Your legal rights to accessing superannuation and insurance

All working Australians have a superannuation fund to which their employer must contribute amounts during the course of their working life. Some people also elect to contribute further to their superannuation personally.  

You can access your superannuation before retirement age in the event of a serious illness like COPD. All superannuation funds also have a component of insurance which is there to help you in the event you are unable to work because of serious illness.