Has anyone applied recently online for early release of super?

Hi Tytamrick,

I have just been through the super withdrawal process. Simply get your surgeon and GP to fill in a release form each (there are separate ones for your GP and the specialist). Your surgeon and the admin staff will be very used to this process and will be able to help you out. In fact I would use they willingness to assist in the process as a sign of how helpful you can expect them to be. I get off topic here but I chose my surgeon based on the support staff not just the Dr - they are the ones that you will deal with more than the surgeon so its important you get along with them (medical receptionist seem to quite often be dismissive and terse in my experience!).

You will also need a quote from the surgeon who will easily be able to provide this. You can then go to Centrelink and get set up for an online account and process your application that way - it's quite simple. Just slow down and take your time to read every instruction clearly and youll be fine!

I applied on 24th Feb and it was approved yesterday. I got my letters from them online and I will be sending into my super fund today/tomorrow along with their official withdrawal form and the original letter from Centrelink/DHS.

Hope this helps!!

I have an appt with my surgeon on Thursday, So far I know I need a letter from the GP, A letter from my surgeon, And the correct release form from Centrelink, do I need both to fill out this form or just the surgeon?. Do I also require a quote from the surgeon initially? Do I contact my superannuation if I'm approved or do Centrelink do it? if anyone that has recently been through this can assist me with my Spanish Inquisition and exactly what Centrelink will need to see, it would be incredibly appreciated.
Tam .

Yesssss! Approved! I called them and was on hold for basically an hour but worth it to have them approve it over the phone!!!

Peachi43 good luck with your application.

Congrats Jobeeone70 on your success. 

I'm in the process applying for access to my super to pay for my husband. I really appreciate the information shared with this site. One more form to be signed and I'll be submitting them also. 

I also want to have Bariatric surgery. Our surgeons team suggested it might be difficult to access my super twice. But I'll cross that one when I get there.

Just uploaded all the documents today! I want to push mine through so I am thinking of calling them after a week to bump the process along :)

SO the great news is 


THEY SAID YES!!!  

  i got my 2 super release letters today and will put them into the funds on monday ( i have 2 supers so accessing both )

i mailed my forms and letters on the 1st Feb via registered mail , i could track via the Aus post app that they picked it up Thursday 4th so approx 3 weeks ( so approx 2 weeks with processing and mailing back) 

  will do the rest Monday  - i have emailed the specialist to find out what happens now that i have the funds what the next step is..

i am soooooooooo excited!!!

Hi Jo, 
To maximise your chances of the super being approved in one go, get the GP to write the same letter as the surgeon. I took my surgeons letter to the GP and he basically wrote the same. So 2 forms and 2 letter, all your quotes (make sure there is a date on your quote ( I had to resubmit that one)

Good luck

marjo wrote:

Hi Jo,

Centrelink want to have all the stuff submitted online. I submitted mine in december, it only took about 13 working days to get approved. Then you need to send the letter to you super provider to get the money released. All in all I think it took 4 weeks to have the money in my account, that included all the public holidays over christmas. 

Cheers
Marjo

Thanks so much for your reply , my specialist was a bit unsure as my BMI is only 31.2 , he signed the forms and ticked life threatening as well as chronic pain so i hope ill be ok, just need to save the difference as i dont have the full amount in super  ;-( oops 

he signed the Centrelink form but wil send a supporting letter this week , when that ariives i will submit  it , only issue i have with this is he GP did the paperwork but didnt do a letter - will i need that or the forms and explanation he gave be enough?

Hi Jo,

Centrelink want to have all the stuff submitted online. I submitted mine in december, it only took about 13 working days to get approved. Then you need to send the letter to you super provider to get the money released. All in all I think it took 4 weeks to have the money in my account, that included all the public holidays over christmas. 

Cheers
Marjo

Becky73 wrote:

DHS Approved this morning.  Did it while I was not the phone to them.  I had all my info in by yesterday...  nice turn around :-).  She didn't approve the dietician $480 for future appointments but only because there was not date on the letter.  I said don't include it as I have extras cover with private health and could claim 75% back anyway.  

Now I just have to put the lot into the actual Super fund.  Then I can book my appointment!  EEEEKKKK!!

Hi i am about to go to my specialist appointment monday , but i have all the paperwork almost ready , did you take it straight into a centrelink office ,mail it or do it online?

thanks for any info 

Jo

Hi,

I put my application in on the 26th November if I remember correctly, and I finally got a phone call today from my clinic to say that I have been approved. Just waiting for the letter to come and get onto my super!!

So excited!!!!

