EARLY WITHDRAWAL

You may be able to make an early withdrawal of part, or all of your savings if you're:

• Buying your first home (KiwiSaver only)
• Suffering from a serious illness
  
• Suffering significant financial hardship
• Permanently emigrating

First Home Withdrawal

Once you’ve been a KiwiSaver member for three years, you can withdraw all or part of your savings to use towards the purchase of your first home.  Before you take the leap and cash in your retirement savings to buy a new home, read our free guide to the KiwiSaver Home Start Scheme.

• Get the guide
• Watch the video
• Download a form
  

Serious illness

If you’re suffering from a terminal illness or can no longer work due to a permanent disability, you may be eligible to withdraw most of your savings. You’ll need to fill out an application form and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

If you are a KiwiSaver customer you may choose to withdraw the full amount of your account balance.

If you are a Mercer Super Trust customer, the rules may vary and we recommend you read you plan specific document.

• Call us
• Download a form

Significant financial hardship

If you’re experiencing significant financial hardship, you may be able to withdraw some of your KiwiSaver or Mercer Super Trust savings. You’ll need to provide evidence to support your application and not every application is approved.

Download our KiwiSaver Financial Hardship guide to help you through the process, or call the Helpline.

Permanent emigration

If you've moved overseas permanently and have been living overseas for a minimum of one year, you can withdraw your KiwiSaver savings from the Mercer KiwiSaver scheme – unless you’ve moved to Australia.

In that case you can’t cash in your account but you can transfer your KiwiSaver to an approved Australian super fund under the Trans-Tasman Portability scheme.

In either case you’ll need to fill out an application form.

If you are a member of the Mercer Super Trust, you’ll need to complete an application form and  have it signed by your employer.

• Call us
• Get the form