Do pensioners have to pay for Support at Home?
Costs, Contributions & Value
Contributions
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In short...
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.
The details...
Do pensioners have to pay for Support at Home?
Usually, yes but not for every service.
Under the standard Support at Home contribution arrangements, a full pensioner currently pays:
Full pensioner
Clinical supports 0%
Independence services 5%
Everyday living services 17.5%
The percentage applies to the provider’s agreed price for each service you actually receive. The Australian Government pays the remaining amount from your Support at Home funding.
What services are free?
Clinical supports are fully government funded, so there is no participant contribution.
These may include approved services such as:
nursing care
physiotherapy
occupational therapy
podiatry
dietetics
continence assessment
some other clinical and allied health services
care management.
The service must be approved in your support plan and classified as a clinical support under the Support at Home service list.
What are independence services?
Independence services help you manage everyday activities and remain safely at home.
They may include:
personal care
social support
transport
respite
assistive technology
home modifications
support with medication
therapeutic services that are not classified as clinical supports.
A full pensioner currently contributes 5% of the agreed service price.
For example, if an independence service costs $100, the full pensioner contribution would generally be $5 and the government-funded budget would cover the remaining $95.
Personal care becomes free from 1 October 2026
Until 30 September 2026, personal care is generally treated as an independence service, meaning a full pensioner may pay the 5% contribution.
From 1 October 2026, approved personal care services will move into the clinical supports category and become fully government funded.
This includes services such as assistance with:
showering
dressing
toileting
continence management
personal hygiene.
From that date, participants will not pay a contribution for approved personal care services.
What are everyday living services?
Everyday living services are supports that people ordinarily pay for themselves throughout life.
They may include:
domestic assistance
cleaning
gardening
home maintenance
meal preparation
meal delivery.
A full pensioner generally contributes 17.5% of the agreed service price.
For example, if a cleaning service costs $100:
the participant pays $17.50
the government-funded budget pays $82.50.
The actual dollar amount therefore depends on the provider’s price and how much of the service you receive.
Do pensioners pay a daily or weekly fee?
No standard daily fee applies under Support at Home.
Contributions are calculated as a percentage of each chargeable service delivered. You should only pay when you actually receive the service.
This means your contribution can vary from one month to another depending on:
the services you use
the number and duration of visits
the provider’s agreed prices
whether the services are clinical, independence or everyday living supports.
Does being on a pension automatically mean the service is free?
No.
The Age Pension does not automatically exempt someone from Support at Home contributions.
A full pensioner receives the lowest standard contribution rates, but usually still pays toward independence and everyday living services.
Part pensioners may pay higher percentages depending on their assessed income and assets.
How is the contribution rate decided?
Services Australia determines the participant’s contribution rate using income and assets information.
For most pensioners, Services Australia already holds much of the information needed through the pension system. Participants should still respond to any request for additional financial information.
The contribution rate should be confirmed in writing and applied by the provider to the relevant services.
What about people protected by the no worse off principle?
Different rules may apply to people who were approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024.
Under the no worse off principle:
someone who did not pay an income-tested care fee under their Home Care Package generally continues to pay no Support at Home contributions
someone who did pay an income-tested care fee should pay the same amount or less under Support at Home.
This means some full pensioners who transitioned from a Home Care Package may pay nothing, even though the standard full-pensioner rates are 5% and 17.5%.
The provider and Services Australia should confirm whether the no worse off arrangements apply.
What if I cannot afford the contribution?
Financial hardship assistance may be available where a person cannot pay for reasons beyond their control.
Do not simply stop essential services without discussing the issue.
Contact:
Services Australia
My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
your Support at Home provider
OPAN on 1800 700 600 for independent advocacy.
A provider should also help you understand your contribution rate, service prices and available alternatives.
What should I check on my statement?
Check that:
clinical services have a 0% contribution
the correct percentage has been applied
you were only charged for services received
the provider used the agreed service price
cancelled or missed services were handled according to the agreement
any no worse off protection has been correctly recorded
personal care becomes contribution-free from 1 October 2026.
Query any charge that does not identify the service, price and participant contribution clearly.
What should I do next?
Check the Services Australia contribution notice and the provider's current price list.
