How To Claim

If You Are Redundant

• Get  a completed BIRST Claim Form from your former employer.

• Add your tax file number and payment details to the form.

• Forward it to BIRST.

• Funds will be credited to your bank account or forwarded by cheque.

If You Are Not Redundant

You should contact BIRST and you will probably be eligible to receive the funds if you are :

• Unemployed for 4 weeks and registered with Centrelink or an Employment Service.

• Out of the industry for 9 months,

• Permanently disabled;  or

• Retiring.

Funds cannot be paid to workers unless their employment has been terminated

Frequently Asked Questions

What am I entitled to ?

When can I claim the funds ?

What if I am not made redundant ?

Some redundancy benefits are tax free. Why is BIRST taxed ?

How does a BIRST payment affect Social Security entitlements ?

Why don't I receive interest ?

What am I entitled to ?

Your employer should make a contribution to BIRST for each week that you are employed on a commercial building site.  The standard rate is $40 but this may vary according to individual site agreements or enterprise bargaining agreements.  In some cases your enterprise bargaining agreement may entitle you to higher contributions or contributions regardless of where you work.  You should take the time to check your agreement.

The contributions are held in trust on your behalf in a separate account and you will receive a detailed statement every six months.

The contributions are in place of, not in addition to your award redundancy entitlement.  If you are made redundant you will receive the award or the balance of your BIRST account, whichever is the greater, but not both.

When can I claim the funds ?

You must be terminated to claim the funds.

An employee that is made redundant is immediately entitled to the balance paid in to the fund by their current employer. The employer should provide a claim form on termination and the worker then completes the reverse of the form with their tax file number and payment details and sends it to BIRST.

Payments are made within a few days and can be paid by cheque or direct credit to the workers bank account which gives them immediate access to the funds.

If you resign and have been with your employer longer than 12 months you are entitled to your BIRST and should get a Claim form from your employer. Otherwise you should contact BIRST and will probably be eligible if you have been unemployed for 4 weeks, out of the industry for 9 months, permanently disabled or retiring.

Some redundancy benefits are tax free. Why is BIRST taxed ?

BIRST is payable to workers even if they resign. Consequently the Australian Taxation Office has ruled that they are not bonafide redundancy payments and are taxable at 31.5% or 16.5% if you are over 55 years of age.

How does a BIRST payment affect Social Security entitlements ?

BIRST is not considered income by the Department of Social Security but any payment you do receive from BIRST will be included in an assets test. Your total assets may preclude you from receiving benefits for a period of time. It is important that you approach Centrelink as soon as possible to receive advice on benefits and minimise any waiting periods.

Why don't I receive interest ?

The BIRST Trustees have decided to provide benefits to workers and the industry rather than pay small amounts of taxable interest to workers.  As a result we have been able to provide significant benefits such as funeral, ambulance and journey cover for workers and fund worthwhile training and education projects and the successful and nationally recognised Construction Industry Drug & Alcohol Program.