How are Support at Home contributions calculated?
Costs, Contributions & Value
Contributions
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In short...
The provider’s agreed service price is multiplied by the contribution percentage set by Services Australia. You pay that amount, while the government-funded budget pays the remainder. Clinical supports remain contribution-free.
The details...
How are Support at Home contributions calculated?
Support at Home contributions are calculated using two things:
The category of service you receive
Your financial circumstances
Services Australia determines your contribution percentages. Your provider then applies the relevant percentage to the agreed price of each service you receive.
The basic calculation is:
Provider’s agreed service price × your contribution percentage = the amount you pay
The Australian Government pays the remaining amount from your available Support at Home funding.
The three contribution categories
Support at Home services are divided into three categories.
Clinical supports
Clinical supports have a 0% participant contribution.
These may include approved services such as:
nursing
physiotherapy
occupational therapy
podiatry
dietetics
speech pathology
other approved allied health services
care management.
You do not pay anything out of pocket for these services. The provider claims the full agreed price from your available government-funded budget.
Independence services
Independence services generally attract a moderate contribution.
These may include:
personal care until 30 September 2026
transport
social support
respite
medication assistance
assistive technology
home modifications.
Under the standard contribution arrangements, the rate ranges from 5% to 50%, depending on your income, assets and pension status.
From 1 October 2026, approved personal care will move into the clinical supports category. Participants will then pay no contribution for personal care delivered from that date.
Everyday living services
Everyday living services attract the highest contribution rates.
These may include:
domestic assistance
cleaning
gardening
home maintenance
meal preparation
meal delivery.
Under the standard arrangements, contribution rates range from 17.5% to 80%.
How does Services Australia calculate my rate?
Services Australia uses an income and assets assessment to determine your individual contribution percentages.
It may consider:
your pension or income-support status
assessable income
financial assets
other assessable assets
whether you are single or part of a couple
whether you own your home
deemed income from financial assets.
If you receive the Age Pension or another government payment, Services Australia may already hold much of the information it needs.
Other participants may need to complete the Support at Home financial assessment form.
What are the standard rates?
Under the standard contribution arrangements:
A full pensioner generally pays:
0% for clinical supports
5% for independence services
17.5% for everyday living services.
A part pensioner or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holder generally pays:
0% for clinical supports
between 5% and 50% for independence services
between 17.5% and 80% for everyday living services.
A self-funded retiree assessed at the maximum contribution threshold generally pays:
0% for clinical supports
50% for independence services
80% for everyday living services.
A person who does not receive a pension may still qualify for lower rates if their assessed income and assets are below the maximum thresholds.
Example for a full pensioner
Suppose a full pensioner receives:
nursing costing $180
transport costing $100
cleaning costing $120.
The nursing contribution would be $0 because nursing is a clinical support.
The transport contribution would be $5 because transport is an independence service and the full pensioner rate is 5%.
The cleaning contribution would be $21 because cleaning is an everyday living service and the full pensioner rate is 17.5%.
The participant would pay a total of $26.
The remaining service costs would be paid from their Support at Home funding.
Example for a self-funded retiree
Suppose a self-funded retiree at the maximum contribution threshold receives:
physiotherapy costing $180
transport costing $100
cleaning costing $120.
The physiotherapy contribution would be $0.
The transport contribution would be $50.
The cleaning contribution would be $96.
The participant would pay a total of $146.
The remaining amount would be paid from their government-funded Support at Home budget.
You only pay for services received
There is no standard daily fee under Support at Home.
Your contribution depends on:
which services you receive
how much of each service is delivered
the provider’s agreed price
your contribution percentage.
You should not be charged a participant contribution simply because a service appears in your care plan or funding is available.
Cancellation charges may apply only where they are permitted and clearly included in your service agreement.
What happens if I do not provide financial information?
Completing an income and assets assessment is not compulsory.
However, if Services Australia does not have enough financial information and you choose not to provide it, you may be treated as having means not disclosed.
You would then generally pay the maximum rates:
0% for clinical supports
50% for independence services
80% for everyday living services.
Providing your financial information may substantially reduce what you pay.
How are couples assessed?
Services Australia considers whether you are:
single
part of a couple living together
part of a couple separated because of illness
a homeowner
a non-homeowner.
Different income and asset thresholds apply to these circumstances.
Each person receiving Support at Home receives their own contribution determination, even where a couple’s combined financial position is considered.
What is deeming?
Services Australia may treat financial assets as earning a set amount of income, regardless of what they actually earn.
This is called deeming.
Financial assets may include:
bank accounts
term deposits
shares
managed investments
some loans and other investments.
The deemed income may be included when Services Australia calculates your contribution rate.
What about the no worse off principle?
Different contribution rules may apply to people protected by the no worse off principle.
This generally applies to people who, on or before 12 September 2024, were:
receiving a Home Care Package
approved for a Home Care Package
waiting on the National Priority System.
Under the no worse off arrangements:
A full pensioner generally pays:
0% for clinical supports
0% for independence services
0% for everyday living services.
A protected part pensioner or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holder may pay:
0% for clinical supports
between 0% and 25% for independence services
between 0% and 25% for everyday living services.
A protected self-funded retiree may pay:
0% for clinical supports
25% for independence services
25% for everyday living services.
A protected participant who did not previously pay an income-tested Home Care Package fee should generally continue paying no Support at Home contributions.
Can my contribution rate change?
Yes.
Your rate may change because of:
changes in income or assets
changes in pension status
changes in relationship circumstances
changes in homeownership
updated financial information
indexed pension and assessment thresholds
correction of an earlier assessment.
Services Australia will notify you and your provider when your contribution rate changes.
If the change is backdated, the provider may need to refund an overpayment or recover an underpayment.
Is there a lifetime contribution limit?
Yes.
Relevant Support at Home and residential aged care contributions count toward a lifetime cap.
Different caps apply under the standard contribution arrangements and the no worse off arrangements.
Services Australia keeps track of the total. Once the applicable lifetime cap is reached, you should no longer be required to pay the relevant contributions.
What if I cannot afford my contribution?
Financial hardship assistance may be available.
If approved, the Australian Government may pay some or all of your required contribution during the period of hardship.
You can contact:
Services Australia
My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
your Support at Home provider
OPAN on 1800 700 600.
What should I check?
Ask for:
your Services Australia contribution letter
your independence contribution percentage
your everyday living contribution percentage
confirmation of whether the no worse off principle applies
the provider’s complete price list
statements showing the service price, your contribution and the amount claimed from government funding.
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
- Contributions depend on your income and assets, the type of service and the agreed service price.
- 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