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  • We understand that if you've lost a loved one, this may be a difficult time for you. Our aim is to make the death benefit claim process as smooth as possible.
  • Contents:    
    Guide to Death Benefits and
    Completing the Claim Form    		 1   
    What’s included in a death benefit? 1   
    Who’ll receive the death benefit? 2   
    What is a dependant, financial dependant and interdependent? 2   
    What’s the process for making a claim? 3   
    How is the death benefit paid? 3   
    How long does it take? 3   
    Will the death benefit be taxed? 4   
    Death Benefit Claim Form 4   
    Part A – Details about the Deceased Member 10   
    Part B – Payment Instructions 11   
    Part C – Prove your Identity 12   
    Part D – Documents to Provide 12   
    Checklist 13   
    Appendix 13   
    Indemnity and Request to Waive Probate Statutory Declaration 13   
  • Guide to Death Benefits and Completing the Claim Form

    Making a claim can seem complicated – but we’re here to help. This document will provide information you need about death benefit claims and how to submit a claim. If you need any additional support, please contact us.

    What’s included in a death benefit?

    A death benefit is made up of the member’s:
    • account balance
    • any linked insurance benefit payable at the time of the member’s death. If the member had Life Insurance in place at the time they passed away, we’ll lodge the claim with the insurer; if approved, the insurance benefit will be included in the death benefit.

  • Who’ll receive the death benefit?

    Superannuation doesn’t automatically form part of a member’s estate when they die. Instead, death benefits are paid according to a members valid binding nomination, or if no valid nomination exists, to an eligible beneficiary/ies.

     

    Type of nomination
    on account    		 Who will receive the death benefit?
    Binding
    nomination    		 If a valid binding nomination exists, the death benefit must generally be paid to the nominated beneficiary/ies. If the nomination wasn’t  valid at the time the member passed away, the process for where no nomination exists will be followed.
    Reversionary
    beneficiary
    nomination    		 If the member has a valid reversionary beneficiary nomination on file, the nominated person automatically becomes entitled to  receive the member’s pension.
    No nomination If no nomination exists, we will follow our death claim process to identify to whom the benefit must be paid, which may be the legal  personal representatives (estate), one or more dependants or others.

    What is a dependant, financial
    dependant and interdependent?

    A dependant is:

    1 a spouse of the member, including a legally married spouse, de facto spouse (including same sex partner), separated but not divorced spouse
    2 a child including biological child, adopted child and stepchild (whose natural parent was still in a spousal relationship with the deceased at the
    date of death)
    3 someone who, at the time of the member’s death, relied on the member for financial support (financial dependant)
    4 a person who was in an interdependency relationship with the deceased at the date of death.





  • An interdependency relationship exists where two persons satisfy ALL of the following:

    1 they have a close personal relationship; and
    2 they live together, and
    3 one or each of them provides the other with financial support, and
    4 one or each of them provides the other with domestic support and personal care.

    An interdependency relationship also exists where there is a close personal relationship and either or both suffer from a physical, intellectual or psychiatric disability and, because of that disability, do not meet the other requirements.

    An interdependency relationship does not generally exist with a normal  parent and child relationship or between housemates.

    What’s the process for making a claim?

    1 Form and documents submission

    Please complete the claim form as fully and accurately as possible. This will assist us to process your claim as quickly as possible and avoid unnecessary delays. Please note that some documents may need to be certified and witnessed, and that the trustee may need to follow up and seek further information or documentation.

    2 Converting investments to cash

    Unless the death benefit is a reversion of the pension, we’ll switch investments in the account to a cash-based investment option as soon as we’re notified that the member has passed away. This ensures the value of the death benefit remains protected from potentially negative returns while we finalise the claim.

    3 Insurer decision (if applicable)

    If the member held Life Insurance when they passed away, our insurer will review the application independently and decide whether or not an insured benefit is payable. Our insurer may ask for further documentation before finalising the claim. Any insurance benefits will form part of the overall death benefit amount which is generally paid once the insurer has made a decision on the claim. However, payment of the account balance can be made early if you are experiencing financial difficulties.

