BUSSQ

1. Direct Debit – Lets you specify an amount to be taken out of your bank account at regular intervals and paid into your Building Super Personal Plan account. Simply complete and return to BUSS(Q) the Direct Debit Request form.
2. BPAY® – Lets you transfer specified amounts direct from your bank account to your Building Super Personal Plan account. To find out more about this facility contact BUSS(Q).
3. Direct payment – Regular or one-off personal contributions into the Building Super Personal Plan. Contact BUSS(Q) to find out how to make direct payments.
4. Payroll deductions (if provided by your employer) – You will need to speak to your employer to arrange deductions of personal contributions from your pay.
5. Salary sacrifice – Salary sacrifice is an arrangement between you and your employer where you agree with your employer that rather than receive part of your income as salary or wages, your employer will make an equivalent super contribution on your behalf. The amount sacrificed is paid directly into your member account before any income tax is deducted and your gross salary or wages is reduced for taxation purposes.

Please call BUSS(Q) on FREECALL 1800 657 216 for more details, or complete the relevant form.

How much do I have to contribute each year to my personal plan?

BUSS(Q) sets no minimum level for future contributions. Future contributions can be any amount decided by you, your spouse or your employer (if applicable). You are also able to choose the timing of your contributions.

Please note: Self-employed persons wishing to claim a tax deduction will need to complete and return a Notice to Claim a Tax Deduction form. Contact BUSS(Q) for more details.

If we do not receive contributions for more than six months and you have less than a certain amount in your account, we will write to you (the amount will vary each year depending on Fund and market conditions, however, it will be less than $1000). You will be given the option of rolling over your account into another superannuation fund of having your account transferred to Australia’s Unclaimed Super Fund (AUSFund). On transfer to AUSFund you will no longer be a member of BUSS(Q). The fees and benefits you receive will be under the rules and regulations of AUSFund. You should be aware that previous selections of investment choice will not apply and that your insurance will cease.

Contact details are as follows:
Australia’s Unclaimed Super Fund Administration
PO Box 2468
Kent Town SA 5071
Phone: 1300 361 798
Fax: 1300 366 233

If you rejoin BUSS(Q), your benefit will be automatically transferred back to BUSS(Q).
To find out how much you need to provide the retirement lifestyle you want, use the calculators on this site, or call the BUSS(Q) Financial Planning Service.

Can I get the Government Co-contribution if I am self employed?

From 1st July 2007, self-employed members who derive 10% or more of their income from running a business, eligible employment, or a combination of both are eligible to receive the Governments co-contribution. Income will be determined by taking your assessable income and fringe benefits and deducting the expenses incurred in running your business.

Government co-contribution - a super boost
If you are on a low or middle income, you have a significant incentive to contribute to your super to save for your retirement – for every $1.00 you put into your super from your after-tax pay, the Government could also kick in up to $1.00 up to a maximum of $1,000 per financial year.

You do not need to apply for the Government co-contribution but you must ensure you lodge an income tax return and supply your Tax File Number to the Trustee of BUSS(Q). The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will work out if you are entitled to receive a Government co-contribution using information supplied from your tax return. The Government co-contribution will be paid directly into your Personal Plan member account.

For more information relating to the Government Co-Contribution, please refer to our Government Co-Contribution Fact Sheet or call BUSS(Q) on 1800 657 216.

If I become employed, can my employer make contributions into my personal plan?

Yes. Your employer can make contributions to your personal plan.
If you are employed and your employer is contributing on your behalf, your employer is required to pay:

• Under Superannuation Guarantee (SG) Legislation – 9% of your ordinary time earnings (virtually all full-time, part-time and casual workers are covered by this legislation).
• Under an Industrial Agreement – such as an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) or Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA), the amount in that agreement or the SG amount, whichever is greater.
• If you earn less than $450 in a month, your employer may not pay the SG amount, however your employer is required to pay contributions in accordance with industrial provisions.

Your employer is required to make payments at least quarterly under SG legislation.

If your employer is making taxable contributions into this plan, have your employer complete the Employer Contribution Form and forward with each contribution

When can I access my Personal Super Plan?

Preservation Requirements
Your benefits in the Building Super Personal Plan are classified as:

• Preserved,
• Restricted non-preserved, and
• Unrestricted non-preserved.

The following is a summary of what benefits are covered by each classification.

