Closed public sector scheme
CSS
CSS is a closed Commonwealth scheme whose benefit depends on more than the investment return shown on a statement.
THE OVERVIEW
About CSS
CSS combines defined benefit and accumulation elements. It closed to new entrants from 1 July 1990, with limited re-entry rules for some existing members.
Who can join
Relevant to existing contributors, deferred members and pensioners. Some returning employees must or may resume contributing.
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
Our take
For a CSS member, an ordinary fund ranking answers too little. Get a benefit estimate for the actual exit date and compare the pension and lump-sum choices before considering any transfer.
Who this profile is for
- Existing CSS members reviewing retirement or a return to eligible employment.
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
THE NUMBERS
Fees and investment returns
Use the product, investment option and employer plan on your statement. Lifecycle members need to choose the relevant stage. APRA's investment pathways may include closed options held by existing members.
No investment pathway has been matched to this profile in the June 2026 APRA package. Read the fee and performance notes below and use the fund's current documents. Absence from this dataset is not a performance-test failure.
Source: APRA Comprehensive Product Performance Package 2026, published 28 August 2026. Fees reflect the reporting year to 30 June 2026, are net of tax, use standard arrangements and exclude member-activity fees. Dollar figures are rounded. They are not a current quote. Check the latest PDS for changes, insurance premiums and any separately charged advice.
Returns are annualised historical results. Different return bases, risk levels and periods cannot be treated as interchangeable. MySuper net returns use a $50,000 representative balance even when you change the fee balance. A lifecycle stage return does not track a person moving between stages. Missing figures mean not reported, not zero. Past returns do not predict future returns. Read our method and APRA's definitions.
A CLOSER LOOK
Inside CSS
Accounts and products
Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme, including defined benefit and accumulation components.
CSS defined benefit
CSS accumulation component
Investment choices
Investment earnings affect the funded component; they are only part of the overall benefit calculation.
Retirement income
The main retirement benefit is generally a pension. Age, service, reason for leaving and sometimes final salary affect its calculation.
Comparing investment performance
Explain benefits beside other schemes without treating CSS as a fund anyone can join.
THE LEGAL FUND
Fund size in APRA's annual reporting
CSS Fund
At 30 June 2025. These are legal-fund totals, which can include several products and more than one account per person.
APRA annual fund-level statistics, June 2025. These older totals can differ substantially after mergers. Size is not a measure of suitability or investment quality.
Sources for CSS
Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.