  • 4 Decision on death benefit beneficiary

    In the absence of a valid binding nomination, the Trustee must generally pay the death benefit to the Legal Personal Representative (LPR, also
    referred to as the estate) of the  deceased member (if there is one). An LPR is generally the person to whom probate of a will or letters of administration is granted. If there is no LPR (because the deceased did not leave a will, or the next of kin doesn’t want or need to obtain probate of the will or letters of administration), then the death benefit may be paid to any other person/s who the Trustee considers appropriate.

    In determining payment of the death benefit to any other person/s, the Trustee must follow the superannuation law. This means we must only pay the death benefit to the deceased member’s estate or dependant/s (e.g. spouse, child or interdependent). We can only pay the death benefit to a non-dependant if we cannot identify a dependant of the deceased member, after making reasonable enquiries.

     In making its determination as to how and to whom to pay, the Trustee takes into account the purpose of superannuation, which, in the event of death, is to help support the member’s dependants. The Trustee also gives consideration to what might have occurred had the deceased member not died, and whether there is anyone who had an expectation of ongoing financial support or a right to look to the deceased member for ongoing financial support.

    How is the death benefit paid?

    Apart from pensions with an eligible reversionary beneficiary, death benefits are normally paid in lump sum form. However, certain dependants are eligible to take the benefit in pension form.

    Reversionary Pension: If the member has a valid reversionary beneficiary nomination on file, this person automatically becomes entitled to  receive continued instalments of the member’s pension. However you may convert the pension to a lump sum if you wish.

    You can check if a reversionary nomination is held on file by referring to the member’s statement.

  • Optional Pension: A death benefit pension is a series of regular payments taken as an income stream. This can only be set-up by:

    • a current spouse (married or de facto)
    • any person(s) financially dependent on (or in an interdependency relationship1 with) the deceased (other than a child), or
    • the deceased’s child if they:

    • are under age 182
    • are under age 25 and financially dependent on the deceased, or
    • have a certain type of disability.

    Lump sum: A lump sum payment is a one-time payment of the member’s death benefit. Death  benefits are generally paid as a lump sum, and in particular payments to a deceased member’s estate (legal personal representative) are required to be paid in lump sum and cannot be paid in pension form.

    How long does it take?

    Each claim is unique and the time taken to process the claim will vary. If there is a binding nomination on the account and all required documentation (including the death certificate) is provided with the application, the claim can generally be finalised within weeks. Without a binding
    nomination, most claims are finalised within a few months. Unfortunately, more complex claims can take longer. We’ll ensure that you’re kept up to
    date through each step of the process.

    It’s important to note that we’re unable to pay a death benefit until all of the information that’s been requested by the Trustee and/or the insurer (if relevant) has been provided. 

    Will the death benefit be taxed? 

    A death benefit paid directly to a beneficiary will usually be net of any tax due. The Legal Personal Representative (i.e. the person responsible for administering the estate of the deceased member), must account for any tax due on distribution of the death benefit via the estate.

    For a more comprehensive explanation of tax on ‘Super Death Benefits’ please visit the ATO website.

  • 1 See ‘What is a dependant, financial dependant and interdependent’ for meaning
    2 Death benefits paid as a pension to this type of child beneficiary will usually need to be commuted to a lump sum by the time the beneficiary turns age 25.

  • Colonial First State - Death Benefit Claim Form

  • Completing this death benefit claim form fully and accurately will assist us to process your claim as quickly as possible and avoid unnecessary delays. Please be aware that the Trustee may need to follow up and seek further information or documentation.

    If you have any questions about how to fill in this form, please refer to the guide or call us on 13 13 36. For information about how we use and handle your information please refer to our privacy policy statement, which can be accessed here cfs.com.au/privacy .

    Please complete this form using BLACK INK and print well within the boxes in CAPITAL LETTERS. Start at the left of each answer space and leave a gap between words. Please cross X appropriate answer boxes.

    How do you claim a death benefit?

