Given the millions of super fund members, the 2,000-2500 complaints received annually by the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal seem relatively small in number.

Presumably, most grievances are resolved if possible without reaching the tribunal. (A complainant is required to first complain to the super fund before complaining to the tribunal.)

Statistics published in the tribunal's quarterly bulletin (PDF) provide a valuable insight into the sorts of issues that fund members and their families may face involving a superannuation fund.

If you or your family is ever to have a complaint about a large super fund, chances are it will involve a fund's administration, distribution of death benefits or payment of disability insurance claims. (SMSFs are not within the tribunal's jurisdiction).

In the March quarter, 48.5 per cent of complaints to the tribunal were about fund administration, 32.7 per cent about the distribution of death benefits and 13.3 per cent about the payment of disability insurance claims. The remaining complaints fell into the category of "other".

It is interesting that as we move further away from the GFC, complaints about fund administration are reducing. A simple explanation may be that members would complain less regarding such matters as the time taken to switch between investment options or to roll over balances into other funds when markets are not sharply falling.

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