Generally, a dependant of the deceased can receive the death benefit as a lump sum or income stream. The income stream can be new or a continuation of an existing income stream.

Under super law a person is a dependant of a deceased member if, at the time of the member’s death, that person was:

• a spouse, or de facto spouse
• in an interdependency relationship with the deceased – this is a close personal relationship between 2 people who live together, where one or both provides the financial, domestic, and personal care support of the other
• a child of the deceased.

For a child to be able to receive a death benefit as a pension they must be one of the following:

• under 18 years of age
• under 25 years old and financially dependent on the deceased
• have a permanent disability.

Unless they’re under a permanent disability the pension must be cashed as a lump sum on the date they turn 25 years old.

A death benefit income stream cannot be held in the beneficiary’s accumulation account and must be kept separate from the beneficiary’s other superannuation interests.

Non-dependants can only receive the death benefit as a lump sum.