Plain-English summary

From 16 October 2026, Cbus members will be able to make non-lapsing binding death benefit nominations online. According to the Cbus announcement discussed in the video, Cbus will also stop offering non-binding nominations and new lapsing binding nominations.

A superannuation death benefit does not automatically form part of your estate. Your will therefore may not determine who receives your super balance or any associated death benefit. The result can depend on whether you have made a valid nomination, the type of nomination, the eligible beneficiary named and the fund rules and superannuation law applying at the relevant time.

The changes are a useful reminder to review your nomination and your will together. Cbus members should confirm the current nomination requirements directly with Cbus before making or changing a nomination.

Video transcript

00:01 — From 16 October 2026, Cbus Super has announced that members will be able to make non-lapsing binding death benefit nominations online.

00:10 — Cbus will also stop offering non-binding nominations and new lapsing binding nominations.

00:18 — Why is this important?

00:24 — One of the most common misconceptions in estate planning is, “My will says who gets everything, so my super is covered.”

00:33 — Well, not necessarily. Superannuation does not automatically form part of your estate, and your will does not necessarily determine who receives your superannuation or associated death benefits.

00:51 — Cbus has also streamlined the way certain death benefits are dealt with where no nomination exists.

00:57 — What does this mean? For Cbus members, the upcoming changes provide a timely reason to review your estate planning and ask:

01:08 — Does my superannuation nomination actually work with my will?

01:16 — A properly considered estate plan should look beyond the will itself and consider assets such as superannuation and death benefits.

What is changing for Cbus members?

The video identifies three practical changes scheduled from 16 October 2026:

• members will be able to make a non-lapsing binding death benefit nomination online;
• Cbus will stop offering non-binding nominations; and
• Cbus will stop offering new lapsing binding nominations.

A non-lapsing nomination does not expire merely because a set period has passed. However, it still needs to satisfy the fund’s requirements and the law, and it should be reviewed when personal or family circumstances change.

Why your will may not control your super

Superannuation is generally held by the fund trustee rather than owned by you in the same way as an asset held personally. A death benefit may be paid directly to an eligible beneficiary or to your legal personal representative, depending on the nomination, the fund’s governing rules and applicable law.

If a valid binding nomination directs payment to your legal personal representative, the benefit may be paid to the estate and dealt with under the will, subject to the relevant legal and tax position. If there is no valid binding nomination, the trustee may have discretion under the fund rules and superannuation law. This is why a will and a super nomination should be considered together rather than in isolation.

Questions to consider before 16 October 2026

• Do you currently have a death benefit nomination with Cbus?
• Is it binding, non-binding, lapsing or non-lapsing?
• Is the nomination current, valid and consistent with Cbus requirements?
• Are the people nominated eligible beneficiaries under superannuation law?
• Does the nomination support the intentions expressed in your will?
• Have marriage, separation, divorce, a new relationship, a birth or a death changed your intended arrangements?
• Do you need legal, financial or tax advice before choosing between direct payment and payment through your estate?

Common questions

Does a Cbus death benefit automatically follow my will?

No. As the video explains, superannuation does not automatically form part of your estate. The outcome depends on the nomination and the rules applying to the fund and the benefit.

What is a non-lapsing binding nomination?

It is a nomination intended to bind the fund trustee and which does not expire after a fixed period merely because time has passed. It must still comply with the applicable legal and fund requirements.

Should I review an existing nomination?

Yes, particularly if your relationships, dependants, estate plan or financial circumstances have changed. Confirm the current process and requirements directly with Cbus Super.

Check the official Cbus timeline

The Cbus significant event notices confirm the nomination changes scheduled for 16 October 2026. Existing three-year binding nominations will be followed before they expire. Cbus also says non-binding nominations will be removed from member accounts on that date.

The changes to distributions where no nomination exists are a separate development introduced from 1 December 2025. Read Cbus’s 18 August 2026 announcement and the applicable member notice for the detail, including account-specific conditions. Do not assume the same rules apply to every Cbus product or every super fund.

What should I confirm directly with Cbus?

Ask which nomination is recorded on your account, whether it remains valid, when it expires if applicable, and what action the October changes require for your account. Keep the fund’s confirmation with your estate-planning records.

For broader information, ASIC’s Moneysmart guide to super death benefits explains why nominations and a will should be considered together.

Official announcement checked on 10 September 2026. The October changes are upcoming at that date; check Cbus for any later update.

Make your super nomination and will work together

PA Law can review your will and estate-planning arrangements and help you consider how your intended superannuation death benefit arrangements fit within the broader plan.

Contact PA Law Wills lawyer services Estate planning services

Discuss your next step with PA Law

Based in Evanston South, PA Law assists clients in Gawler, Adelaide and across South Australia. Appointments, including telephone and Microsoft Teams consultations where appropriate, are by arrangement.

Tell us which video prompted your enquiry, what you need help with and any deadline. Request an appointment or call 0431 614 696. Learn about PA Law and Principal Solicitor Manal Amro.