    Step 1: Complete this form in full (page 4 – 12)
    1 Part A – Details about the deceased member
    2 Part B – Payment instructions
    3 Part C – Proof of identify

    Step 2: Compile required documentation in Part D (page 12)

    Step 3: Send us your completed form and supporting documents

    Return your form and documents to us online or via post:

    1 Email a scanned copy to MB_CFSClaims@cfs.com.au

    2 Send via reply paid post:
       Colonial First State
       Reply Paid 27
       Sydney NSW 2001

  • PART A - DETAILS ABOUT THE DECEASED MEMBER

  • Section 1: Details of deceased member (this section must always be completed)

  • Date of death:
     / /
    2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
  • Status at the date of death
  • Last known residential address:
  • At the date of death the Member was:

  • Section 2: Details of person completing this form (this section must always be completed)

  • Format: (00) 0000-0000.

  • Please note: all future communications about the death benefit claim will be made through email, unless specified otherwise.

  • Section 3: Details of the estate

  • This section must always be completed, unless a binding or reversionary nomination exists. This can be found on the member’s statement.

    Completion of this section will help the trustee determine to whom the death benefit must or should be paid. This can depend on whether probate of the deceased’s will or letters of administration have been obtained. Please note that probate or letters of administration aren’t always required to either administer an estate or be paid a death benefit.

  • 2 Does the member have any other superannuation or insurance benefits payable on death?
  • 3 Did the member leave a Will:
  • 4 Has Probate been obtained?
  • 5 Have Letters of Administration been obtained?
  • 6 If the answer to either 4 or 5 is ‘No’, has Probate or Letters of Administration been applied for?

  • Section 4: Details of member's domestic and family circumstances

  • This section must always be completed, unless probate/letters of administration have been obtained.
    Provide details of the reversionary beneficiary or nominated beneficiary/ies. If there is no nomination on the account, provide details of all dependants (see page 2 for full meaning). If there are no dependants, provide details of any living next of kin or person claiming the benefit.
    If there are more than five beneficiaries/dependants/next of kin, please photocopy the page as many times as needed and
    attach to this form.
    •  
    • Dependant/Person Claiming Benefit 1
    • Date of birth:
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Residential address:
    • Format: (00) 0000-0000.
    • Please note: all future communications about the death benefit claim will be made through email
    • If a Child of the deceased:
    • Commencement of relationship
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • At the time of the member’s death, were they:
    • a. Financially dependent on the member?
    • b. In an Interdependency Relationship with the member?
    • If ‘Yes’ to either of the above, provide further details in ‘Additional Information’ on page 8. Please note we may be in contact to request further information.
    •  
    • Dependant 2
    • Date of birth:
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Residential address: 
    • Format: (00) 0000-0000.
    • Please note: all future communications about the death benefit claim will be made through email
    • If a Child of the deceased:
    • Commencement of relationship
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • At the time of the member’s death, were they:
    • a. Financially dependent on the member?
    • b. In an Interdependency Relationship with the member?
    • If ‘Yes’ to either of the above, provide further details in ‘Additional Information’ on page 8. Please note we may be in contact to request further information.
    •  
    • Dependant 3
    • Date of birth:
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Format: (00) 0000-0000.
    • Please note: all future communications about the death benefit claim will be made through email
    • If a Child of the deceased:
    • Commencement of relationship
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • At the time of the member’s death, were they:
    • a. Financially dependent on the member?
    • b. In an Interdependency Relationship with the member?
    • If ‘Yes’ to either of the above, provide further details in ‘Additional Information’ on page 8. Please note we may be in contact to request further information.
    •  
    • Dependant 4
    • Date of birth:
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Format: (00) 0000-0000.
    • Please note: all future communications about the death benefit claim will be made through email
    • If a Child of the deceased:
    • Commencement of relationship
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • At the time of the member’s death, were they:
    • a. Financially dependent on the member?
    • b. In an Interdependency Relationship with the member?
    • If ‘Yes’ to either of the above, provide further details in ‘Additional Information’ on page 8. Please note we may be in contact to request further information.
    •  
    • Dependant 5
    • Date of birth:
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • Format: (00) 0000-0000.
    • Please note: all future communications about the death benefit claim will be made through email
    • If a Child of the deceased:
    • Commencement of relationship
       - -
      2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
    • At the time of the member’s death, were they:
    • a. Financially dependent on the member?
    • b. In an Interdependency Relationship with the member?
    • If ‘Yes’ to either of the above, provide further details in ‘Additional Information’ on page 8. Please note we may be in contact to request further information.
    •  
    • Additional Information
    • Each person who had an interdependency relationship with the deceased has to complete the following. If there are multiple interdependents, please photocopy the page as many times as needed and attach to this form (and note that the statutory declaration at the end of this form also applies to the separate page).
    • At the time of the member's death:
    • a. Were they living with the member?
    • b. Did one or both of them provide the other with financial support?
    • c. Did one or both of them provide the other with domestic support and personal care?
    • d. Did one or both of them suffer from a physical, intellectual or psychiatric disability?

