How it works
Understand the steps, fees, and support available to access Support at Home funding.
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Your guide to costs
Understanding the fees
When planning your home care services, it’s important to understand the costs that may apply and how your personal circumstances affect them.
Under the Support at Home program, you may be asked to contribute to the cost of your services based on your income. These contributions are assessed to ensure they’re fair and manageable, with government funding available to help cover the rest. Your exact contribution will depend on your individual financial situation.
Our dedicated team of Business Relationship Managers is here to help you navigate these details. They’ll explain the different types of contributions, answer any questions you have, and support you through the setup and onboarding process.
Before accessing Support at Home services, you’ll need to complete a My Aged Care assessment to determine your eligibility and the level of government support you can receive.
Service contribution factors
What factors impact your contribution costs for services
Whether or not you’ll need to contribute to the cost of your Support at Home services depends on two key factors:
1. The type of service you receive
Your contribution is based on which category of support services you required.
Clinical Support – No contribution
Health-related care delivered by professionals, including nursing, allied health, and medication management, to support your medical wellbeing.
Independence Services – Moderate contribution
Practical support that helps you stay independent at home, such as personal care, home modifications, transport, social support, and respite for carers.
Everyday Living Services – Higher contribution
Day-to-day assistance to support your lifestyle including help with shopping, general household cleaning, meal preparation and gardening.
You can view the full list of Support at Home services on the official government website here: Support at Home Servies List
2. Your financial situation
Your income and assets help determine how much contribute:
Full Age Pensioner – Lowest contribution
If you receive the Full Age Pension, you’ll contribute the minimum amount.
Part Pensioner & eligible for Commonwealth Seniors Health Card – Moderate contribution
Your contribution is based on an income and assets assessment conducted by Services Australia,
Fully Self-Funded Retiree – Higher contribution
If you’re not eligible for governmetn concessions, your contribution rate will be higher.
Previously received care through a Home Care Package?
If you contributed to your Home Care Package through an income tested care fee, you will still contribute when you transition to Support at Home, but at lower rates, and you won’t pay more than you currently do.
What you might pay
How Support at Home contributions work
Under Support at Home, you only pay for the services you receive, and your contribution is calculated as a percentage of the cost for each service. How much you pay will also depend on when you were approved for government funding (Home Care Package).
If you were approved on or before 12 September 2024, your contribution rates may be lower than the standard rates under the new program. If your approval was after 12 September 2024, your contributions will be assessed under the Support at Home model.
The tables below show how contribution rates vary based on your income status, the type of service and when you were assessed for government funding.
Approved for services before 12th September 2024
| Contribution Rates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Category | Full Pensioner | Part Pensioner | Self-Funded Retiree |
| Clinical | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Independence | 0% | Between 0% – 25% based on income | 25% |
| Everyday Living | 0% | Between 0% – 25% based on income | 25% |
Approved for services after 12th September 2024
| Contribution Rates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Category | Full Pensioner | Part Pensioner | Self-Funded Retiree |
| Clinical | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Independence | 5% | Between 5% – 50% based on income | 50% |
| Everyday Living | 17.5% | Between 17.5% – 80% based on income | 80% |
How to Work Out Your Contribution Amount
Use the Support at Home fee estimator on the My Aged Care website.
Our fees
Provider Service Fees
Under Support at Home, providers may charge different fees for the services they deliver, such as personal care, domestic assistance, or transportation. These fees are set by each provider and reflect the cost of delivering that service. All providers are required to publish their fees on their website, you can view HCA Home Care’s fees here.
The government also sets aside 10% of your total Support at Home funding for Care Management. This is not a provider fee, it’s a standard allocation applied across the program to ensure your care is planned and coordinated effectively.
This 10% is pooled across all participants budgets to allow for greater flexibility in service delivery when it’s needed most. If your situation changes, such as during a health issue or crisis, you can receive extra support right away, without worrying about exceeding your individual budget. At other times, when your needs are lower, less is used. It balances out across all participants, helping ensure you get the right care at the right time.
Your guide to Support at Home funding and support
Eligibility, funding, and getting started made simple
How it works
More and more Australians are choosing to stay in their homes as they age and receive services and support.
Read more
Who can access it
There are eligibility requirements that determine who can access the government funding for Support at Home services.
Read more
How do I get funding?
Government funding for Support at Home is managed through My Aged Care. You’ll go through an application process with them to receive your funding.
Read more
How much funding can I get?
The amount of funding you receive is broken down into 8 classifications and is determined based on your level of need.
Read more
Paying Privately
You also have the option to pay privately for home care services. This means there is no government subsidy.
Read more
What is Support at Home?
HCA has a range of Home Care services that align to our customers’ needs and goals. We tailor individual plans for every customer.
Read more
What is the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)?
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is an entry level program that provides basic care and support services for people with lower support requirements.
Read more
Ready to get started or make the switch?
At HCA we have an experiences team of Care Partners ready to help with your Home Care needs. Get in touch today and find out how we can help you.
Read more
Our featured services
Support when it matters most
Discover our specialised services tailored to help you stay comfortable, independent, and supported in the moments that matter most.
Social Support
Get out and about or take part in community events with the help of our Support Workers.
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Gardening
Keep your garden in tip top condition with regular maintenance thanks to our dedicated team.
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Meal Preparation
Ensure you have high-quality nutritious meals in your own home.
Read more
Shopping Support
Manage your household shopping with the help of our Support Workers.
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Medication Support
We’ll ensure that the right medication is always taken at the right time.
Read more
View all Home Care services
Read more
Ready to find the support that’s right for you? Contact us today for a free consultation and let’s create a plan that meets your needs.
Why HCA?
Our Difference
Local Care Partner
Every customer at HCA Home Care is assigned their own care partner as their one point of contact with HCA
Highly skilled Support Workers
At HCA we are able to upskill and train workers regularly thanks to our own in-house training organisation and long history in healthcare. It means you always get the very best workers.
24/7 support
Your support needs don’t stop at 5pm so neither do we. We have a 24/7 support line so you can contact us any time of day – or night!
We care at HCA
Why Choose Healthcare Australia for Home Care
Healthcare Australia is an established, national provider of healthcare support services in Australia. Established in 1972, you can benefit from our access to the best Support Workers and Care Partners by choosing HCA Home Care as your Support at Home provider.