The number of payments going into Australian workers’ super accounts each month has more than doubled since Payday Super started on 1 July, according to ASFA research released today.
ASFA’s preliminary estimate is that around 7 million workers who were paid super once a quarter are now getting it with their wages, mostly weekly or fortnightly. A further 2 to 3 million are likely to have moved from monthly payments to weekly or fortnightly.
Around 54 million super payments were processed in August, compared with an average of around 25 million a month in 2025-26. July reached 64 million, as employers made their last quarterly payments under the old rules alongside their first payday contributions. ASFA expects monthly numbers to stay around the August level.
ASFA CEO Mary Delahunty said the figures show Payday Super is working as intended.
“Payday Super was designed to make sure super is paid at the same time as wages. Two months in, the data shows that is happening for millions of workers.
“When super is paid sooner, it is invested sooner and earns returns for longer. A 25-year-old on average wages will have around $5,000 more in retirement just from more frequent payments. It has also made it less likely that workers will miss out on being paid the super they are entitled to,” Ms Delahunty said.
Ms Delahunty encouraged workers to check their super accounts.
“Payday Super works in part because it lets you check your super statements against your payslip each pay cycle. It’s important to log into your super account and check that your super is actually being paid into your account, and not just being listed on your payslip. If something looks wrong, talk to your employer first, and then the ATO if you need to,” Ms Delahunty said.
Workers in small businesses see biggest change
Small businesses were the most likely to pay super quarterly, so their employees are seeing the largest change. After Payday Super started, one super fund with many small business employers received 3.5 times as many employer contributions as before. A fund with a mix of employers received around twice as many, and a fund with more members working for large employers around 1.35 times as many.
Several industries dominated by small businesses, including building and construction, road transport, cafes and restaurants, hairdressing and beauty, and cleaning, are also among those with the highest levels of unpaid super. The ATO estimates $6.2 billion in super guarantee went unpaid in 2022-23.
“Younger Aussies, tradies, and hospo staff are among the workers most likely to miss out on super because of unpaid contributions. They are the people Payday Super was designed to protect.
“Under the quarterly system, workers often noticed missing super four to six months after they earned it. By then the business may have gone into liquidation, and the super may never be recovered. Employers now have seven business days after payday to get super into a worker’s fund, so a missed payment can be identified within weeks, not months,” Ms Delahunty said.
One-off rise in September quarter figures
Because of the extra payments in July, ASFA expects APRA’s superannuation statistics for the September 2026 quarter to show a large one-off rise in the value of employer contributions, with levels returning to normal from the December quarter.
The full research paper, Impact of Payday Superannuation, is available here.
Members of the media may contact:
Scott Roberts
Media and Content Lead
sroberts@superannuation.asn.au
0451 949 300
About ASFA
ASFA is the peak policy, research and advocacy body for Australia’s superannuation industry, and the only industry body that represents all parts of the APRA-regulated system.
Our more than 100 members include retail, industry, corporate and public sector funds and their service providers. For over sixty years, ASFA has been the voice of super, advocating for a dignified retirement for all Australians. Through research, advocacy and collaboration, ASFA promotes efficiency, sustainability and trust in Australia’s world-class retirement income system.