  • Section 5: Statutory Declaration

  • I do solemnly and sincerely declare that the information provided by me in the application for a death benefit claim is true and correct. I make this solemn declaration by virtue of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959. I understand that a person who intentionally makes a false statement in a statutory declaration is guilty of an offence under section 11 of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959, and I believe that the statements contained are true in every particular.

  • Signature of person making declaration

  • Date
     - -
    2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year

  • Signature of authorised witness

  • This form must be witnessed (signed before) an authorised person.
  • Authorised persons who may witness you signing this form include:
    • Chiropractor, dentist, solicitor, medical practitioner, nurse, patent attorney, pharmacist, physiotherapist, psychologist, veterinary surgeon, Justice of the Peace, police officer, magistrate, notary public,
    • Employee of Australia Post (with two or more years of continuous service),
    • Your financial adviser (provided they have two or more years of continuous service),
    • Your accountant (provided they hold a current membership to a professional accounting body),
    • An officer of a bank, building society, credit union or finance company provided they have two or more years of continuous service,
    • Australian consular officer or an Australian diplomatic officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955).

    For a full list of persons authorised to witness a statutory declaration, visit the Attorney-General’s Department website at www.ag.gov.au/legal-system/statutory-declarations/who-can-witness-your-statutory-declaration
     
    Note 1: A person who intentionally makes a false statement in a statutory declaration is guilty of an offence, the punishment for which is imprisonment
    for a term of 4 years—see section 11 of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959.

    Note 2: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code applies to all offences against the Statutory Declarations Act 1959—see section 5A of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959.

  • PART B - PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS

  • Death benefits may be paid in different forms depending on the beneficiary’s relationship to the deceased. Please fill in the details in the relevant section below. This information will be used to process the payment if you are deemed eligible to receive the benefit.

    If multiple people are claiming a death benefit, please print or copy this page as many times as needed and attach to this form.

  • Note: If needed, call us on 13 13 36 and we can post a copy to you
  • Note: if the lump sum payment is being made to the estate, all executors need to provide their signature.
  • Death benefits payable to a spouse, minor child, financial dependant or an interdependent (see page 2 for meaning) are tax free. But we must deduct tax from death benefits payable to other beneficiaries. If the beneficiary receiving this lump sum payment isn’t a spouse, minor child, financial dependant or an interdependent, please provide their tax file number.
  • Please note: You’re not obliged to disclose your Tax File Number (TFN), but there may be tax consequences including additional tax on a death benefit payment if it has not been provided. Refer to the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) (cfs.com.au/pds) for information on the implications of not providing your TFN.

  • Payment instructions acknowledgement

  • I acknowledge that the Trustee will act on the payment instructions provided and will not be responsible if the details provided
    are incorrect.
  • Date
     - -
    2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year

  • PART C - PROVE YOUR IDENTITY

  • Select ONE option to prove your identity. Legislation requires us to confirm the identity of people to whom we are paying benefits (generally beneficiaries). In the case of payment to an estate, we require proof of identity of the Legal Personal Representative.

  • If multiple people need to prove their identity, please print or copy this page as many times as needed and attach to this form.

    You need to provide the below information and will also need to send us a photo ID. Please refer to the CFS website page How to Submit Your Photo ID for instructions on how to do this.

