Online services
Member Statements
Corporations law requires the DFRDB Authority to distribute Annual Member Statements by 31 December each year. The 2007/2008 Member Statements have been distributed well within this timeframe. The statements provide DFRDB contributors with equity figures, withdrawal benefits information and details of any surcharge debt where applicable. Since the introduction of Ancillary Benefits, eligible Members also receive a MilitarySuper Ancillary Benefit Statement and a copy of the MilitarySuper About Your Statement Guide for Ancillary Benefits.
Go online! Go green!
From 2009 Members will be able to choose to view their Member Statement online and stop receiving paper. You can request an Access Number now by calling 1300 001 677, or by returning an Update personal details/Access number request form (PDF 209K).
When your Member statement is available, we will send you a notification email. Once you have received this, simply logon to the website with your access number and click on Member Services. From here you can also calculate estimates and update your contact details. It's an easier way for you to manage your super and better for the environment.
Major upgrade to Member Services Online
During the year, DFRDB released a major upgrade to the existing Member and Pensioner Services Online (MSO and PSO). This upgrade enhances Members' ability to manage, view and update their superannuation online.
MSO has been enhanced to allow Members and Ancillary Spouses to:
- view and update personal details
- view investment details, unit price history and perform investment switching for Ancillary accounts
- view transaction history.
PSO has also been enhanced to enable retired Members to:
- view and update certain personal details
- view and update banking details
- view payment/superannuation details.
The new services enable Members and retired Members to complete many tasks that previously required the assistance of our Customer Service Centre and/or the completion and return of paper forms to ComSuper for action (e.g. investment switching). These online facilities, combined with DFRDB's existing service delivery channels, provide Members with 24 hour access, immediate response times and greater control over Member transactions. The new enhancements make the transition into managing finances online easy for Members.
Estimate your benefit with the i-Estimator
Currently Members can use the DFRDB i-Estimator to project their final benefit. This service has been changed to allow Members to pre-populate their own rank and salary details. This will allow Members more flexibility to choose their estimated rank and salary on exit. It will also cater for the unique salary determinations that have been implemented for some individuals. Enhancements to the i-Estimator are being planned for the future.
Improved website services
In 2007/2008 DFRDB launched improved online services for the DFRDB website and Member and Pensioner Services Online (MSO and PSO).
Enhancements to the DFRDB website included:
- improved navigation
- improved look and feel
- improved accessibility
- introduction of online seminars
- improvements to MSO and PSO
- Glossary of Terms
Other new features on the website include: print-friendly versions of pages, news and events, a drop-down box providing direct access to pages, an updated site index and an FAQ page.
This year, the DFRDB website received 642 973 hits from throughout Australia. With advances in our online systems, we aim to give Members a view of how their funds are performing online and how they can forecast and estimate their future benefits.
In the coming year the Authority is considering ways to further improve online services to broaden the range of facilities for Members.
Online seminars
November 2007 saw the introduction of the first DFRDB online seminar titled How does Invalidity Retirement cover work? A further seminar, Your family and Death Benefits became available in March. The online seminars are aimed at improving Members' knowledge and understanding of the Scheme so Members are in a position to make informed decisions.
DFRDB is committed to providing value for money services and providing Superannuation expertise and accessibility to information about the scheme.
Since its launch, usage of the online seminar program has steadily increased. Overall there were 1677 visits to these seminars since November 2007.