Industries

Claiming portable long service leave in the security industry

Entitlement

Security industry workers registered on or after 1 January 2013 are entitled to 6.06 weeks of long service leave after 7 years of recorded service in the industry.

You continue to accrue 0.867 weeks of leave for every year thereafter.

Accessing your benefit

To access your benefit, submit a claim form to us. There are different types of claims listed below. 

We pay your benefit directly into your nominated bank account.

If you’re an employee, you will be paid an amount calculated by multiplying the number of weeks of long service leave by your average weekly ordinary wages.

To calculate your average weekly ordinary wages:

  • we use the highest of these:
    • weekly average of ordinary remuneration received in the last 2 quarters of recorded service.
    • weekly average of ordinary remuneration received in the last 4 quarters of recorded service.
    • weekly average of ordinary remuneration received in the last 20 quarters of recorded service.
  • if you receive compensation under the Workers Compensation Act 1951, we use the weekly average of ordinary remuneration you received during the 4 quarters before the injury occurred.

If you’re a contractor, you will be paid a refund of the total levy contributions you made, plus interest earned.

If you recorded service as both a contractor and as an employee, you will be paid the sum of your employee component and contractor component, calculated as above.

Tax on portable long service leave claims

We withhold tax from your payments in line with ATO guidelines. This will show on your end of financial year income statement.

Marginal rates will apply to most portable long service leave payments. Some lump sum termination payments may be taxed at a different rate.

We do not currently deduct income tax on the contractor component of a claim. 

Contractors should seek independent advice on the tax implications of refund contributions.

Claim types

Workers can access their benefit through one of the following claim types:

Claim typeInformation
Long service leave

Who can apply?

Workers with 7 or more years of service, who are still recording service and wish to take paid long service leave from their current employer.

Conditions

  • Worker must have a minimum of 7 years of recorded service.
  • Worker must take a minimum of 2 weeks of long service leave each time they claim.
  • Employer must approve the period of leave requested.

Make a long service leave claim

Lump sum payment

Who can apply?

Workers with 7 or more years of service who are no longer employed as an employee in the covered industry. 

Conditions

  • Worker must have a minimum of 7 years of recorded service.
  • Worker must take payment equivalent to a minimum of 2 weeks of payment each time they claim, if not claiming the whole entitlement.
  • Worker must be no longer employed as an employee in the covered industry. 
  • Worker can be registered as a contractor.

Make a long service leave claim

Long service leave payment only

Who can apply?

Workers with less than 7 years, but more than 5 years of service who are still recording service and wish to take a payment instead of taking leave from their current employer.  

Conditions

  • Worker must be 55 years or older.
  • Worker must have a minimum of 5 years of recorded service.
  • Worker must take payment equivalent to a minimum of 2 weeks of payment each time they claim, if not claiming the whole entitlement.
  • Worker must be currently employed.
  • Employer confirmation must be obtained.

Make a long service leave claim

Leaving the industry

Who can apply?

Workers with less than 7 years of service who wish to take a lump sum payment of their pro-rata entitlement after ceasing to work in the industry permanently. Workers with 7 or more years of service should refer to lump sum payment instead.

Conditions

  • Worker must have a minimum of 5 years of recorded service.
  • A mandatory waiting period of 20 weeks after ceasing work in the industry applies.

Make a leaving the industry claim

Age retirement

Who can apply?

Workers with less than 7 years of service who wish to take a lump sum payment of their pro-rata entitlement after retiring. Workers with 7 or more years of service should refer to lump sum payment instead.

Conditions

  • Worker must be 55 years or older, or have been granted a service pension under the Veterans Entitlements Act 1986 (Cwlth), section 38 (Eligibility for partner service pension).
  • Worker must have a minimum of 5 years of recorded service.

Make a leaving the industry claim

Total incapacity

Who can apply?

Workers with less than 7 years of service who wish to take a lump sum payment of their pro-rata entitlement after becoming totally incapacitated. Workers with 7 or more years of service should refer to lump sum payment instead.

Conditions

  • A medical practitioner must complete the Certification by Medical Practitioner section of the claim form.
  • Worker must have a minimum of 5 years of recorded service.

Make a total incapacity claim

Deceased

Who can apply?

Executors, legal representatives or beneficiaries of a deceased worker who wish to collect a lump sum payment of the worker’s pro-rata entitlement.

Conditions

  • Applicant to provide a copy of the death certificate.
  • Applicant to provide a certified copy of the will (if appropriate).
  • Worker must have a minimum 5 years of recorded service.

Make a deceased claim

 

Claim processing time

We have a claim payment run once a week. 

We’ll usually schedule payment within 10 working days of the date you’re starting your portable long service leave, depending on:

  • when your claim form is received
  • whether we need further information from current or past employers or interstate jurisdictions to process your claim.

We usually process lump sum and leaving the industry claims within 10 working days of receiving or confirming any required information with:

  • your past employer/s 
  • interstate jurisdictions.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!