Compare the monthly statement with services actually delivered.
Ask for a written explanation of any price, contribution or cancellation charge you do not understand.
Helpful Local Home Help resources
Check the official guidance
Check current official costs and pricing guidance. Aged care rules, funding amounts and program guidance can change, so check the current official information before making an important care or financial decision.
Takeaways
- Some pensioners may contribute to certain services, while clinical services are government funded.
- The agreed provider price and the participant's contribution percentage are different things.
- Statements and written price information should allow the charge to be checked.
About Local Home Help
How Providers Are Listed
How providers appear on Local Home Help Local Home Help helps families discover home support services available in their area. Providers may appear on the site in a few different ways. Some providers create and manage their own listing on the platform. Others may appear based on publicly available information about services operating in a particular region. This helps families see a broader view of support options available locally. Where possible, we encourage providers to claim and manage their listing so information such as services offered, contact details and service areas remain accurate and up to date. There are no paid or enhanced listings on Local Home Help, and there never will be. Claiming or managing a listing has no effect on a provider's visibility, ranking, or how often it appears in a consumer's personalised shortlist, it simply keeps the information families see accurate and current. Local Home Help does not charge consumers to access the platform. We may generate revenue in other ways in the future, but none of these will ever influence which providers a consumer sees, how they're ranked, or what appears in their shortlist. Provider visibility is, and will remain, based solely on relevance to each family's stated needs. What does not influence Liz There are no paid or enhanced listings on Local Home Help, not now, and not in the future. No provider can pay for a higher position in Liz results, a better ranking, or inclusion in a consumer's shortlist. This is a permanent commitment, not a current-state description. Claiming or updating a profile does not improve a provider's ranking. It gives Liz more accurate information about the provider's services, coverage and care model, which can make the explanation of why a provider matched clearer, but it has no effect on whether or how highly that provider appears. Local Home Help intends to generate revenue in other ways in the future - for example through tools built for providers, or products separate from the consumer matching experience. None of these will influence which providers appear in Liz's results, how they're ranked, or what a consumer sees in their personalised shortlist. Visibility and ranking are based solely on the fit factors described above, and nothing else. This reflects the platform's core ethos: Local Home Help is built consumer-first. Every design and revenue decision is made so that what a family sees from Liz is the most relevant outcome for them. Never the most profitable outcome for Local Home Help or a provider.
Independence Statement
Our independence Local Home Help is designed to help families navigate the often confusing world of home support and aged care services. The platform aims to present information in a clear and balanced way so families can better understand the types of help available and where to find it. While providers may appear on the platform, Local Home Help does not recommend one provider over another. The decision about which service may be suitable will always depend on individual circumstances. Families are encouraged to contact providers directly, ask questions and make their own enquiries before making a decision. Our focus is to make the process of understanding and finding support at home easier. Local Home Help does not accept payment of any kind in exchange for provider visibility, ranking, or shortlist placement, and never will. Any future revenue Local Home Help generates will come from sources entirely separate from how providers are matched to consumers.
Quality Signals
What to look for when choosing a provider Finding the right support service can take time. When considering a provider, families may wish to look for signs of quality such as: Clear information about services offered Transparent pricing or funding options Experience supporting older people at home Relevant professional qualifications where appropriate Positive feedback or reputation in the community Willingness to answer questions about care and services It is often helpful to speak with more than one provider before making a decision. Local Home Help aims to provide a starting point for exploring services, but the best choice will depend on the needs and preferences of the individual receiving support.
About the Author
Local Home Help Editorial Team
This article was created by Local Home Help to help Australian families better understand aged care and home support options in plain English.
Our content is based on publicly available information from:
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My Aged Care
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Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
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Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
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Provider pricing schedules and operational experience within the aged care sector.
Local Home Help is an independent consumer information platform and does not provide medical, legal or financial advice.
Important information
Aged care rules, fees, eligibility requirements and program arrangements can change. The information on this page is general guidance only and may not apply to every person or situation.
Before making a financial, legal or care decision, check the latest information with My Aged Care, Services Australia, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, or another appropriate official source.
Local Home Help does not provide legal, financial, medical or clinical advice.
Source data
Last reviewed
20/7/26, 9:08 pm