Increase your contribution rate

December 21 2024

Increasing your contribution rate (defined benefit members) is one of the simplest ways you can improve your lifestyle in retirement. Whilst it's never too late to start contributing, it pays to get in early.

Contribution rates

Contribution rate options for our different defined benefit funds are:

Fund After tax contribution rates (%) Before tax contribution rates (%)
ESSS Defined Benefit Fund
  • 0.0%
  • 3.0%
  • 5.0%
  • 6.0%
  • 7.0%
  • 8.0%*
  • 9.0%*
  • 10.0%*
  • 0.0%
  • 3.6%
  • 5.9%
  • 7.1%
  • 8.3%
  • 9.5%*
  • 10.6%*
  • 11.8%*
New Scheme
  • 0.0%
  • 3.0%
  • 5.0%
  • 7.0%**
  • 0.0%
  • 3.6%
  • 5.9%
  • 8.3%**
SERB Scheme
(Compulsory)
  • 5.0% (flat rate)
  • 5.9% (flat rate)
Transport Scheme
  • 0.0%
  • 2.5%
  • 5.0%
  • 7.5%**
  • 0.0%
  • 3.0%
  • 5.9%
  • 8.9%**
Revised Scheme
(Compulsory based on your age at 1 May)
  • 30-39 = 8.5%
  • 40-49 = 9.0%
  • 50+ = 9.5%
  • 30-39 = 10.0%
  • 40-49 = 10.6%
  • 50+ = 11.2%

* Catch up rate for members who have contributed at a rate less than 7% during their membership. Refer to the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), available on our PDS and handbooks page,

** Only available in order to reach an overall contribution average of 5%.

Change your contribution rate

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Things to consider before changing your contribution rate (ESSS Defined Benefit Fund)

If you:

  • have not increased your contribution rate since 5 September 2006, and
  • joined the ESSS Defined Benefit Fund before 1 July 2007,

your contribution arrangements have been 'grandfathered'. In other words, if the notional contributions to the ESSS Defined Benefit Fund made on your behalf, exceed the concessional cap, ESSSuper will report these contributions at a maximum of the applicable concessional contributions cap.

Conversely, if you've increased your contribution rate since 5 September 2006, your contributions to the ESSS Defined Benefit Fund are subject to the concessional contributions cap at the calculated rate.

For more information about grandfathering, refer to our ESSS DB Fund Members – Frequently asked questions about your benefit fact sheet.

Fact sheets are available on our Publications web page

You can partner with an Accumulation Plan

Many of our members also choose to partner their defined benefit fund with our Accumulation Plan. Not only does this allow you to make extra contributions, but you can also enjoy other benefits such as consolidating superannuation into ESSSuper, accessing an award-winning income stream, or varying your insurance.

Find out more about the Accumulation Plan here

 

Emergency Services Superannuation Board ABN 28 161 296 741 (ESSB), the Trustee of the Emergency Services Superannuation Scheme ABN 85 894 637 037 (ESSSuper). The information contained on this web page is of a general nature only. It should not be considered as a substitute for reading the relevant ESSSuper Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) that contains detailed information about ESSSuper products, services and features. Before making a decision about an ESSSuper product, you should consider the appropriateness of the product to your personal objectives, financial situation and needs. It may also be beneficial to seek professional advice from a licensed financial planner or adviser. An ESSSuper PDS is available on our PDS and handbooks page or by contacting us.