Hi All,

I called APRA again this afternoon to find out a bit more about how the superannution funds would be released.

The approval process with APRA takes about 3 wks, then up to 2 wks for your super fund to release the funds. The funds are received by cheque of transferred electronically!

This means that we then would not have any worries claiming the medical bills against our tax.

I also asked how long before the medical procedure could we apply, he didnt think that up to 5 months before would be an issues.

I am so excited about this prospect!! It means that we could really consider IVF PGD in the USA!!

Trucksndolls

good for you!  let us know how you get on.

Hi Trucksandolls,

I am under the impression that it is a max withdrawal of $10k per year???

oh wow i didnt think this could be done how exactly does it work?

this gives me hope

Hi all,

I hate the be the bearer of bad news but.............

I just had a call from my super fund rep and he ref me to the APRA website.  He explained that in relation to mental health/depression this is more relating to money for admission to a private psyc hospital, or purchasing anti-psychotic meds not on the PBS.

You would need a plausible tratment that can be proven and considered a medical tratment for a medically diagnosed condition.  You would need 2-3 Drs to state that you have "clinical depression" (so you would need to be on anti-deps meds and for a considerable amount of time) .  He also said that IVF/PGD would not be considered a treatment, as it it banned in Aus and not a "treatment" as such.

He said that all monies released need to be approved by a board for people and that getting omeny out of super is very, very hard!

I just wanted to update as I would hate people to get a sense of false hope..................from what I was told this is a lonnnnnnnnnnnng shot.

 Hmm.. that doesnt look too good...

 The girl that I spoke to at APRA gave me a different perception all together. She said as long as you have a GP that will state you have a mental disturbance (ie depression) & a letter from a specialist confirming the cost of treatments that they do not require details. I would think that it would also be against the law to request in-depth details about somebodys health status.

As I am only 23 wks with our current pregnancy its too early to go submitting an application..however if anyone does give it a go before me I would be very interested in hearing how they go. We are looking at IVF PGD late next yr, so when the time comes I will try to get super funds.... nothing to lose.

ok im new to all of this i dont really understand so you need to have depression??

Hi Tealah,

There is a clause in the APRA (the people who say if you can get money from your super) guidelines that if you need money for emergency medical treatment that cannot be provided by the public hospital system then you can access some of your super prior to age 65.  And IVF does not qualify

In an earlier thread, a phone call by Trucksandolls to Apra stated that if you had depression it may fit their medical clause.  I the spoke to a super rep and he qualified the above .  That the only way they will release any money is if you are paying for actual medical treatment for "clinical depression" meaning that you would have to be under the care of a psychatriast and on anti-dep meds.

Also the treatment would have to be in direct response to the medical condition - depression and they do not consider - Gender selection/IVF - PGD a treatment for depression, admission to a private hospital is or paying for husge amounts of psyco-therapy not covered by medicare.

HTH

Hi trucksandolls,

You are in the same boat as me.  Still pg and looking at High-Tec

I agree 100%, worth a go.  . 

I do think tho that you would have to give details of what the treatment is.  Even what I have cut and pasted above states that they must be satisfied the treatment is not available in the public system.  Even to make this basic determination they would need to know exactly what people are doing, I spose??