What Happens to Your Super When You Change Jobs
Starting a new job used to mean automatically getting a new super account with whatever default fund your new employer used — often without you realising it. The rules now work differently, and it's worth understanding how, since it affects whether you end up with yet another account to keep track of.
"Stapled" super funds
Under current rules, if you already have an existing super fund and don't actively choose a new one, your new employer is generally required to check with the ATO for your "stapled" fund — the existing account that's meant to follow you between jobs — and pay contributions there instead of opening a new default account. This was introduced specifically to reduce the number of duplicate, forgotten accounts people accumulate over a working life.
What you should still actively do
Even with stapling in place, it's worth actively nominating your preferred fund when starting a new job (most employers provide a "choice of super fund" form), rather than relying on the stapling process to work perfectly — particularly if you have more than one existing account and want contributions to go to a specific one. See How to Consolidate Multiple Super Accounts if you're not sure which account to nominate.
Checking your new contributions are landing correctly
After starting a new job, check your fund's app or online account after your first pay cycle or two to confirm contributions are actually arriving. Payroll errors and delays happen, and catching them early is easier than untangling months of missing contributions later.
What if you don't have an existing fund yet?
If you're starting your first job and have no stapled fund on record, your employer will generally open an account for you in their default fund unless you actively choose a different one. It's worth taking the few minutes to actively choose, using the same comparison approach outlined in How to Choose a Super Fund, rather than accepting the default without checking it.
Insurance considerations when changing jobs
If your old account has insurance cover you want to keep, be aware that some funds reduce or cancel cover if an account becomes inactive (no contributions received) for an extended period. If you're keeping an old account open deliberately for its insurance, check whether it needs a certain contribution frequency to keep that cover active.
Frequently asked questions
Will my super automatically follow me to a new job?
Generally yes, under the stapled fund rules, provided your new employer correctly checks with the ATO — but actively nominating your preferred fund is still worth doing.
What if I have multiple existing accounts — which one gets stapled?
The stapling process is designed to identify your existing account, but if you have several, it's worth actively nominating the one you want to keep using rather than leaving it to the process.
Does changing jobs affect my insurance inside super?
Not directly, but if an old account becomes inactive due to no further contributions, cover attached to it can lapse — check your specific fund's inactivity rules.
Stapled fund rules and processes are set by the ATO and can change — confirm current guidance on ato.gov.au before publishing. This article contains general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs, and does not constitute a recommendation to acquire, hold, or dispose of any financial product. Before acting on this information, consider its appropriateness to your own circumstances, and seek independent financial, tax and/or legal advice, or speak with a licensed financial adviser, before making any decision.
