a once-off lump sum (no prospective service is taken into account) |
If you are terminally ill or your retirement is |
Fast-tracking requests for terminally ill members
We can process requests from terminally ill members seeking invalidity retirement as soon as possible.
Your personnel section can arrange for you to be examined by a medical officer of Health Services Australia. The results of that examination, with supporting reports from your specialist and general practitioner, should be referred by your personnel section to us with a request that the case be expedited. These cases can usually be finalised in one or two weeks.
Pre-assessment payments
You may be eligible to receive pre-assessment payments while the Trustees are considering your retirement.
Find out about partial Invalidity retirement.
For more information on limited benefits members, benefit choices, calculating your benefit and more see the facts about Invalidity benefits or The PSS Super Book.
