Police
Superannuation Scheme – member benefits
Scheme membership
Police officers who commenced employment with SAPOL on or before
31 May 1990 are members of the Pension Scheme. Members of the Lump
Sum Scheme include:
- Police officers who commenced employment on or after 1 June 1990
and on or before 3 May 1994.
- Police officers who commenced employment as cadets on or before
31 May 1994.
- Ex-STA transit officers appointed as police officers on or before
31 March 1995.
Retirement benefits
Members of the Pension Scheme who retire from SAPOL between 50 and
55 years of age have the option to:
a) elect to receive a lump-sum retirement benefit; or
b) elect to preserve a retirement pension benefit (calculated at the
date of separation) which will become payable after attaining 55 years
of age.
Members of the Pension Scheme who retire at age 55 and over are eligible
to receive a lifetime CPI-indexed pension with the option to commute
any amount up to 100 per cent of the pension into a lump sum. Members
of the Lump Sum Scheme are eligible to receive a lump-sum retirement
benefit from 50 years of age onwards.
Total and permanent invalidity benefit
Retirement on the grounds of invalidity and total and permanent incapacity
is determined by the applicant’s level of incapacity for all kinds
of work both inside and outside SAPOL being 60 per cent or more and
likely to be permanent. Members of the Pension Scheme (prior to 60
years of age) would be entitled to a fortnightly pension benefit based
on their age-60 entitlement. Members of the Lump Sum Scheme (prior
to 55 years of age) would be entitled to a lump-sum benefit based
on their age 55 entitlement. In cases in which members are in receipt
of workers’ compensation payments, superannuation benefits are reduced
by the amount of workers’ compensation payable.
Partial incapacity invalidity benefit
Retirement on the grounds of invalidity and partial incapacity is
determined by the applicant’s level of incapacity for all kinds of
work both inside and outside SAPOL being less than 60 per cent or
not likely to be permanent. Members of both the Pension (prior to
60 years of age) and Lump Sum (prior to 55 years of age) Schemes would
be entitled to a lump-sum benefit based on their length of membership.
The minimum lump sum payable is two times annual superannuation salary
with a lump sum of 5.45 times annual superannuation salary payable
after 30 years’ membership.
Temporary disability pension
Members of both the Pension and Lump Sum Schemes, who are temporarily
or permanently incapacitated for work within SAPOL, have exhausted
their sick leave and are not entitled to workers’ compensation payments
are eligible to apply for a disability pension. Members of the Pension
Scheme aged 60 or above and members of the Lump Sum Scheme aged 55
and above are not eligible to receive a disability pension. For members
of the Pension Scheme a disability pension is based on the member’s
fortnightly age-60 entitlement.
For members of the Lump Sum Scheme a disability pension is equal
to two thirds of the fortnightly superannuation salary payable at
the date of application.
Death benefit – spouse
Upon the death of a member of the Pension Scheme a fortnightly pension
benefit (two thirds of member’s age-60 entitlement) would be payable
to a spouse. A spouse has the option to commute any amount up to 50
per cent of the pension into a lump sum. Upon the death of a member
of the Lump Sum Scheme a lump sum benefit (five times annual superannuation
salary if member joined at age 25 or under) would be payable to a
spouse.
For members of the Pension Scheme, a spouse is defined as:
a) A lawful spouse who was the member’s lawful spouse before termination
of the member’s employment; or
b) A person who was cohabiting with the member at the time of death
and had been cohabiting with the member as the husband or wife de
facto for a period of five years immediately preceding the member’s
death.
For members of the Lump Sum Scheme, a spouse is defined as:
a) A lawful spouse who was the member’s lawful spouse at the date
of death; or
b) A putative de facto spouse as declared by the Court.
