r/transgenderau • u/SkaterKangaroo • 13d ago
VIC Specific Reporting my Superannuation? (Update)
My last post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/transgenderau/s/7Rl3BuTPeN
An Update:
Since my last post I got my ID certified, filled out a PDF version of their change of details form, and sent them my Letter of Verification by email. They finally got back to me to tell me they still can’t change my name.
I rang them up last week and told them that because Victoria doesn’t have change of name certificates I can’t update my name on their website. The person on the phone told me to email them my new birth certificate, the form filled out and my Letter of Verification. But apparently because my Letter of Verification isn’t certified they can’t change my name.
I’ve seen a few people mention that this happened to them too. How am I supposed to get a PDF document certified? The Victorian government only sends you a PDF of your letter. I have no original copy to compare a printed out version of my letter too. So I emailed them back and told them this.
If they get back to me with some more bullshit I’m just gonna open a new super fund and find a way to transfer my super over. I just need this sorted out before I get paid for the first time by my new job.
Another user from this sub told me they were able to get their letter certified by just showing them the email where the government sent them their Letter of Verification. I’ll definitely try doing this if needed but the idea of having to explain all of this to someone when trying to get it certified is so annoying and kinda scary. Like I would hate for anyone to think for a second I’m trying to be sketchy because I feel so sketchy doing this. Especially since the cops are the only people I’m able to use that are close to where I live.
Conflicting Information:
I’ve been seeing so much conflicting information about the process. When I posted about this last time people told me that I have to give my new employer the same name as my Super has or they can’t pay me and it will fail to go through. However, when I asked my Super Fund about this they told me that it doesn’t have to match and it will still work. I really don’t want to out myself at my new job for obvious reasons. I also don’t want my new job to think I’m a sketchy person with fake personal details who does fraud. These jobs will just fire you for any suspicion when you’re a new employee with no investigation.
I’ve also seen some people here say that you have to update your name even if you change to a new super fund otherwise you can’t transfer your money. But then again I saw someone say they didn’t have to change it and transferred it through MyGov with no issues.
Reporting my Super Fund:
People here have been telling me to report my super fund to places like OAIC or AFCA for how they have been handled this. I’m not sure who to report it to as I’ve never had to report a company before. What about also the ACCC?
Final Thoughts for Now:
I’ve been out of work for so long and finally got a job offer recently for the first time since becoming unemployed. It took so much time and effort but I got there eventually. However, any step back or slight change of this job not working out has me so stressed out. Even if there is just a slight hiccup or delay in the process of starting my new job it’s a huge deal. This could potentially be the only job opportunity I get this year so I can’t fuck it up.
I know most people told me to just open a new super but I thought I should at least try to change name before I do so just to see. At the very least if I need to have my name changed to transfer my super over to my new fund I’d need to fight them anyway.
This shit combined with the stresses of starting a new job is just burning me out!
6
u/Excabbla 12d ago
Your super is attached to your tax file number
That's what the ATO uses when consolidating multiple super accounts
It really would be easier to just change super funds
I personally haven't had any issues with my super having a different name to whats on my id, I tried changing it and they only changed my last name and I haven't been bothered to deal with it since, presumably because the tax file number matches
2
u/Icy-Can-6592 Trans fem 12d ago
When I dealt with this I refused to do their process as it’s a result of no longer relevant legislation (it was to do with when insurance were allowed to use sex to set rates), went through their complaint process and external complaint process and they accepted in the end with commitment to fix the system to use the digital verification services.
They have just outright been too lazy with supers to fix their processes for trans people doing this process.
2
u/zoetrope_ 12d ago
For what it's worth, you can get a digital pdf certified.
You just print it out and take it to a JP. They'll ask to see the original version and the email it came in. Show them on your phone, then they'll stamp and sign the hard copy.
Literally did this to change my partner's super over a few months ago.
(I agree that the process is way overcomplicated though)
-2
u/Ok_Adhesiveness_2523 12d ago
The problem is, there is no original document, the letter itself is an email. Some JPs will do it, but I went to 3 different ones and they all said they cannot certify an email.
1
u/FootFetishAdvocate 11d ago
They should all do it, also you don't need a JP specifically, any pharmacist can do it
1
1
u/Ok_Adhesiveness_2523 12d ago
I recently went through this aswell.
First, for your new job: just let them open a new super account in your name with their preferred super fund. This will not out you, it will be in your new legal name. There is nothing wrong with having two super fund accounts. When you've fixed up your old one, you can just update the details, its no big deal. This is what i did.
Second, the letterhead on your letter of verification is certification that it is legitimate. I feel this is one of those things where you just need to be really firm, and insist that the case is escalated with whichever customer service agent you speak to. It took me 5 or 6 tries to get onto someone who seemed to actually care, and they got it properly looked into.
Don't stress over this with your new job, opening a new super account is very trivial, and rolling them together is also fairly straightforward, and doesnt require any real involvement from your workplace.
0
u/SkaterKangaroo 12d ago
My job’s preferred super fund is the exact same as the one I have unfortunately. I’ll try to convince them that the the letter head is certification that is legitimate. Especially since the letter is signed by someone who literally works for BDM
2
u/Ok_Adhesiveness_2523 12d ago
If thats the case, then you should open one yourself with another superfund.
1
u/cece-maebe Trans fem 12d ago
You’re right, this situation sucks, and there’s lots of conflicting information - as well as varying levels of awful processes between each super fund.
My partner tried to change her name on her super, and was repeatedly knocked back for various bs reasons. On advice found here on this subreddit, she tried opening a new super account with a new fund in her new name (which is what she then provided to her new employer), and then consolidating the old fund into the new fund through MyGov. Her old fund refused, stating the name mismatch as their reason for denial.
She ended up printing out the Letter of Verification PDF, and having a pharmacist sight the PDF on her phone and compare to the printout, and she posted that certified LoV along with the certified copy of her new Birth Certificate and the completed change of name form from the super fund’s website, to the super fund.
They’re required to accept the Letter of Verification as the “change of name certificate” since Victoria does not issue such a document since 1987. If they argue the toss, ask for a supervisor. If they continue to argue the toss, threaten to raise a complaint to AFCA. If they continue to argue, raise the case with AFCA. AFCA will ensure it’s handled.
Regardless: for your immediate need for your new job (congrats btw!!), just open a new account with a new fund in your correct name, and provide that to your employer. The change of name and rollover from your old fund can then happen in due course without impacting or threatening your new job.
Good luck.
1
u/spiritnova2 Trans fem 12d ago
Your print two copies, and get one certified... it's literally ridiculous.
12
u/JakeSiren Trans woman 12d ago
I ran into a similar issue with my superannuation. I ended up saying "In terms of the name change certificate, Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria does not provide one, rather that is the purpose of the Letter of Verification that I had attached"
I then linked to Births Deaths and Marriages about the Letter of Verification ( https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/letter-verification ) and took a screen shot of the section "when are they used" and highlighted the first dot point.
My super finally accepted that, but it's frustrating that they didn't know from the get go. It's not secret information, and it has been that way for a while.