Support at Home Fees and Costs

For most people, Services Australia completes an income and assets assessment to determine the contribution rate that applies to independence and everyday living services.

Your contribution can depend on:

• • Your Age Pension status
  • Your income
  • Your assets
  • Whether you hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
  • When you were approved for aged care

If Services Australia already has your financial information, they may use that information. Otherwise, you may need to provide additional details.

Once your assessment is complete, Services Australia will tell you and your provider the contribution percentages that apply to you.

If you don’t provide the required income and assets information to Services Australia, you may be given a means not disclosed status.

In that situation, your contribution rates can be set at the maximum applicable rate.

Your contribution percentage is applied to the provider’s price for each eligible service you receive.

For example, if an everyday living service costs $100 and your applicable contribution rate is 17.5%, you would contribute $17.50 and the Government would cover the remaining eligible amount.

The actual dollar amount you pay therefore depends on both:

• Your contribution percentage
• The price your chosen provider charges for the service

This is why comparing provider pricing matters.

Support at Home providers set their own prices for the services they deliver.

Prices can vary depending on:

• The type of care or service
• How long the service takes
• When the service is delivered
• The provider you choose

Providers must publish their pricing and agree prices with you before services are delivered.

You can view HCA Home Care’s current service fees and pricing before deciding on your care.

For ongoing Support at Home services, 10% of your quarterly budget is allocated to care management.

Care management helps coordinate and oversee your home care. It can include:

• Developing and reviewing your care plan
• Coordinating services
• Monitoring changes in your needs
• Supporting you when your circumstances change
• Helping ensure your care continues to work for you

This allocation is part of the Support at Home funding model rather than a separate optional service fee.

Yes. The Government limits how much you can be required to contribute over your lifetime.

For people under the standard Support at Home contribution arrangements, the current lifetime cap is $137,917.01.

People protected by the no worse off principle retain the lower transitioned Home Care Package lifetime cap, currently $86,185.23.

These amounts are indexed over time, and Services Australia tracks contributions towards your lifetime cap.

If you are experiencing genuine financial hardship and can’t afford your required contributions, you may be able to apply for financial hardship assistance through Services Australia.

If approved, the Australian Government may cover some or all of your contribution for the period that the hardship arrangements apply.

My Aged Care has a Support at Home fee estimator that can help you estimate your likely participant contributions based on your circumstances.

Your actual contribution rates are confirmed through Services Australia.