What happens to your super when you take leave without pay?

Although you won’t be receiving contributions from your employer, you can still choose to top up your super.

You can top up your super while you’re away from your job via BPay, by logging in online.

We use your salary to calculate your insurance cover.

Since your super account is technically “on hold”, your cover will be calculated using your:

• Superannuation Salary – for Divisions 1, 2, 3, and 15
• Salary for Insurance Purposes – for other Divisions

before you went on leave.

If you are in Division 3A, 6, 7, 10, or Gateway, you will continue to be covered for death and TPD after you commence unpaid leave, provided that:

• you do not join the armed forces (excluding Australian Defence Force Reservists not deployed overseas);
• premiums continue to be paid; and
• you remain a member of Qantas Super.

Your cover will cease 16 months from the date of the last contribution or rollover to your account, unless you elect to maintain your cover by completing the form here.

If you are in Division 3A, 6, 7, 10, or Gateway and we receive an employer contribution from a Qantas Group employer after your cover has ceased due to inactivity, your Basic Cover for death, TPD  will recommence automatically at the appropriate amount given your age and salary if you are At Work. If you are not At Work, Limited Cover will apply until you return to being At Work for 30 consecutive days.

If you opt in, cover will continue until you ask to cancel it, as long as your account balance has enough to cover your premiums and you remain otherwise eligible.

The income protection cover provided to you while on LWOP changed on 1 August 2020.

What were the arrangements before 1 August 2020?

Income protection cover continued while you were on LWOP, including insurance premiums being paid from your account. This cover stopped after 16 months, unless you made super contributions or requested to keep the cover. If you were ill or injured while on LWOP and eligible to make claim, you could only start receiving your benefit from the later of your nominated return to work date or the end of the waiting period.

What are the new arrangements?

From 1 August 2020, any income protection cover you have through Qantas Super ceases while you’re on LWOP from your job at Qantas Group. This includes if you commenced LWOP prior to 1 August 2020. You won’t pay premiums for the period your cover has stopped.

This means you won’t have income protection cover through Qantas Super while you’re on LWOP, even if you have a second job outside Qantas Group.

Your income protection cover will re-commence automatically on your nominated return to work date, if you are at work for the normal daily hours of work and are actively performing the full, unrestricted or unmodified duties of the job you had before you went on LWOP (At Work).

If you are not At Work on your nominated return to work date, you will not be covered for any pre-existing conditions. You will only be covered for an illness which became apparent, or any injury which occurred, on or after your nominated return to work date (Limited Cover). Limited Cover will apply until you have returned to being At Work for 30 consecutive days, at which point, full cover will apply.

If you would like income protection cover while you are on LWOP, you may wish to consider alternative options with other providers.

If you are in Division 1, 2, or 3, you will continue to be covered for death and TPD for:

• Secondment: 5 years
• Unpaid leave which is not a secondment: 2 years

Any income protection cover you have through Qantas Super ceases while you’re on LWOP from your job at Qantas Group. This means you won’t have income protection cover through Qantas Super while you’re on LWOP, even if you have a second job outside Qantas Group.

This is because income protection is designed to cover you if you can’t work due to illness or injury. Because you’re not working for Qantas Group while on LWOP, this means you can’t claim during this time.

If you would like income protection cover while on LWOP, you may wish to consider alternative options with other providers.

Your cover for death and TPD will continue for 2 years of unpaid leave which is not a secondment.

If you are in Division 5, your cover will continue for up to two years.

When your cover is close to expiring, we’ll send you a reminder and you’ll be able to apply for an extension, subject to the approval of your employer and the insurer.

However, if you make a successful claim for temporary disability while on LWOP, your benefits will not be paid until your nominated return to work date, once you have gone through the 90 day waiting period.

As a member of Division 15, your cover for death and TPD will continue for 1 year.

Your voluntary cover won’t change while you’re on LWOP.