Millions of Australians set to benefit from Payday Super

Changes to when employers pay super contributions will give retirement savings more time to grow

Partners

1 July 2026

A major change to Australia’s superannuation system came into effect on 1 July 2026. Known as Payday Super, the reform will require employers to pay employees’ super contributions at the same time as salary and wages.

Before this change, employers had the option to pay super contributions at a different frequency to wages and salary. For many people, this meant their super contributions were paid quarterly.

From July 2026, super contributions will start reaching employees’ super accounts within seven business days of their pay cycle.

The Government estimates that around 8.9 million employees across Australia will benefit from this change¹. Based on the Government’s latest employment figures, that’s about 60 per cent of the working population².

While many employers have needed to make significant changes to payroll and payment processes, employees don’t need to take any action. However, it is worth understanding what’s changed and how the reforms could benefit your super over time.

The benefits of Payday Super

Payday Super is one of the biggest changes to Australia’s superannuation system in decades.

For employees, the benefits are straightforward – your super reaches your account sooner, giving it more time to grow, it’s easier to keep track of, and there’s less risk of unpaid or delayed contributions.

If you’re not already receiving super contributions at the same time as your payday, here are some of the ways you could benefit.

Your super has more time to grow

Instead of waiting weeks or months for contributions to arrive, your super will be paid with each pay cycle. That means your money can be invested sooner and have more time to earn investment returns.

Earlier contributions also have more opportunity to benefit from compound growth, where investment returns can earn returns of their own over time. While the difference may seem small from one pay cycle to the next, it can add up over a working lifetime.

The Government estimates that by switching to Payday Super, a 25 year old median income earner currently receiving their super quarterly and wages fortnightly could be around $6,000 or 1.5 per cent better off at retirement³.

It's easier to keep track of your super

More frequent contributions make it easier to compare what appears on your payslip with what reaches your super account. Instead of waiting months for contributions to arrive, you’ll be able to monitor your super throughout the year and see payments being made more regularly.

You’ll have a more up-to-date view of your super and how it’s growing, making it easier to stay engaged with your retirement savings and plan for the future.

You can review your contributions at any time, by logging into your account on Member Online or downloading the Brighter Super mobile app.

Less risk of missing or unpaid super

Under the previous system, many employees may not have realised there was a problem until months after a super contribution was due.

With super being paid and received more regularly, unpaid or delayed contributions are less likely to build up over long periods. If a contribution is missing or late, it’s more likely to be identified sooner, making it easier to address any issues before they become larger problems.

Together, these changes help strengthen the superannuation system and reduce the risk of employees missing out on super they’re entitled to receive.

How Payday Super will work

From 1 July 2026, employers must pay super contributions at the same time as wages or salary each pay cycle.

The new legislation also requires that super funds receive contributions within seven business days of payday, unless an extended timeframe applies (such as for new employees).

Many employees already receive super contributions shortly after payday, so this process may already be familiar to some members. However, for those employees who previously received super contributions less frequently, this will be a significant change.

It’s important to know that contributions won’t appear in your account instantly on payday. There is still a processing window between when your employer sends the contribution to your super fund and when it is allocated to your account.

In most cases, you should expect to see contributions allocated within seven business days of payday.

What should you do?

While companies and organisations have been updating their payroll and payment systems to prepare for Payday Super, employees don’t need to take any action.

However, there are a few simple steps you can take to make the most of the changes and ensure you’re receiving the super contributions you’re entitled to.

1. Make sure your employer has your correct super details

Check that your employer has your current super fund details and member number.

If your employer needs Brighter Super’s fund details, the Unique Superannuation Identifier (USI) for Brighter Super contributions is generally QLG0001AU.

If you have a Brighter Super Corporate Offer (previously Optimiser), the USI is 23053121564123.

2. Check your super contributions regularly

With Payday Super now in effect, you may want to check that your contributions are being made as expected by logging into your account on Member Online or downloading the Brighter Super mobile app.

Remember, contributions won’t appear in your account instantly on payday. In most cases, they should arrive within seven business days.

Regularly checking your account can help you confirm contributions are being received correctly and identify any issues early.

3. Check for lost super and multiple accounts

If you’ve worked for different employers throughout your career, there’s a chance you may have accumulated multiple super accounts or even some lost super.

The latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data shows that total lost (fund-held) and ATO-held super as of 30 June 2025 was just over $18.9 billion for just under 7.3 million accounts⁴.

Now is a good opportunity to review your super and make sure you know where all your retirement savings are. Consolidating your super may make it easier to manage your retirement savings and could help reduce the fees you’re paying across multiple accounts.

Before consolidating your super, you should consider what is best for your situation now and long-term. You should also check with your other super fund(s) to see if this could change your employer contributions, any fee or tax implications, or loss of insurance cover.

A note for members who salary sacrifice

If you make additional concessional (before-tax) contributions through salary sacrifice, it’s worth checking how close you are to the annual concessional contributions cap.

Because super contributions will now be paid more frequently, some members who are close to the cap may want to check with their payroll team, financial adviser or accountant to ensure contributions remain within the annual limits.

If you actively manage your salary sacrifice arrangements, it’s a good idea to stay informed and regularly review your contributions.

Find out more about the annual contribution caps.

You can keep track of contributions to your Brighter Super account during the financial year by logging into Member Online. You can also download the Brighter Super mobile app.

If you need to view your contributions across multiple super funds (including Brighter Super), you should log in to your MyGov account at https://my.gov.au.

Information for business owners and payroll staff

If you own a business or work in payroll, Brighter Super has information for employers, including legislative updates, employer checklists and practical guidance on preparing for Payday Super.

Visit Payday Super for employers.

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