Paying wages and super are now (almost) aligned
Starting from 1 July 2026, employers will be required by law to pay super at the same time as they pay wages.
This is called the “Payday Super” reforms.
Prior to this, employers only needed to pay eligible employees super every three months. Now your super guarantee (SG) payment will align with your pay cycle - weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
So, if you get paid wages fortnightly, you will now also get your super paid fortnightly.
Why does it matter?
Payday super means your super will arrive into your super account faster than before. It’s not just because super needs to be paid more frequently, there are now strict requirements on how long employers can take to have the money received by your super fund.
Under old super deadline system, employers had to pay every quarter (28 Jan, 28 Apr, 28 July and 28 Oct). It just had to arrive in your super account 4 times a year by these deadlines.
From 1 July 2026, employers have to ensure your super is received by your super fund within seven business days of your wages being paid. Your super fund then has 3 business days to allocate or return your contribution once received.
The first payment for new employees
The first super payment for a new employee is allowed to take longer - it needs to be received within 20 business days after the first time you are paid. But after that, your employer will be required to pay super at the same time as your wages.
Is Payday super a good idea?
Yes.
- Your super is paid faster and more regularly, which means it starts earning investment returns faster.
- If there is a problem, you can raise it earlier with your employer. It is much easier to address a problem that happened a week ago than 3 months ago.
- With more frequent reporting from the employer, the ATO can take faster action to collect unpaid super from employers.
How do you keep on top of your super?
To confirm if your super has actually been paid into your super account, you will still need to log into your super account and check your transactions. With Payday super, you will probably need to log into your super account more frequently.
Why? Payslips are still not a guarantee of payment. Looking at your payslip and seeing the super included does not mean it has actually been paid. You need to log in to your super account to confirm that your super has been paid.
Student Super makes it easy to keep on top of this. We’ll send you a notification when there is a super payment received in your super account. You can log in to check the transaction or your balance at any time.
What else is changing?
Tougher penalties for non-payment
Employers with late or missed super payments will be charged a penalty called the Super Guarantee Charge (SGC). Interest will be charged and compounds daily at the general interest charge rate.
Tougher penalties for failing to provide “choice of fund”
In most cases you have the right to choose your super fund. Some employers have pressured employees into joining a specific fund which the member didn’t choose. If caught, these employers will be charged a penalty called the “choice loading”.
OTE becomes QE - “Qualifying earnings”
Previously, the amount an employer has to pay you is calculated as 12% of Ordinary Time Earnings (OTE). This excluded overtime.
From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee amount is calculated as 12% of Qualifying Earnings (QE). QE includes OTE, salary sacrifice contributions, and other amounts that are currently included in an employee's salary or wages for super guarantee. Overtime is still excluded from super guarantee payments.