Preserved
From 1 July 1999 all contributions paid into a super fund are classified as preserved, including the investment earnings credited to your member account on those contributions. You can access preserved benefits subject to specific cashing restrictions in certain cases as outlined below.
All preserved benefits transferred between BUSS(Q) and other super funds will continue to be preserved benefits. Eligible spouse contributions are also preserved.
Restricted Non-Preserved
Access to these benefits is restricted in the same way as preserved benefits. However, if you or your employer (if applicable) made a contribution on your behalf prior to 1 July 1999 and you cease working for that employer, then these benefits may become unrestricted non-preserved benefits and able to be accessed.
Unrestricted Non-Preserved
These benefits may be accessed at any time without a change in employment status. An exit fee is applicable for every withdrawal that is not a retirement benefit.
Once you have reached preservation age you may:
• Leave your money in your Building Super Personal Plan account,
• Take draw downs from your account when you need them,
• Transfer to a BUSS(Q) Pension account,
• Take a lump sum.

What tax will I pay on contributions?
All employer contributions to your account, and contributions for which a tax deduction is claimed, are subject to 15% Federal Government contributions tax.

Personal and spouse contributions that are not claimed as tax deduction are not taxed.

If you roll over an amount into BUSS(Q) that has an untaxed post June 1983 component 15% tax is payable on the untaxed component.

Tax on contributions is deducted from your account monthly (where contributions are made monthly).

INSURANCE FAQ'S

How do I know if I am a white collar, light blue or heavy blue for insurance?

The premium you pay for your insurance depends on whether you are classified as being a ‘white collar’, ‘light blue collar’ or a ‘heavy blue collar’ worker, the amount of cover you choose, your age and whether you are male or female.
The premiums are deducted from your member account on a monthly basis.

Definition
The definition of each classification is:

White Collar

Individuals who:
• Are professional workers who possess university qualifications, or
• Are employed by an independent employer who are executives or senior managerial white collar workers, or
• Are sales representatives that are not involved with deliveries, or
• Clerical or administrative white collar workers all of whom do not perform any manual work.

Light Blue Collar
Certain skilled technicians and proprietors in non-hazardous industries who are involved in light manual work. Also includes supervisors of blue-collar workers provided that no more than 10% of their time is spent performing light manual work, and fully qualified trades people. Details of qualifications must be provided.

Heavy Blue Collar
Skilled or semi-skilled manual workers and heavy machinery operators who are not exposed to high-risk accidents or health hazards.

There will be some occupations or pastimes that BUSS(Q) will decline to insure. If you are unsure of how these occupation definitions apply to you, contact BUSS(Q) on Freecall 1800 657 216.

What happens if I or my dependents need to make a claim?

Before making a claim please check:

• That you are a member of the Building Super Personal Plan,
• That insurance premiums that cover you for the benefit you wish to claim are being deducted from your account,
• That if you are claiming a disability benefit that you meet the definition of Total and Permanent or Temporary Disablement.

If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, please contact BUSS(Q) on Freecall 1800 657 216.

The claims process:

• When you advise us of your claim we will send you the relevant forms to complete.
• You may be required to obtain information from your medical practitioner(s) or your employer (if applicable)
• BUSS(Q) will forward all relevant information to ING (fund Insurer) once it is received,
• ING will then pay the claim, ask for further information, or decline the claim,
• ING may decline the claim for any of the following reasons:

- You were not insured or a member at the time of the claim,
- You did not meet the definition of total and permanent disablement according to the medical information received,
- You gave false information on your Membership Application or Insurance Application forms or Personal Health Statement.

In the cause of a Death Benefit, your dependents will need to contact BUSS(Q).

What are the definitions of Disablement?

Definition of Total & Permanent Disablement

If you have been working an average of at least 15 hours per week over the six months prior to the claim incurred date, or if you have been working an average of at least 15 hours per week since your application for insurance was accepted by ING and BUSS(Q) (confirmed in writing) Total and Permanent Disablement means:

• You have suffered the permanent loss of:
- Use of two limbs (where limb is defined as the whole hand or the whole foot), or
- The sight of both eyes, or
- Use of one limb and the sight of one eye, or
• If you are engaged in a gainful occupation, business profession or employment when suffering an injury or illness, and as a result of that injury or illness, you are:
- Totally unable to engage in that occupation, business, profession or employment for a period of six consecutive months, and
- Determined by ING at the end of that six month period (or such later time we agree with you), you are permanently incapacitated to such extent as to render you unlikely to ever engage in any gainful occupation, business, profession or employment, for which you are reasonable suited by education, training or experience.

