Relationships

     

    Whether you’re starting a new relationship or going through a break-up, there’s a lot to consider, including your finances. We’re here to help with information and support.

    Husbands cooking and laughing

    Getting married or moving in together

    When planning your future together, it can be helpful to talk about your financial goals and how you’ll manage your finances. Consider the benefits and risks to merging finances before deciding if you want joint accounts or separate ones.

    If you’re looking to buy a home together, there are options available, such as separate offset accounts.

    Remember to update your details on accounts. You can also update the nominated beneficiary on your super if you want.

    Separation or divorce

    Family break-ups, separation and divorce are some of life’s most emotional and stressful experiences. It can affect your self-identify, emotional and physical health, living arrangements and finances. While working through these changes can be challenging, support is available. Here are some important things to consider, and practical ways we can help.

    Steps to take

    • Get professional advice and help
      Before making any big decisions, seek legal advice to understand your options more confidently. You can contact a community legal centre or the Legal Aid service in your state or territory for free legal advice.
    • Protect your accounts
      When going through a divorce or separation, you may want to protect your accounts and privacy by changing the password or PIN on your account(s) and updating your contact details if they have changed. 
    • Review joint banking or investment accounts
      Before closing any accounts, make sure direct debits are taken care of, and there is a plan in place for making home-related payments such as mortgage and utilities. 
    • Review your finances
      Separating can mean that your income changes considerably. Work out your income and expenses using our budget planner, and reach out early if you’re finding it hard to keep up with loan repayments or bills. 
    • Stay connected 
      Your trusted support network can help you navigate this time in your life. Connect with family and friends, or expand your social network through local clubs or online support groups. You can also seek support from professionals if you need it.

    How we can help

    • Change your details
      Contact us if you need help with getting previous bank statements and communications. You can also update your contact details online through My AMP or via our form
    • Consider 'all to sign'
      If it’s difficult communicating with your ex-partner or there’s a dispute about the account, you can ask us to change the signing authority on your bank account so that funds can’t be withdrawn without both account holders’ consent. 
    • Review your super
      Super may be an asset which gets divided during a divorce or separation. To learn more about super splitting, read our article.
      Make sure the beneficiary nominations on your super accounts are up to date. You can update it through My AMP or call us on 131 267.
    • Open your own bank account
      You may want to start establishing your financial independence by opening your own account(s), if you don’t already have one. We offer a range of accounts, including the AMP Access Account which has no monthly fees or minimum balance.
    • Financial advice
      You may want to consult a financial adviser, who can help you make informed decisions about your assets and liabilities. Find out more about advice options

    Further resources, services and support

     Name    Details   Website   Phone
    Mensline Australia   A free telephone and online counselling service offering support for men anywhere, anytime. Qualified counsellors specialise in family and relationship issues, including relationship breakdown, separation and divorce, parenting, family violence, and emotional wellbeing.   mensline.org.au   1300 78 99 78
    Available 24/7
    QLife   QLife provides anonymous, LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. Our services are for LGBTIQ+ individuals, their friends and families, and health professionals.   qlife.org.au   1800 184 527
    3pm – midnight, 7 days
    Relationships Australia  
      Relationships Australia is a leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities. 
      relationships.org.au   1300 364 277
    Divorce & separation financial checklist
      ASIC’s Moneysmart website has a checklist with practical steps to organise and separate your finances after a break-up.
      moneysmart.gov.au    
    Family Relationship Advice Line
      A national telephone service that helps families affected by relationship or separation issues, including information on parenting arrangements after separation. 
      familyrelationships.gov.au   1800 050 321
    8am - 8pm, Monday to Friday
    10am - 4pm, Saturday
    Services Australia (Centrelink)
      Information about how separating affects your payments. Help with child support arrangements between separated parents.   servicesaustralia.gov.au/separated-parents    



    Becoming a carer or parent

    Becoming a carer or parent is a significant transition - it can be rewarding, but also brings new responsibilities. The person you’re caring for might need help with banking, paying bills and managing money. Your own finances can also be affected. As a parent or carer, there is often less time available for paid work, which can reduce your income. There may be additional expenses to consider too, so it can be helpful to review your budget. We’re here to support you along the way.

    Steps to take

    • Look after yourself
      Caring for others can be mentally and physically draining, and overwhelming at times. It’s important to take time for yourself, connect with your support network and arrange breaks or respite.
    • Seek support
      There's practical and emotional support available for parents and carers, such as the Australian Parenting website (raisingchildren.net.au) and the Carer Gateway
    • Power of Attorney
      You can act on behalf of the person you’re caring for if they have appointed you as a Power of Attorney (POA).

    How we can help

    • Authority to Act
      If you’re not named as Power of Attorney, but the person you’re caring for wants you to help them speak to us by phone or act on their behalf, they can fill in a Third Party Access form
    • Budgeting tools
      We have tools and calculators to help you assess your financial situation. 
    • Referral for financial advice
      You may be thinking about adding or increasing insurance on your super, or you might have concerns about super contributions because you’re earning less. We can refer you to an independent financial adviser to discuss your situation.
    • Financial stress or hardship
      If your circumstances are making it difficult for you to keep up with loan repayments or pay bills, get in touch as soon as you can to find out how we can support you.

