By Tina Zawila
As you are enjoying some rest and relaxation over the Christmas and New Year holidays, there’s one simple task worth adding to your holiday to‑do list: checking whether you have any unclaimed or lost superannuation.
It might surprise you to learn that the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has recently reported there is close to $19 billion in lost and unclaimed super waiting to be reunited with its owners. This money hasn’t vanished — it often sits in old super accounts from previous jobs, accounts you may have forgotten about, or funds where paperwork didn’t quite keep up with life changes.
Finding lost super can feel like discovering “bonus money”. Even if you don’t have access to the cash now, having it in your super means it can be invested, earn returns over time, and work harder for your future retirement.
The good news? Checking is quick and easy. If you use the myGov app, you can see details of your super with just a few taps. Alternatively, you can visit the ATO website and complete their “5‑step super health check”. It only takes a few minutes, costs nothing, and could make a meaningful difference to your retirement savings. This handy process helps you check:
- Contact details with the ATO and your superannuation fund
- Superannuation balance and employer contributions
- Lost or unclaimed super
- Whether you have multiple super accounts
- Who your nominated beneficiary is
Once you’ve been through this process, you might want to put “see a financial planner” on your New Years resolution list. Professional financial planners can help you create and protect wealth now and grow wealth for the future. They can help you find the right superannuation fund for you, to make sure it supports your long-term goals, minimises fees along the way, and possibly even help your loved ones, if something happens to you.
So go on, give yourself a small financial gift this holiday season — by making sure all of your super is right where it belongs.
Contact the professional team at UHY Haines Norton CQ on 0749721300 and we’ll help you beset for success in 2026.