Carissa

Hi Becky73

Thanks heaps for that, will ring them on monday, keep your fingers crossed for me 

Ring  
1300 131 060


Option 2 ( I think for existing application. )  Ask them if they have all the info they need and if possible to process it while on the phone :-)


xx  Good Luck 

Hi Becky73 could you please tell me who you spoke to on the phone regarding the early release of your super? and what number you rang? Trying to get an answer as work needs to know dates for planning of the roster. Thanks heaps

DHS Approved this morning.  Did it while I was not the phone to them.  I had all my info in by yesterday...  nice turn around :-).  She didn't approve the dietician $480 for future appointments but only because there was not date on the letter.  I said don't include it as I have extras cover with private health and could claim 75% back anyway.  

Now I just have to put the lot into the actual Super fund.  Then I can book my appointment!  EEEEKKKK!!

Missymoo45 wrote:

Hi there - on extras to claim -- I had all my extras declined

I put a claim in to cover all my appointment costs - so Dietician, GP etc... added up to about an extra $1500 over the whole 12 month period.  It was declined, they only paid for the surgery and anesthetist

( I have Health cover - so just gap) - so all up I paid about $7K and got about $5K back from Super.. ( PS they do take more out of your fund as they take out your tax on this as "income" too)

Hi,
I put in a claim and they paid for surgeon, anesthetist, assistant surgeon, dietician & $250 hospital co payment. The surgeon gave me a quote for everything and it was all approved.

Thank you all for your feedback. I might not bother applying for any extras so it doesn't hold it up just to be declined. 

I'm so excited to have a date. I'll get my paperwork in next week to super and cross my fingers.

Hi there - on extras to claim -- I had all my extras declined

I put a claim in to cover all my appointment costs - so Dietician, GP etc... added up to about an extra $1500 over the whole 12 month period.  It was declined, they only paid for the surgery and anesthetist

( I have Health cover - so just gap) - so all up I paid about $7K and got about $5K back from Super.. ( PS they do take more out of your fund as they take out your tax on this as "income" too)

Hi Carissa

I got told the same thing but I just rang them every couple of days and annoyed them until I finally got one lady who does the approvals and she approved it while I was on the line with her!!  Most of them are quite nice and if you have the direct number to them the wait time isnt too long.

SASleever - I tried to claim my Opti-fast but they wouldnt approve it as I had already brought it, if you can get a quote they may approve it but they told me because I had brought it I obvisiouly could afford it lol (damn). Not sure on the pay though you may have to ring them about that.

Good Luck girls

Hi,

So I have just called them to check that they received all my application and paperwork because when I put all mine through online last week, Centrelink's website was having a massive hissy fit and I wanted a confirmation that all was well, that my application was received and all the required forms were there.

So, in saying that, the lady on the phone I spoke to said there is currently a backlog of applications and rather than the two weeks that people are getting told, in reality, it is looking to be closer to 28 business days. They are currently looking at applications that were lodged on the 16th-18th November. Makes me quite sad when I see people who only put their applications in last week have already got approvals... what's your secrets to a quick approval?? lol

In reply to you SASleever, I don't know if you would be able to claim that. If anything, you would have to provide quotes for what you absolutely HAVE to pay while you are off eg. rent, phone bill, electricity etc. I highly doubt they will pay your general wage. Particularly under the Medical Early Release. Perhaps you can do a separate application under Severe Financial Hardship?

Good luck!
Carissa

My first time posting as I just booked my surgery date yesterday (March 22^nd).

 

I am going to apply for super for the gap and Bupa excess though wondered if I could apply for money to cover unpaid sick leave from work, eg my income to be covered for 2 weeks?

 

Did anyone do this? How would be best to do this?

 

Do you write a cover letter with a payslip as an income estimate?

 

Also I saw someone mentioned claiming for Optifast, could I also do this? Did anyone have any luck? Anything else I should cover/ask for?

 

Thank you all.

 

I look so forward to getting to know you all.

OMG Soooo Happy. I was approved this morning. Now to find out my surgery date. No more fat me

OMG!!!  I am definitely going to be ringing them once its in!

I was told 28 days..  worse case I guess.

3 x appointments today - Dietician, physic and physic  fun fun!

xx  Have a great day !

OMG!!!  I am definitely going to be ringing them once its in!

I was told 28 days..  worse case I guess.

3 x appointments today - Dietician, physic and physic  fun fun!

xx  Have a great day !

Hi EmmaLou

Woohoo you got approved, my super was approved between a week and 2 weeks, was so happy it was done quickly.
Unfortunately I couldn't get surgery until the 3rd of Feb but at least I have a date and can start the countdown lol

Good luck, let me know how you go with the Opti fast stage.

I'm excited for you