    Further resources, services and support

     Name    Details   Website   Phone
    COPE (Centre of Perinatal Excellence)
      Providing support for the emotional challenges of becoming a parent.
      cope.org.au   1 300 740 398
    9am - 5pm (AEST), Monday to Friday
    PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)
      PANDA supports the mental health of parents and families during pregnancy and in their first year of parenthood.
      panda.org.au   1300 726 306
    9am - 7.30pm, Monday to Friday
    9am - 4pm, Saturdays 
    Kids Help Line
      Free confidential and private counselling, mental health and wellbeing information and referrals for young people aged 5 to 25 years. Call or chat online.
      kidshelpline.com.au   1800 551 800
    Available 24/7
    ReachOut
      A national online mental health organisation for young people and their parents. Practical support, tools and tips help young people get through anything from everyday issues to tough times.
      au.reachout.com   13 11 14
    Available 24/7
    Services Australia (Centrelink)
      Payments and services to help with the cost of raising a child. Information about child care and child support.
      servicesaustralia.gov.au/raising-kids    
    Carer Gateway
      Emotional and practical support and services for carers – including counselling, skills coaching and respite.
      carergateway.gov.au   1800 422 737
    Services Australia (Centrelink)
      Payments, allowances and support for carers.
      servicesaustralia.gov.au/getting-support-if-youre-caring-for-someone    



    Friends on couch consoling each other

    Grief and loss

    Losing a loved one is one of life’s most heart-breaking moments. We’re here to help during this difficult time. Our contact centre will assist you with any initial enquiries and will provide information about how to officially notify us about a loss and settling the estate. Learn more about deceased estates.

    If your loved one had insurance through AMP super, we can support you through the claims process to make things as easy as possible for you.

    Confidential support for grief and loss is available from GriefLine by calling 1300 845 745.

    Estate planning

    Understand how to protect yourself if something happens to you and you can’t make your own decisions, or distribute your assets if you pass away. Learn more about estate planning.

    If you haven’t made your wishes known, or formally documented what these are, it’s possible a dispute could arise after you pass away. Read our tips for avoiding family disputes over your will.

    Grandfather and grandson jamming with musical instruments in the kitchen

    Job loss or redundancy

    After losing a job or being made redundant, many people experience a great sense of loss, because work is often a big part of our daily routine and even our sense of identity. Suddenly finding yourself without income can also be stressful, especially when bills and expenses continue to roll in. While this can be a difficult time, we’re here to help with suggestions and support.

    Steps to take

    • Create a budget
      Estimate how long you’ll be out of work (e.g. up to 6 months). Check if you have enough money to cover the upcoming costs in that time. If not, consider areas where you can cut back, or maybe taking on short-term work.
    • Government support
      Look into unemployment benefits and other support programs.
    • Ask for help
      There are lots of services that provide everything from emergency relief, if you’re in crisis, to emotional and practical support.
    • Avoid debt traps
      Minimise your use of credit cards and buy now pay later because they will likely make your situation worse in the long run.

    How we can help

    • Budgeting tools
      We have tools and calculators to help you assess your financial situation. 
    • Referral for financial advice
      If you have concerns about super contributions because you’re earning less, we can refer you to an independent financial adviser or financial counsellor to discuss your situation.
    • Home loan payment options
      If your home loan has a redraw facility, check your account balances. You may be able to use available funds in redraw to cover loan repayments in the short term. If you have a fixed rate home loan, there could still be options, call us to discuss.
    • Financial stress or hardship
      If your circumstances are making it difficult for you to keep up with loan repayments or pay bills, get in touch as soon as you can to find out how we can support you

    Further resources, services and support

    Name    Details   Website   Phone
    Workforce Australia
      Workforce Australia is a place Australians can search and apply for jobs or find more information on their pathway to employment.
      workforceaustralia.gov.au    
    Job Access
      Gives people with disability, employers, service providers and the community access to information about services, financial assistance and workplace solutions.
      jobaccess.gov.au    
    Services Australia (Centrelink)
      Services and payments to help you if you’re unemployed. What you can get depends on your circumstances. If you get a redundancy payment, a waiting period may apply before support payments can start.
      servicesaustralia.gov.au/work    
    Financial Information Service
      Services Australia provide a free financial service to help you make decisions about your finances.
      servicesaustralia.gov.au/financial-information-service   13 23 00
    Fair Entitlements Guarantee 
      If your employer went bankrupt or into liquidation and owed you entitlements, you may get financial help from the Australian Government (Department of Employment & Workplace Relations).
      dewr.gov.au/fair-entitlements-guarantee    
    Fair Work Ombudsman
      If you lost your job and didn’t get your entitlements, the Fair Work Ombudsman may help recover what’s outstanding. 
      fairwork.gov.au   13 13 94
    Check what to do before you call



    Financial support directory

    Our financial support directory includes product help, calculators and a list of community and government organisations that can provide relevant support for your situation.

    We're here to help

    Get in touch with us if you're experiencing financial difficulty. We'll take the time to listen, understand your situation and do our best to help.

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    Products in the AMP Super Fund and the Wealth Personal Superannuation and Pension Fund are issued by N.M. Superannuation Proprietary Limited (N.M. Super) ABN 31 008 428 322 (trustee), which is part of the AMP group (AMP). 

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