You can register with the self-employed contractor scheme by downloading and completing a Self-Employed Contractor Registration Application and posting it to Construction Benefit Services. Registration applications must be accompanied with documentary evidence that you are performing work as a self-employed contractor in the construction industry.

Once registered, an invoice will be sent to you every 2 months. If you pay all 6 contribution periods during the year, you will be credited with 260 days service (which is one year in the scheme). After 2600 days or 10 years, you can take long service leave.

The current contribution amount is $200 every 2 months (effective 1/7/2012). Once paid, you will be credited with the maximum days service a full time worker would receive for the same period.

Construction Benefit Services sets the contribution amount and an interest rate before the commencement of each financial year. Interest is calculated daily and credited quarterly. Members are assured the interest rate will never be negative, even if the Fund sustains a negative return in a year, so you can choose to not pay for a contribution period, however no service credits accrue for these periods.

Invoices cannot be paid any later than 6 months after their issue date. They may be paid in advance but only to the end of the current financial year. Payment in arrears may be accepted in certain circumstances upon written request to CBS. If contributions are not received for 3 continuous invoice periods, it will be assumed you no longer wish to contribute to the scheme and further invoices will only be issued if requested.

You can withdraw your contributions from the scheme if you cease working in the construction industry.