  • Date
     - -
    2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
  • OR
  • Your personal information will be provided to the third party ‘Equifax Australia Information Services’ (an authorised credit reproting body) solely to verify your identity. This information and the search results will be securely retained to comply with our identification and record keeping requirements. If you’d like to know more about how we collect and handle your personal information, please click ‘Privacy’ at the bottom of any webpage of the Colonial First State public website. If you’ve any further questions, please contact us by calling our Service Centre on 13 13 36.
     
    Sign below to confirm you have the authority and agree to have your identity information verified by the Issuer or Officer Record Holder via Equifax.
  • Date
     - -
    2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
  • Please ensure you provide photocopies of your original identification documents, and that they are correctly certified on each page as a true copy of the original document.
     
    You can prove your identity by posting or emailing a certified copy of:
     
    One of the following documents:
    • Current Australian driver’s licence
    • Current Proof of Age card
    • Current passport (Australian passports can have expired in the last two years)
     
    OR
     
    One of the following:
    • Birth certificate or birth extract
    • Citizenship certificate issued by the Australian Government
    • Pension card issued in your name by the Department of Human Services that entitles you to a financial benefit
     
    AND one of the following:
    • Notice issued by the Department of Human Services that shows a financial benefit has been provided to you (issued
    within the last 12 months)
    • ATO notice of assessment (issued within the last 12 months)
    • Local council rates notice (issued within the last three months)
    • Electricity or gas notice (issued within the last three months)
     
    Please note the above document must contain your current name and address.

  • PART D - DOCUMENTS TO PROVIDE

  • This section provides a comprehensive list of all documents to provide with your claim. The documents we require will differ based on your situation.
     
    Refer to instructions below for how to certify documents.
  • Personal/Identity Documents
  • One of the following documents will need to be provided with your claim. These must be certified if electronic verification has not been selected in Part C of this form.
  • Estate Documents
    Unless there’s a binding or reversionary nomination, please provide:
  • Insurance Documents
    Only provide these documents if the member had insurance. Details for insurance cover can be found on the member’s superannuation statement.
  • Payment Documents

  • Instruction for Certification

  • Some documents will need to be certified as ‘A true copy of the original document’, and signed and dated on every page by an Authorised Person who states the position they hold which allows them to certify the document.
    Who can certify documents?
    In Australia, the following people can certify your documents:
    • Chiropractor, dentist, solicitor, medical practitioner, nurse, patent attorney, pharmacist, physiotherapist, psychologist, veterinary surgeon, Justice of the Peace, police officer, magistrate, notary public
    • Employee of Australia Post (with two or more years of continuous service)
    • Your financial adviser (provided they have two or more years of continuous service)
    • Your accountant (provided they hold a current membership to a professional accounting body)
    • An officer of a bank, building society, credit union or finance company provided they have two or more years of continuous service.
    • Australian consular officer or an Australian diplomatic officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955)
    What should your certified document/s look like?
    After the certifier is satisfied the copy is a true copy, they will:
    • Write or stamp ‘True copy of the original document’ on every page
    • Sign and date the document
    • Write their name and qualification

  • CHECKLIST

  • Before you post or email this form please use the following checklist to ensure you’ve completed all of the necessary sections and all required information has been supplied.
  • Note: If any required information isn’t provided it may delay the claim being processed.

  • APPENDIX

  • Indemnity and Request to Waive Probate Statutory Declaration

  • This declaration is required where Probate or Letters of Administration are not being obtained and must be signed by the person entitled to apply for Probate or Letters of Administration.
  • do solemnly and sincerely declare that:
  • who died on the date of
     - -
    2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year

  • 3. I/we agree to apply for Probate/Letters of Administration if and/or when called upon to do so.
    4. All claims against the Estate have been, or will be, met by the Estate.
    5. In consideration of the payment to me, on behalf of the Deceased’s estate (or to the estate), of the balance of the accounts held by AIL in respect of the Deceased, I agree to indemnify and keep indemnified AIL, its officers and agents against any loss, damages,
    or cost whatsoever which it may incur in consequence of any matter arising from my dealings with the said accounts.

    AND I MAKE this solemn declaration by virtue of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959. I understand that a person who intentionally makes a false statement in a statutory declaration is guilty of an offence under section 11 of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959,
    and I believe that the statements in this declaration are true in every particular.

  • Date
     - -
    2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
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