superannuation

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A pension (, from Latin pensiō, "payment") is a fund into which a sum of money is added during an employee's employment years and from which payments are drawn to support the person's retirement from work in the form of periodic payments. A pension may be a "defined benefit plan", where a fixed sum is paid regularly to a person, or a "defined contribution plan", under which a fixed sum is invested that then becomes available at retirement age. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is usually paid in regular installments for life after retirement, while the latter is typically paid as a fixed amount after involuntary termination of employment prior to retirement.
The terms "retirement plan" and "superannuation" tend to refer to a pension granted upon retirement of the individual. Retirement plans may be set up by employers, insurance companies, the government, or other institutions such as employer associations or trade unions. Called retirement plans in the United States, they are commonly known as pension schemes in the United Kingdom and Ireland and superannuation plans (or super) in Australia and New Zealand. Retirement pensions are typically in the form of a guaranteed life annuity, thus insuring against the risk of longevity.
A pension created by an employer for the benefit of an employee is commonly referred to as an occupational or employer pension. Labor unions, the government, or other organizations may also fund pensions. Occupational pensions are a form of deferred compensation, usually advantageous to employee and employer for tax reasons. Many pensions also contain an additional insurance aspect, since they often will pay benefits to survivors or disabled beneficiaries. Other vehicles (certain lottery payouts, for example, or an annuity) may provide a similar stream of payments.
The common use of the term pension is to describe the payments a person receives upon retirement, usually under pre-determined legal or contractual terms. A recipient of a retirement pension is known as a pensioner or retiree.

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  1. S

    Superannuation- how to split when one partner is from OS?

    Hi, looking for some clarity.. My partner and I are going through an amicable separation and are currently trying to account for our net wealth to consider how best to split our assets. We have been together for 8 years and married for 3 years (27th Sep 2020). My husband is a Canadian citizen...
  2. R

    Superannuation of late husband

    Hi, My husband whom I was separated passed away last year; he was working for the US firm, and retired in 2018. We agreed and signed the pension election consent plan, which says without my consent as a legal wife, the plan cannot be changed. In case of his passing, I was supposed to be...
  3. R

    Re: inheritance of American 401k (superannuation)

    Hello, I am not sure if this place is the right place to ask my question, however I greatly appreciate any advice. My husband worked for an American company , and passed away last year. Before he retired in2018, I signed as a beneficiary of his 401k(a pension scheme) and our daughter as a...
  4. F

    QLD Superannuation claim after 17 years

    Hi Everyone. My ex and I signed a consent order for a superannuation split after the divorce 17 years ago. Apparently, the super fund never transferred the agreed-upon balance from my super to hers. Now, 17 years later, she has told me she will be making a claim to get that super transferred...
  5. F

    QLD Superannuation fund never transferred split from consent order 17 years ago

    Hi Everyone. My ex and I signed a consent order for a superannuation split after the divorce 17 years ago. Apparently, the super fund never transferred the agreed-upon balance from my super to hers. Now, 17 years later, she has told me she will be making a claim to get that super transferred...
  6. J

    NSW Superfund, overseas and debt

    Hi there, I'll keep this short since who needs a big story? I had a loan left to repay of 7k from one bank in Australia nearly 3 years ago. (lost card while overseas, didn't report missing and just decided to stay a few years and work overseas and use cash to get by until I return to aus)...
  7. phillip lian

    VIC Tax treatment of these transactions for all the relevant parties concerned (Superannuation)

    Jump Ltd pays $87,000 to Stretch Super, a non-complying fund, on behalf of John, an employee, who is currently aged 39. John also contributes $5,000 to a complying superannuation fund, Squat Super, for his wife, Jane, who has assessable income of $39,000, no reportable fringe benefits and no...
  8. xshellionx

    SA Is a prisoner able to apply for early release of superannuation on grounds of hardship that his wife and 2 children are experiencing?

    Hello, I am asking on behalf of my friends. Her husband is currently incarcerated in an SA correctional facility and is 21 months in to a 38 month sentence. His wife and two children aged 4 years and 6 years are financially struggling with the main concern being keeping on top of mortgage...
  9. F

    QLD Settlement and Superannuation

    Hi All I'm going through a separation of a long-time defacto relationship. I'd like to hold onto the house if at all possible. My super balance is about 250K. How much of that balance can I use to pay her out? She's 64, on a disability pension, and unlikely to work again - would she be able to...
  10. F

    QLD Superannuation as Part of Property Settlement

    Hi Everyone I'm currently going through the settlement of a long-term defacto relationship. The property pool sits at about 600K, and primarily consists of a house (mostly paid for) and superannuation (about 140K is part of the pool, though I have about 250K in total). I want to retain...