Could some of Australia's $18.9 billion in lost and unclaimed super be yours?
10 August 2026
It can be easy to lose track of your super if you've changed jobs, moved house or haven't updated your details for a while.
According to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), there is over $18.9 billion in lost and unclaimed super across almost 7.3 million accounts, as at 30 June 20251.
The good news is finding your lost or unclaimed super is easier than you think. You can search for it online in just a few minutes and if you find another account, consider whether bringing it into your Brighter Super account is right for you.
Even if you think you know where all your super is, it's worth checking. For some people, it may be a small forgotten balance. For others, it could be money that makes a meaningful difference to their retirement savings.
The difference between lost and unclaimed super
Lost super and unclaimed super are often mentioned together, but they aren't the same thing.
- Lost super is money still held by a super fund, but the fund has lost contact with you or your account has been inactive for an extended period. This can happen if you change jobs, move house, change your name or don't update your contact details.
- Unclaimed super – also known as ATO-held super, this is money that has been transferred from a super fund to the ATO. This can happen when a low-balance super account has been inactive for an extended period. The ATO holds it on your behalf until you claim it, either by having it transferred to an active super account or, if you’re aged 65 or over and meet the relevant requirements, paid directly to you.
How to find your lost or ATO-held super
There are two simple ways to search.
- Use Brighter Super’s online consolidation tool to search for other super accounts in your name, including lost and ATO-held super. You don’t need to log in to your account. You can then review the accounts found and decide whether bringing any of them into your Brighter Super account is right for you.
- Search through myGov, using the ATO service linked to your myGov account. This will show whether the ATO or another super fund is holding any super in your name. Log into your myGov account at https://my.gov.au.
You may be surprised to find an account you had forgotten about.
Why people lose track of their super
You may have lost track of a super account if you have:
- changed employers several times throughout your career
- worked in casual or part-time jobs
- changed your name
- moved house without updating your contact details
- forgotten about an old super account.
It's common for Australians to accumulate more than one super account over their working lives.
Why finding your super matters
Finding lost super isn't just about recovering money you didn't know you had. It can also give you a clearer picture of your retirement savings.
If you have more than one super account, you may be paying multiple administration fees, insurance premiums and other account-related fees and charges. Over time, these costs can reduce the amount of super you have available for retirement.
Should you consolidate your super?
If you find more than one super account, you may decide to consolidate them into a single account.
Consolidating your super into one account may help you:
- save money by only paying one set of administration fees
- have less paperwork
- easily keep track of your super balance.
However, consolidating may not be the right choice for everyone.
Before consolidating your super, consider what is best for your situation. Things to consider could include insurance cover, fees and costs, investments and any tax implications.
If you've made personal (after-tax) contributions that you intend to claim as a tax deduction, you'll also need to submit a valid Notice of intent to claim form to your original fund before transferring your money to another fund.
Taking a few minutes to review your super can help you decide what's right for your circumstances.
Why choose Brighter Super
If you decide consolidating your super is right for you, it's quick and easy to consolidate other accounts into Brighter Super using our online consolidation tool.
As a 100% member-owned fund, Brighter Super is committed to helping members grow their retirement savings through competitive fees, strong long-term investment performance and personalised support.
For more than 60 years, Brighter Super has helped members build their super with trusted advice, personal service and local support.
- Brighter fees
We're committed to keeping our fees low, helping your retirement savings grow over the long term – see how our fees and costs
- Brighter returns
Our highly diversified investment strategy is focused on delivering strong, long-term returns. Independent research from SuperRatings ranked Brighter Super's Growth and Balanced investment options among the top five performing options in their respective indices over both seven and ten years to 30 June 20262 – see our latest performance.
- Brighter support
We're recognised for our outstanding member education3 and our team of dedicated super specialists based across Queensland and available online, ready to support you every step of the way – find out more about our seminars and webinars.
See how Brighter Super compares
Keep track of your super
Keep your name and contact details up to date with Brighter Super and any other super funds you have an account with.
If you change jobs, you can take Brighter Super with you. Visit our Changing jobs page to provide your new employer with your Brighter Super details and keep your super contributions going into your existing account.
It's also worth logging into your account from time to time to check your balance and review your account details. Log in to your account in Member Online, or you can use the Brighter Super mobile app for quick access on your phone or tablet.
If you haven’t used Member Online before, getting started is quick and easy – visit register for Member Online.
We’re here to help
Super isn't always straightforward, particularly if you've worked for several employers over many years.
A Super Health Check with one of Brighter Super’s superannuation specialists, available at no additional cost, can help you:
- understand your current super arrangements
- get help finding lost super
- understand what to consider before consolidating
- explore ways to grow your retirement savings.
The appointment takes around 15 minutes and can be completed over the phone.
If you would like a Super Health Check, you can book an appointment online.
- Australian Taxation Office. Total lost (fund-held) and ATO-held super, 29 October 2025. https://www.ato.gov.au/about-ato/research-and-statistics/in-detail/super-statistics/super-accounts-data/super-data-lost-unclaimed-multiple-accounts-and-consolidations/total-lost-fund-held-and-ato-held-super
- SuperRatings Fund Crediting Rate Survey, June 2026. Refer to superratings.com.au for further information about these results. The information is current as at the date of the SuperRatings Survey (released on 20 July 2026). Investment returns are only one factor to be considered when deciding whether to invest. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Returns are based on daily unit pricing valuations and are net of external investment manager fees, net of taxes and gross of all Brighter Super administration fees for all performance periods.
Brighter Super’s Growth option is in the SR Growth (77-90) Index (for Accumulation accounts) and the SRP Growth (77-90) Index (for Pension accounts). Brighter Super’s Balanced option is in SR Balanced (60-76) Index (for Accumulation accounts) and the SRP Balanced (60-76) Index (for Pension accounts).
- Brighter Super won the Member Education Award at the Super Review Super Fund of the Year Awards in both 2025 and 2026, and Money magazine's Best of the Best Award for Innovation in Member Education in 2026. Find out more at brightersuper.com.au/awards.
The information contained is up to date at the time of publishing. Some of the information may change following its release. Any questions can be referred to Brighter Super by calling 1800 444 396, or by emailing info@brightersuper.com.au.
Brighter Super Trustee (ABN 94 085 088 484) (AFSL 230511) (the Trustee) as trustee for Brighter Super (ABN 23 053 121 564) (RSE R1000160) (the Fund). Brighter Super may refer to the Trustee or the Fund as the context may be. Brighter Super products are issued by the Trustee on behalf of the Fund.
You should obtain and consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) before making any decision to acquire any products. A TMD is a document that outlines the target market a product has been designed for. Find the PDSs and TMDs at brightersuper.com.au/pds-and-guides.
This article provides general advice only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. As such, you should consider whether it is appropriate in light of your own objectives, financial situation and needs prior to making any decision. You should consult a licensed financial adviser if you require advice which takes into account your personal financial circumstances.