If you have worked for an average of less than 15 hours per week or were unemployed for six months or more prior to the claim incurred date, Total and Permanent Disablement means:

• As a result of an injury or illness you are totally and irreversibly unable to perform at least two of the following 5 ‘activities of daily living:

- Bathing and showering,
- Dressing and undressing,
- Eating and drinking,
- Using a toilet to maintain personal hygiene, or
- Moving from place to place by walking, wheelchair or with assistance of a walking aid, or

• You have suffered the permanent loss of:

- Use of two limbs (where limb is defined as the whole hand or the whole foot), or
- The sight of both eyes, or
- Use of one limb and the sight of one eye.

Definition
Total disability definition for a Salary Continuance benefit
Means solely as a result of injury or illness, you are:

• Medically certified as being incapable of performing one or more duties of your usual occupation necessary to produce income,
• Not engaged in any occupation, and
• Following the advice of a medical practitioner.

If I am self employed how do I work out my salary for insurance purposes?

Salary means the total monthly value of salary received by you from your occupation, averaged over the most recent 12 month period prior to the commencement of the waiting period. Salary package items taken in lieu of cash are included as salary where the item must be funded by you in the event of total or partial disability. Regular over-time and shift allowances will be averaged over the previous 12 month period or since you started your occupation, if the period is less than 12 months. Performance related commission, bonuses and other monetary benefits will be averaged over the previous three years or since you started your current occupation.

Where you directly or indirectly own all or part of the business from which you earn your usual income, salary will be calculated as the total amount earned by the business over the financial year as a direct result of your personal exertion or activities through your usual occupation, less your share of business expenses, but before the deduction of income tax, for that business (or the relevant proportion for part of a financial year).

Can I increase or reduce my cover?

You are able to increase or decrease your insurance cover at any time up to the maximum allowable amount. If you are increasing your cover you will need to provide a Personal Statement of Health which can be obtained by calling BUSS(Q) on Freecall 1800 657 216.

Is there a Partial Disablement Benefit payable on Salary Continuance?

Partial Disability Benefit
You will be paid a proportion of the monthly benefit when you are partially disabled at the expiry of the waiting period (30 to 60 days as selected by you when you apply for cover).

The Partial Disability Benefit will be paid:

• When you have been totally disabled for at least seven days out of the first 12 consecutive days of the waiting period then you are totally or partially disabled for the balance of the waiting, and
• If, at the expiry of the waiting period, you remain partially disabled.

The Partial Disability Benefit will also be paid if you return to work in a limited capacity after a Total Disability Benefit has been paid.

The proportion of the monthly benefit will be calculated as follows:

Smaller Monthly Benefit

ING will calculate the amount you are capable of earning based on medical advice, which will include the opinion of your medical practitioner and all other relevant information.
The Partial Disability Benefit begins to accrue from the day after you are no longer totally disabled or after the end of the waiting period, as the case may be.

What does the insurance not cover?

Exclusions
Benefit payments will not be made if the event giving rise to the claim is caused directly or indirectly by:
• War or act of war,
• An intentional self-inflicted act, or
• Pregnancy, unless you are disabled for more than three months after the end of the pregnancy (in which case the waiting period is deemed to start on the later of the date the total disability begins and at the end of the pregnancy).

BUSS(Q) Insurers may reduce or refuse to pay any benefits:

• While you are imprisoned,
• If you do not comply with BUSS(Q) Insurance requirements, including compliance with any obligations arising from your duty of disclosure,
• Where ING has not received notice at the time your disability starts, to the extent that their assessment or management of the claim is prejudiced.

When will cover cease?

Death & TPD cover ceases on the earliest of the following:

• You elect to cease cover,
• A benefit payment is payable or paid,
• You commence active duty with the armed services of any country,
• You attain the age of 70 for death cover or 65 for TPD,
• Your account balance is insufficient to pay premiums,
• You are no longer a member of BUSS(Q)
• You are transferred to BUSS(Q)’s eligible rollover fund,
• Six months from the date you depart Australia unless ING gives prior written approval and subject to the terms of the approval and for as long as premiums continue to be paid.

Salary Continuance Cover ceases on the earliest of the following:
• You elect to cease cover,
• You commence active duty with the armed services of any country,
• You attain the age of 65
• Your account balance is insufficient to pay premiums,
• You are no longer a member of the fund,
• You are transferred to the Funds eligible rollover fund,
• Six months from the date you depart Australia unless ING gives prior written approval and subject to the terms of the approval and for as long as premiums continue to be paid,
• On the date you depart Australia to reside overseas unless ING gives prior written approval, and subject to the terms of that approval.

Can I recommence cover?

Yes. However, to recommence cover you will need to re-apply. Simply complete and return a new Insurance Application form (which includes completing a Personal Health Statement) to BUSS(Q).