Applied for early release of super this week.

First topic message reminder :

I sent off the application on Monday and I have to thank my fellow forum users for advice otherwise I would have been lost! I have been biting my nails since, I am so desperate for a change and hope that they see how important this is for me. I made sure my budget was thorough, my GP wrote the most awesome supportive letter and I attached a personal letter as well. I mean, if having this surgery increases my life expectancy surely it's better to let me access my own money now so I have more working years left in me to pay it back, right?

I hope they process it quickly!

Wow Phil, I can't believe your surgeon wouldn't write that in the letter for you :( Can you find another surgeon to write the letter for you and do the surgery? Could your wife take time off later in the year?

I don't know your financial situation Phil but do u have a mortgage? Can you increase the mortgage and get the money that way? What about a personal loan?

Personally, I would appeal or even get a solicitors letter.

Hi guys,
I am booked in to get my sleeve done on Wed 11th. I had sent in all the paperwork, but last night the people who grant early release, stated that my specialists letter does not state "Life Threathening Condition", it does say I have Early mortality and morbidity and that it is chronic. The surgeon will not write the words "Life threatening condition" and in turn this will cost me $7000. I feel so flat and dont know what to do, I have nearly completed the optifast program and have lost 4 kilos. I have also geared myself up to get it done and my wife has requested time off from work. Any suggestions, feeling defeated.... 

With HCF I had the same issue but after 2 weeks I finally was told the tax statement they send you is all you need! That's all I sent and I was approved. Now just waiting on first state super to release my money! Freakin crazy what we have to do to get OUR money!!

I'm stuck in such a predicament!! GAH!! So, I called the early release of super dept today to see how my application was progressing. Turns out someone had tried to call me last week requesting more info... Why don't they leave voicemails!? It turns out (and i've sort of heard of this before but didn't know if it would happen to me because I have barely any super) my REMAINING super, after they rob me of over a grand in tax, is only $3370, leaving me with a $1300 shortfall for payment of my treatment program. So what they need from me is proof that I can pay this extra $1300 :( oh boy... that wasn't something I was budgeting for! after much brainstorming I convinced my mum to withdraw $1300 from her flexi loan so she can transfer it to my bank account... I can print of my balance to send to them... then transfer it straight back to her. I couldn't think of another way that wouldn't prolong my application severely and most likely delay my Oct 15th surgery date (I've waited a year.. i'll be damned if I'm waiting any longer!) lol bit sneaky but eh. 

Second thing they want is a letter from HBF outlining which part of the hospital and other expenses they cover. Thinking... sure thats not going to be a problem! until I ring HBF to ask them for one and they tell me because it's 100% covered their system doesn't let them generate anything outlining to costs :-/ Called surgeons office to see if they could write something up as their program booklet does say HBF patients are 100% covered for their surgeons etc... they had no idea what to do either... called back the super place... they didn't offer any advice either!! ...so ummm?  this is all so frustrating! I'm suppose to be paying all this in 3 weeks at my pre-op appt! 

Did anyone else have this issue??

I think I might actually go in to a HBF and see someone face to face because the guy on the phone wasn't very helpful. Surely they've had this request before?! We have a whole community of sleevers here! :-/

anniemay wrote:

Yay libertyjo! That's awesome news! 

I only found out about my approval from DHS today after calling them, still need to receive my approval letter and send it to my superfund along with the rest of the paperwork, hopefully it comes through as quickly as yours does..they did say they treat it as a priority but it can take up to 10 working days. My surgery isn't until December so there isn't too much of a rush but it's one more thing to tick off the list. Do you have your surgery booked yet?

Yes I have been booked in for a while now and was just hoping it all fell into place which it has! I'm booked for the 24th of September.

I received my Super money in the bank today WOO HOO!!!.....I sent the paperwork back last Thursday and it was in the bank this morning.....quicker than the 5-7 days I was told...

Huge sigh of RELIEF!!!!!

Kati123 wrote:

MissHollywood,
Can I ask how long it took to get processed? I've left mine to the last minute and am so worried it won't get done in time.....

Thanks

Kati1213 I applied for early release of my Super and it took just over 2 weeks to get an answer and letter from DHS....don't know if the time varies in different states....it took an extra week for me due to needed more info on the letter my dr wrote....

I sent the approval letter and other documents to my Super company last Thursday and they told me it could take 5-7 business days and the will take 3 days to go into my bank...my op is in October...its a relief to have been approved though.....

Congrats to all of you who have also been approved

Yay libertyjo! That's awesome news! 

I only found out about my approval from DHS today after calling them, still need to receive my approval letter and send it to my superfund along with the rest of the paperwork, hopefully it comes through as quickly as yours does..they did say they treat it as a priority but it can take up to 10 working days. My surgery isn't until December so there isn't too much of a rush but it's one more thing to tick off the list. Do you have your surgery booked yet?

Mine landed in my bank today too! YAY!!  

I'm with AMP and they were so fast, they got the forms on Friday and it was in my bank this afternoon!

I got approved today!! And I have a surgery date booked in! I almost can't believe it..all the paperwork, chasing it up and stress was worth it. I am so excited. Everyone, good luck!

Mine come through the day I posted this which was about 8 working days. Problem is now first state super want a form filled out they've emailed me twice with stat decs (which isn't what I need!) so every day this week I've been on the phone to them trying to chase it! I have 3 weeks until payment is to be made and they can take up to 7 working days providing I give them all the info needed! Not happy!!!

