![\"Aussie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/aeb59ec0-1912-11f1-b0f7-33a730756d84.png\")
Aussies are still facing a super gender gap, with women approaching retirement with thousands less than men. (Source: AAP\/Getty) <\/p>\n Aussies are still facing a super gender gap, with women approaching retirement with thousands less than men. (Source: AAP\/Getty) <\/p>\n
Australians now need a record amount of superannuation to afford a comfortable retirement<\/a>, and one group is still lagging significantly behind. Women are approaching retirement<\/a> with tens of thousands of dollars less in superannuation than men, but there are moves that can be made now to help close the gap<\/a>.<\/p>\n By the age of 40 to 44, men have a median super balance<\/a> of $108,344, compared to women with $79,445 \u2013 a gap of nearly $30,000. This gap peaks in the 55 to 59 age range, where men have $202,584 on average and women $140,662 \u2013 a difference of more than $60,000.<\/p>\n AustralianSuper deputy chief executive and chief member officer Rose Kerlin told Yahoo Finance while we’ve seen some improvements over time, the super gender gap<\/a> is \u201cstill very real\u201d and becomes the most obvious as women approached retirement<\/a>.<\/p>\n RELATED<\/p>\n \u201cA big part of the gap comes down to caregiving and disparities in pay<\/a>. When women take time out of the workforce or move into part-time roles to care for children or family members, their super takes a hit, and that impact compounds year after year,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n This gap is particularly worrying now that a single homeowner aged 67 needs a lump sum of $630,000, up from $595,000, to achieve a comfortable retirement<\/a>. Couple homeowners need a balance of $730,000 in super, which is up from $690,000.<\/p>\n In contrast, the latest ATO data shows men at or approaching retirement at 60 to 64 have a median balance of $219,73, while women have $163,218.<\/p>\n The government has flagged reforms to help address the gap. Since July last year, superannuation has been paid on government parental leave payments<\/a>.<\/p>\n From July next year, the Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset (LISTO)<\/a> income threshold will increase from $37,000 to $45,000 to align with the top of the second income-tax bracket. The maximum LISTO payment will increase from $500 to $810.<\/p>\n While policy reform is important, Kerlin said there were also things women could do now to feel more on top of their super and more confident about where they\u2019re headed.<\/p>\n \u201cSmall actions today can help build greater confidence and security for the years ahead,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n One action could be making additional contributions<\/a>, even small ones, whenever possible, as this could make a big difference over time.<\/p>\n AustralianSuper\u2019s modelling found that someone who made after-tax contributions of $600 annually between the ages of 35 to 39 and met the eligibility criteria for the government\u2019s co-contribution of $300 each year could retire with $9,000 more.<\/p>\n Talking about super with your household is also important, and you could consider spouse contributions<\/a>.<\/p>\n If your spouse added $250 per month into your super account while you were on a seven-year career break to care for a child, AustralianSuper found you could end up with $44,000 more in retirement. Your spouse would also be eligible for a tax offset of $540 each of the seven years.<\/p>\n Aussies are also encouraged to check their super regularly, consolidate multiple super accounts to avoid duplicate fees, and use tools to plan ahead, see how their super is tracking and what their retirement might look like.<\/p>\n Super can be complex, so it can be worth getting trusted financial advice. Many super funds offer access to financial advice based on your goals, life stage and contribution options.<\/p>\n Get the latest Yahoo Finance news – follow us on Facebook<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n