Know when super should be paid
Most employees aged 18 or over are entitled to employer super even when they are casual, part-time or earn a small amount. For employees under 18, the general rule includes working more than 30 hours in a week. Workplace labels do not always decide the outcome; some people described as contractors may still be employees for super purposes.
The standard employer rate is 12% in 2026–27, applied to qualifying earnings. Casual loading does not replace super. Read an hourly-rate advertisement carefully to see whether it is plus super or a total remuneration figure, and use the ATO eligibility tools if the arrangement is unclear.
Track payments across changing rosters and employers
Casual work can produce irregular earnings and several payroll systems. Save each payslip and record the fund and member number given to the employer. From 1 July 2026, employer contributions are made with salary or wages and generally need to reach the fund within seven business days, making it easier to match a pay cycle with a deposit.
Check the fund transaction rather than the payslip alone. A payslip records a payroll calculation, not proof that money reached your account. If a payment is missing, ask the employer which fund it was sent to and on what date, then keep the written response.
Avoid collecting an account with every job
Giving each employer the same eligible fund details can prevent duplicate administration fees and insurance premiums. If you do not choose, stapling rules may connect a new employer to an existing account, but you should still verify where payments are going rather than assume the process worked.
Before consolidating accounts, check insurance and any special benefits. Young members and low-balance accounts may not receive automatic insurance unless they meet the rules or opt in, so decide on cover deliberately instead of discovering later that you have either duplicate policies or none.
Quick reference
Key things to remember
- Check whether the quoted hourly rate includes casual loading but excludes super.
- Workers under 18 generally need to work more than 30 hours in a week to qualify for that week.
- Multiple employers may mean contributions arrive from several payroll systems.
- A stapled fund can help prevent a new account every time you take a new job.
Put it into practice
Your next steps
- 01
Give each employer the same chosen fund details when appropriate.
- 02
Keep every payslip until the contribution appears in your account.
- 03
Use the ATO employee eligibility tool if unsure.
- 04
Raise missing payments with the employer, then the ATO if unresolved.
Check the source
Official information
Super and tax rules change. These primary sources are the right place to verify the details before you act.