Nominate a beneficiary

This includes de facto and same sex partners.

Includes biological, step and adopted children.

This can be someone who relies on you for some or all of their financial support. For more information, refer to the FAQs.

Someone you have close personal relationship with and includes people who share a close bond and support each other. For more information, refer to the FAQs.

The person appointed to manage your legal affairs after your death (either the executor of your will or administrator of your estate). This way, your super benefits will be distributed according to the terms of your will (if you have a valid will), which may include those who are not generally considered to be dependent beneficiaries, e.g. siblings, nieces, nephews or charities. Remember it is likely you'll need to update your will throughout your life as your circumstances change.

For many people, super can represent a substantial part of their total wealth. However, your super benefit doesn’t automatically form part of your estate. Therefore, while you may already have a will, it doesn’t necessarily mean your super will be paid to the people in your will if you pass away. That’s why it’s important to make a valid binding beneficiary nomination, to help ensure your super benefit is paid to the person or people you choose.

Tip: keep a copy of your will and beneficiary nomination together in a safe place, so the person who will look after your affairs if you pass away knows who your beneficiaries are.

Yes, you can nominate more than one person, such as your spouse and children. Just make sure that you specify how you’d like your super benefit to be split, ensuring that the total adds up to 100%.

No, it’s not compulsory. However, if you do not make a nomination, we will decide how to distribute your super benefit. This decision will be guided by the Trust Deed for the Fund, relevant laws and your personal circumstances at the time.

Someone who is financially dependent upon you at the time of your death. The definition of a dependant under superannuation legislation may be different to the definition which is used for tax purposes. For more information on estate planning we recommend you speak with your financial or legal adviser.

Generally, an interdependency relationship may exist where two people (whether or not related by family):

• have a close personal relationship,
• live together,
• one or each of them provides the other with financial support, and
• one or each of them provides the other with domestic support and personal care.

Two people may also have an interdependency relationship if they have a close personal relationship and the reason, they fail to satisfy all of the other conditions above is, that either one or both of them suffer from a physical, intellectual or psychiatric disability, or they are temporarily living apart, for example, one of the persons is temporarily working overseas or in prison.

The law only allows you to nominate other family members or friends who are financially dependent on you or have an interdependency relationship with you at the time of your death. However, you can choose to have your benefit paid to your estate where you can nominate your friends and/or other family members in your will to receive these funds.

• Binding: if valid and up-to-date, must be followed by the Fund. A binding beneficiary nomination is the only type of nomination available with Plum.
• Non-binding: is considered, but the super fund Trustee ultimately decides who receives your benefit. From 1 October 2025, Plum no longer accepts non-binding beneficiary nominations. However, if you made a valid non-binding beneficiary nomination before 1 October 2025, it will remain in place.

Even if your binding nomination was valid when made, it will become invalid if:

• a nominated beneficiary is not a dependant or legal personal representative at the time of your death. For example, if:

- you nominated your de facto and you subsequently separate, or

- you nominated your husband or wife and you subsequently divorce.

• you cease to be a member of the Fund.

If your nomination is invalid at the time of your death, the Trustee may take your nomination into consideration but will not be bound by it.

As valid binding beneficiary nominations do not expire, we recommend you review your nomination as your personal circumstances change, for example if you:

• marry, divorce or change partner, or
• become a parent, step parent or guardian.

You can change or cancel your nomination at any time.

You can nominate a new or change an existing binding beneficiary online. If you'd like to remove and not replace an existing beneficiary nomination, call us on 1300 55 7586 between 8am and 7pm, Monday to Friday (AEST / AEDT).

The benefit they receive may be taxed, depending on who they are and how the super benefit is paid. Find out more about the tax treatment of lump sum payments or speak to your financial adviser.