Part-time employment

When a member is employed on a permanent part-time basis, their benefit will accrue at a reduced rate and the contributions they are required to pay will also be reduced. A member's salary ratio is calculated to determine the applicable reduction.

Salary ratio

The salary ratio for a member who works full time is 1. For a member who works part-time, the salary ratio is less than 1.

The salary ratio is calculated by dividing a member's part-time salary by the member's equivalent full-time salary (the salary the member would be receiving if working full time). As an example, if a member's part-time salary was $35,000 and their equivalent full-time salary was $70,000, the salary ratio would be 0.5.

A member's salary ratio is always calculated based on the actual part-time and full-time salary.

Contributions and benefit points

Once the salary ratio is known, the monthly contribution rate is calculated in the normal manner and then multiplied by the applicable salary ratio.

The basic benefit and any applicable Additional Employer Contribution is also calculated based on the salary ratio.

Benefit points will also accrue at a reduced rate.

The SANCS basic benefit service accrual rate and the value of any applicable Additional Employer Contribution (AEC) is also calculated based on the salary ratio.

For further information, please refer to SASS Fact Sheets 3: Benefit points system and 6: Salary for superannuation purposes.