Death benefit – eligible child/children
Upon the death of a member of both the Pension and Lump Sum Schemes
a fortnightly pension benefit would be payable to an eligible child
or children. An eligible child is a child under 16 years of age or
a child who is over 16 years of age but under 25 years of age and
a full-time student. If a deceased member of both the Pension and
Lump Sum Scheme is also survived by a spouse the pension benefits
payable to an eligible child or children are paid in addition to the
benefit payable to the spouse. If the deceased member is not survived
by a spouse, a lump sum benefit (minimum of two times annual superannuation
salary) is paid to the member’s estate in addition to the pension
benefits paid to an eligible child or children. Death benefit – estate
If a deceased member of both the Pension and Lump Sum Schemes is not
survived by a spouse or an eligible child, a lump sum benefit would
be payable to the deceased member’s estate based on the member’s length
of membership. For members of the Pension Scheme, a maximum lump sum
of seven times annual superannuation salary is payable after 30 years’
membership. For members of the Lump Sum Scheme, a maximum lump sum
of seven times annual superannuation salary is payable after 35 years’
membership.
In cases in which a member of the Pension or Lump Sum Schemes dies
in the course of duty and is not survived by a spouse or an eligible
child, a minimum lump sum of three times annual superannuation salary
would be payable to the deceased member’s estate.
Withdrawal benefit
Members of both the Pension and Lump Sum Schemes who resign under
50 years of age may either elect to preserve their accrued superannuation
pension or lump-sum benefit until age 55 or elect to take a withdrawal
benefit equal to the balance of their member contribution account
at the date of payment.
Members who elect to take a withdrawal benefit are also entitled
to a lump-sum benefit in accordance with the Superannuation Guarantee
Charge (SGC) legislation. The SGC benefit is a defined multiple of
annual superannuation salary based on months of service since 1 July
1992. The SGC benefit is payable, in cash, if the benefit is less
than $200. If the SGC benefit exceeds $200 the benefit is compulsorily
preserved and becomes payable, in cash, at age 55. For the 2002-2003
financial year, the SGC benefit will be based on 9 per cent of superannuation
salary.
Voluntary contribution account
Upon separation from SAPOL, members of both the Pension and Lump
Sum Schemes will have the following options in respect of their Voluntary
Contribution Account (VCA).
For members making post-tax salary contributions, you will have the
option to:
a) Take a total cash withdrawal of the VCA; or
b) Preserve the VCA benefit with the Police Superannuation Fund (if
the member has elected to preserve another entitlement), which will
become payable at age 55; or
c) Take a total cash withdrawal, in lieu of the preserved VCA benefit,
in the Fund, prior to age 55; or
d) Roll over the VCA benefit to a complying superannuation fund of
the member’s choice.
For members making pre-tax salary contributions by way of Salary
Sacrifice you will have the option to:
a) Preserve the VCA benefit with the Police Superannuation Fund (if
the member has elected to preserve another entitlement), which will
become payable at age 55; or
b) Roll over the VCA benefit (preserved) to a complying superannuation
fund of the member’s choice.
Roll-over account
Upon separation from SAPOL, members of both the Pension and Lump
Sum Schemes will have the following options in respect of their roll-over
account (ROA).
For members who separate from SAPOL and are under 55 years of age,
you will have the option to:
a) Take a total cash withdrawal of the ROA, which is not subject to
preservation; or
b) Preserve the ROA benefit, which is subject to preservation, with
the Police Superannuation Fund (only if the member has elected to
preserve another entitlement), which will become payable at age 55;
or
c) Roll over the ROA benefit, which is subject to preservation, to
a complying superannuation fund of the member’s choice; or
d) Roll over the total ROA benefit to a complying superannuation fund
of the member’s choice.
For members who separate from SAPOL and are 55 years of age or over,
you will have the option to:
a) Take a total cash withdrawal of the ROA; or
b) Roll over the ROA benefit to a complying superannuation fund of
the member’s choice.
Member information
For information regarding superannuation, contact the Police Superannuation
Office or refer to the website above. Access to the website is now
available on the SAPOL Intranet under Services, Business Service,
FMSB. Group information sessions can be arranged upon request.
