Millions of Aussies Have Lost Super. Are You One of Them?

“Lost super” is exactly what it sounds like: superannuation accounts that belong to you, but you’ve lost track of. It can happen after changing jobs, moving house, changing your name, or working casually and not realising a new account was opened. The good news is that lost super doesn’t vanish — it usually sits with a super fund or has been transferred to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), waiting to be claimed.

And there’s a lot of it around. The ATO and consumer groups estimate more than $18–19 billion in lost or unclaimed super across over seven million accounts.

What counts as “lost” super?

A super account is generally classed as “lost” when the fund can’t contact you or you haven’t interacted with the account for a long time. Funds are required to report lost members to the ATO. In some cases — particularly for small or inactive balances — the fund may transfer the money to the ATO so it can be claimed later.

How to find your lost super (step-by-step)

You can check if you have lost or unclaimed super by:

• Logging in to myGov (making sure the ATO is linked), then going to:

ATO Online Services → Super → Fund details

• Calling the ATO lost super search line on 13 28 65

• Completing the ATO form Searching for lost and unclaimed super (NAT 2476)

A few simple tips to avoid losing super in the future

1. Consider speaking with a financial adviser if you want help consolidating your super and keeping your retirement strategy on track.

2. Choose a main fund and give its details to every new employer.

3. Keep your contact details up to date with your super fund whenever you move or change email/phone numbers.

4. Avoid accidental extra accounts by telling employers you already have a fund and don’t want a default one opened.

Watch out for scammers

Because lost super is so common, it’s a favourite target for scammers who try to trick people into handing over personal details. Protect yourself by sticking to official channels:

• log in to myGov directly (type the address yourself or use the app)

• ignore unexpected emails, texts, or ads offering to “find” your super

• use strong, unique passwords and turn on multi-factor authentication for extra security

Lost super is one of those rare financial to-dos that’s usually simple, free, and genuinely rewarding. For many Australians, a 10-minute check through myGov can uncover money they didn’t realise they still had — and consolidating accounts can reduce fees and keep retirement savings growing where they belong: in your control.