I heard back within 8 working days (they said it takes around 10) but I needed my GP to reword my letter and forgot to get my documents (I.D) certified, silly me! I resent the information 5 days later, which sent my application to the bottom of the pile. It's been 6 working days since then (was told it would take 10 working days again) so hopefully I hear back early next week.. the person I spoke to from the department said if I supplied the extra information they would be happy to approve it as there don't seem to be any issues. So we'll see!

Had a little freak out over the tax, someone from my super fund gave me the impression that the 21.5% tax came out of the amount I had requested and I had no idea how I would come up with that kind of money, but the next person I spoke to confirmed that will release the full amount to me and the tax is taken out of the remaining super. My understanding is that this is generally the case but not a firm rule so this may be worth checking on after you've sent the application.

I also highly recommend contacting your super fund and enquiring about their process! I spoke to someone amazing the second time who said as soon as they receive the paperwork it should be a maximum 10 working days before the money is in my account  (up to 5 working days for them to process the paperwork and they consider it a priority so it may be sooner, and 3-5 working days for the money to go into your bank account if you choose to receive the money that way) and if I sent the paperwork to them express post with a tracking number I can be assured they received it straight away. They also need a cover letter with specific instructions on how I wanted to receive the money (ie cheque or bank transfer), a form filled out, the ORIGINAL approval letter from the department (So keep a copy!), my driver's licence certified and a current bank statement showing my bank details so this will save time when I receive the approval letter and can send it all straight away!

I haven't booked anything yet as I want to make sure I get approval before setting a date..so keen for this to happen. I hope everyone else gets approved! The paperwork alone is stressful but waiting sucks.

I'm still waiting. I submitted mine 2/8. I'm going to call tomorrow my surgery is 23/9 and they want payment a week before. I didn't realize I then have to apply to my super company. The waiting is crazy. If it doesn't get approved I'm not sure what ill do :(

Libertyjo, that's encouraging!

My surgery is booked for the 11th of September so I'm  really cutting it fine.

I can pretty much cover it myself but it will mean the kids will be eating stale toast for weeks! 
Fingers crossed I can get all my paperwork ASAP because every little  bit helps!

I got my approval back on Thursday and the letter says my application was received on 1/8 so that's 2 weeks to process mine.  I was pleasantly surprised by the speed!

Lioness82 wrote:

Thanks MissHollywood, 
I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing it somewhere on the forms, no need to send me the email, but thanks anyway. Good luck with yours, hopefully we both get it!

No worries, thank you! fingers crossed! now the waiting game begins lol I wish it didn't take so long. i'm going to call monday to see if iv done everything right instead of waiting weeks and weeks just to have them tell me possibly down the track. Good luck to you to! :) let me know how it goes.

Kati123 wrote:

MissHollywood,
Can I ask how long it took to get processed? I've left mine to the last minute and am so worried it won't get done in time.....

Thanks

Hey Kati! I have only just submitted mine on thursday night... but I've heard it can take anywhere from 4 to 8 or more weeks... I think it depends how backlogged they are. I'm in the same boat as you! I could have sent mine ages ago but I procrastinate. How long until your surgery? mines supposed to be in 8 weeks and i'm supposed to have paid all my fees by the time I have my pre-op appointment in 5 weeks :-/ so I'm quite nervous. I don't want to wait even longer to have the surgery... I've been waiting nearly a year for my health insurance already. eep!!

OH and also I keep forgetting... after you have received approval from the government.. you then have to apply to your superannuation company to have it released which can take another 1-2 weeks.

MissHollywood,
Can I ask how long it took to get processed? I've left mine to the last minute and am so worried it won't get done in time.....

Thanks

Thanks MissHollywood, 
I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing it somewhere on the forms, no need to send me the email, but thanks anyway. Good luck with yours, hopefully we both get it!

Hi Lioness!

No I didn't have to provide any of that  lol (i'm sure you've seen...) in the application you are asked to provide a summary of your income and budget, if you're married or in a defacto relationship your partners income (I just said I was single), assets, liabilities etc.. and it's best to make sure you look like you have NO other way of paying for the surgery because they can be picky and suggest you sell off assets etc.

All I was asked to send was...
- the application
- POI 100 points verified (I had mine done at a pharmacy)
- letter or completed form about your "life threatening condition" - 1 x from GP and 1 x from specialist 
- info/quote on the price.

If you like I can forward you the email I was sent with all the required docs attached? :)

Hi ladies, 
I was considering doing this to but may not have time. I want to submit anyway just in case.
Do we have to send proof of loans, bank statements, payslips etc......all evidence of our expenses? Because I can't find anywhere on the form that says we do.  Just ID and quotes..  But pretty sure I've read other threads where people ave done.  I don't want to dig up all that stuff if I don't need to.

Still waiting on my surgeons letter to arrive before I can send mine off. I can borrow off my mum if I can't get super in time, then I will reapply stating I borrowed the money.

Have you heard anything yet annie??

I'm just scanning all my docs to my computer now so I can email them off! eep! only 8 weeks til i'm supposed to be having surgery so I hope all goes smooth and doesn't take long :-/

I sent off the application on Monday and I have to thank my fellow forum users for advice otherwise I would have been lost! I have been biting my nails since, I am so desperate for a change and hope that they see how important this is for me. I made sure my budget was thorough, my GP wrote the most awesome supportive letter and I attached a personal letter as well. I mean, if having this surgery increases my life expectancy surely it's better to let me access my own money now so I have more working years left in me to pay it back, right?

I hope they process it quickly!