Clinical services are government funded.
Funding & programs
How much does Support at Home cost?
Support at Home is government funded, but some people are required to contribute towards the cost of some services. The contribution depends on the person’s financial assessment and the type of service used.
Liz explainsPlain-English guidance, then the next useful step.
At a glance
What to know first
Independence and Everyday Living services can attract contributions.
Services Australia determines the assessed contribution rate, not the provider.
The practical detail
Understand the part that matters to you.
How contributions are determined
Your contribution rate is determined through a financial assessment by Services Australia. Providers apply the assessed rate rather than setting the percentage themselves.
Three broad service groups
The service category matters because contribution rules differ between these groups.
- Clinical services
- Independence services
- Everyday Living services
If the cost is difficult to afford
Financial hardship assistance may be available in some circumstances. Individual eligibility is assessed separately.
Related Liz Questions
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Financials, Fees & Funding
What is the Basic Daily Fee, and does everyone have to pay it?
For Support at Home, there is no Basic Daily Fee. You may instead pay contributions only when certain approved services are delivered. In residential aged care, most residents pay a Basic Daily Fee toward everyday living costs.
Read answer →Costs, Contributions & ValueDo pensioners have to pay for Support at Home?
A full pensioner generally pays 5% toward independence services and 17.5% toward everyday living services, while clinical supports are free. Some transitioned Home Care Package recipients pay less or nothing-under the no worse off principle, and approved personal care will become free for everyone from 1 October 2026.
Read answer →Financials, Fees & FundingWhat is the Income-Tested Care Fee for home care, and how is it calculated?
The Income-Tested Care Fee was part of the former Home Care Package system. New Support at Home participants instead pay service contributions based on income and assets and the type of service received. Protected 'no worse off' arrangements apply to some people approved for HCP by 12 September 2024.
Read answer →Financials, Fees & FundingWhat is a Services Australia Income and Assets Assessment?
A Services Australia Income and Assets Assessment evaluates an individual's personal financial situation to determine their eligibility and contribution rates for various Australian government pensions, income support payments (e.g., Age Pension), or aged care services. How It Works Income Test: Evaluates income from all sources. This includes salaries, pensions, superannuation, investments, and rental properties.
Read answer →Financials, Fees & FundingDo I have to sell the family home to pay for residential aged care?
No, you do not have to sell the family home. Accommodation costs can be funded through a daily rental-style fee called a Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP), or by a combination of a partial lump sum (Refundable Accommodation Deposit) and DAP, avoiding a forced sale. The home's treatment depends on your specific circumstances:Couples: If your spouse remains in the home, its value is fully exempt from aged care assets...
Read answer →Financials, Fees & FundingHow does the family home count towards the asset test if a spouse still lives there?
For Support at Home, an ordinary family home is generally exempt, although homeownership can affect the thresholds used in the assessment. If one spouse enters residential aged care and the other remains at home, the property is also generally exempt while that spouse continues living there.
Read answer →Financials, Fees & FundingWhat are the lifetime and annual caps on means-tested care fees?
Caps depend on which fee arrangements apply. Older residential arrangements have annual and lifetime caps on the Means-Tested Care Fee. Newer arrangements have separate caps and time limits for non-clinical care contributions, and Support at Home has its own indexed lifetime contribution cap.
Read answer →Financials, Fees & FundingHow does entering aged care affect my Age Pension?
Receiving Support at Home does not normally reduce your Age Pension. Your pension continues under the ordinary income and assets tests, while the same financial information may be used separately to calculate what you contribute towards aged care services.
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