BEST INNOVATIVE SUPER SERVICE

GOLD WINNER BUSSQ

The winners were judged based on their submissions. Invitations to submit entries were given to all institutions on the SuperRatings and Canstar database. Only products launched in the past 12 months were eligible. Entries for submissions closed on October 12, 2018. They were judged on innovation, scope and, where applicable, price.

With expert help, applying for the age pension won’t seem so daunting

Eighty per cent of retired Australians receive either a part or full age pension but some new retirees find applying for the payments can be “daunting, demeaning and demoralising,” according to superannuation fund BUSSQ.

It offers retiring super members a new service called Centrelink Assist, which handles the job of applying for and managing the age pension, disability pension plus health and concession cards. It is designed to avoid delays and provide prompt service so that it can be set up in a shorter time frame than if they were doing it on their own.

For $300 ($450 for a couple) BUSSQ specialists help with filling out forms, submitting them online, tracking the application and maintaining the information.

The service has become so successful that BUSSQ offers the service to member-based organisations such as trade unions, employer associations and other superannuation funds.