Your wages arrived. Did your super?
Working casually or starting your first graduate job? Payday Super now applies. Here’s how to check the money reached your fund, and what to do if it hasn’t.
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Your wages land, rent goes out, and the super line on your payslip gets a quick glance. But that line alone doesn’t establish that the money reached your super fund. Whether you’re working café shifts between classes or starting a graduate role, make one extra check this payday: open your super account.
Who this is for: Australian students and graduates checking superannuation contributions.
The timing changed on 1 July
Australia’s federal Payday Super rules took effect on 1 July 2026. Employers must pay eligible employees’ super with salary or wages, rather than relying on the old quarterly cycle.
Contributions generally need to reach the fund within seven business days after payday. Exceptions apply: the first contribution for a new employee has a 20-business-day timeframe. A missing contribution on payday therefore does not automatically mean your employer is late. Fair Work guidance
Does a student or casual job count?
In most cases, yes. Casual employment does not remove your super entitlement. If you’re under 18, the general rule is that you must work more than 30 hours in a week to qualify. ASIC guidance
International students should check too. Temporary residence does not, by itself, exclude an employee from super guarantee eligibility. Special circumstances can affect eligibility, so don’t assume “student visa” means “no super”. ATO eligibility guidance
How much are you looking for?
The standard super guarantee rate is 12% of qualifying earnings, the earnings base used under Payday Super. This is not necessarily identical to every dollar of gross pay.
For example, $500 in qualifying earnings means a $60 employer contribution. This illustrates the calculation, not your particular entitlement. ATO Payday Super guidance
Your five-minute check
1. Save recent payslips. Note pay dates and super amounts separately for each employer.
2. Open your fund’s official app or website. Look for employer contributions and receipt dates, not just the total balance.
3. Unsure which fund received the money? In myGov, select Australian Taxation Office, then Super. You can also ask payroll which fund they used.
4. If something looks missing, contact your fund and payroll. Ask which pay period it covers, how much was sent and when it was received. Allow for the applicable timeframe before drawing conclusions.
5. Keep the replies and records. If it remains unresolved, follow the ATO’s unpaid-super reporting process.
The government’s super management guide explains how to locate your accounts and check contributions.
One habit worth keeping
Check again after changing jobs, and download payslips before losing access to an old employer’s payroll portal. They give you something useful to compare if a contribution needs chasing later.
General information, original draft check: 22 October 2026. Not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Eligibility and payment exceptions depend on your circumstances; confirm with the ATO or a qualified adviser.
Photo: Blake Verdoorn / Unsplash. Photo source, reuse licence. Free commercial reuse permitted. Illustrative stock photo, not a reported workplace.
Alt text: Espresso flowing from a stainless-steel coffee machine.