Find Lost Superannuation Australia

Trying to find lost superannuation in Australia? The ATO reports AUD 18.9 billion in lost and ATO-held superannuation (Source: ATO, 2025). If you have ever worked in Australia, even briefly, there is a strong chance some of that money is yours.

How Super Gets Lost in Australia

Every employer in Australia has been required to pay superannuation contributions since 1992. That means anyone who has worked in Australia for any period, including backpackers on working holiday visas, has super contributions sitting somewhere. When you change jobs, your new employer creates a new super account. Your old account stays behind.

The ATO holds billions more in unclaimed super from accounts that have been inactive for too long or where the fund cannot locate the member. If you have left Australia or changed address, your super fund may have transferred your balance to the ATO without you knowing.

Who Has Lost Super in Australia?

Backpackers and working holiday visa holders, if you worked in Australia on a 417 or 462 visa, your employer paid super for you. Most backpackers never claim this money. Job changers, Australians who changed jobs frequently may have multiple inactive super accounts. Expats, anyone who lived in Australia then moved overseas.

How to Find Lost Super

You can search the ATO's lost super register through MyGov, but this requires an Australian tax file number and MyGov account. For people who have left Australia, this process can be complicated.

PensionHunter researches APRA-registered super funds, including industry funds like REST, AustralianSuper and Hostplus, using publicly available information and your employment history, then prepares a complete request pack for each fund we identify, written and ready to send under your signed Information Request Authority (IRA). We do not access myGov-protected ATO systems. Where eligible we also assist with ATO SuperFund Lookup processes. Full report within five working days of your intake form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim super if I have left Australia? Yes. Non-residents can apply for a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP).

Do backpackers really have super? Yes. If you worked for any employer in Australia, they were legally required to contribute 11% of your salary to super.

How far back can you search? Super has been compulsory since 1992. We use available public information about Australian superannuation and prepare a complete request pack for each fund we identify, written and ready to send under your signed Information Request Authority (IRA).

Start Your Australian Super Search

Three tiers: Country Pension Identification Report $99, Enhanced $499, Global $799, Full refund if we find nothing material. Start your search today.