AustraliaWho qualifies as a 'dependant' to receive my super death benefits?
A 'dependant' for super death benefits in Australia includes your spouse (including de facto and same-sex partners), children of any age, and anyone financially dependent on you or with an interdependency relationship at the time of your death.
What the Law Says
The Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SIS Act) defines who qualifies as a 'dependant' for the purpose of receiving superannuation death benefits. This definition determines who can receive benefits directly from your super fund — either as a lump sum or income stream — and who may be eligible for tax concessions.
Under the SIS Act, a 'dependant' includes your spouse (including de facto and same-sex partners), your children (of any age), and any person who was financially dependent on you, or with whom you had an interdependency relationship, at the time of your death.
An 'interdependency relationship' requires two people to have a close personal relationship, live together, provide each other with financial support, and provide each other with domestic support and personal care.
Importantly, the dependency or interdependency must exist *at the time of death*. Past or future dependency does not count.
Statutory Text‘dependant’ means the deceased person’s spouse or former spouse; a child of the deceased person; any person with whom the deceased person had an interdependency relationship; or any other person who was a dependant of the deceased person just before the deceased person’s death;
— Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth), s. 10(1) — Interpretation
Statutory Text‘interdependency relationship’ means a relationship between two people who: (a) have a close personal relationship; and (b) live together; and (c) provide each other with financial support; and (d) provide each other with domestic support and personal care;
— Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth), s. 10A(1) — Interdependency relationship
What to Do
Review and update your super fund’s nominated beneficiaries regularly — especially after major life events like marriage, separation, or birth of a child.
Complete a valid binding death benefit nomination (BDBN) if your fund allows it — this must be renewed every 3 years unless it’s non-lapsing.
Confirm with your fund whether they accept non-binding nominations, and understand how trustees exercise discretion if no nomination exists.
Seek advice from a financial adviser or lawyer if you have complex family arrangements (e.g., adult children living independently, elderly parents, or blended families).
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.