By Steve Hadfield, AgedCareActionPlan.au · Last updated: 26 April 2026
Under the old Home Care Package system, income-tested fees applied across all services — including nursing and allied health. Under Support at Home, clinical care is zero contribution for everyone, regardless of income or assets. If you are a self-funded retiree who previously paid income-tested fees for nursing or physiotherapy, that cost is now gone.
Contribution rates are one of the most misunderstood parts of Support at Home. The system is deliberately structured so that clinical care is protected — fully funded by the government — while non-clinical services are shared between the government and the participant based on ability to pay.
The rates below are indicative bands. Your exact percentage is set by Services Australia through an income and assets assessment similar to the Age Pension means test. Call 1800 227 475 to arrange or update your assessment. Use the fee calculator to see how your rate affects your available care hours.
Every Support at Home service falls into one of three categories. Your contribution rate depends on which category the service is in.
Services: Nursing care, wound care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, podiatry, psychology, social work, medication management, continence support, nutritional management, care management
No means test. No income or assets assessment changes this. Everyone pays zero for clinical care under Support at Home.
Services: Personal care (showering, dressing), respite care, transport, social support, minor home modifications, assistive technology
Full pensioner pays approximately 5%. Self-funded retiree without a CSHC pays approximately 50%.
Services: Domestic assistance (cleaning, laundry), gardening, shopping assistance, meal preparation, meal delivery
Full pensioner pays approximately 17.5%. Self-funded retiree without a CSHC pays approximately 80%. Gardening and cleaning will not be subject to the July 2026 price caps.
These are indicative bands only. Your exact rate is determined by Services Australia based on your individual income and assets. The table shows the approximate range for each cohort. See what your classification buys in hours to understand how contribution rates affect your available care time.
| Your status | Clinical | Independence | Everyday living |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Age Pension | 0% | ~5% | ~17.5% |
| Part pensioner / CSHC holder | 0% | 5%–50% | 17.5%–80% |
| Self-funded retiree (no CSHC) | 0% | ~50% | ~80% |
| Means not disclosed | 0% | 50% (maximum) | 80% (maximum) |
Indicative rates only. Exact rates set by Services Australia via income and assets assessment. Source: agedcarefa.com / sensiblecare.com.au / Department of Health and Aged Care. Rates effective 1 November 2025 — check Services Australia for current figures.
If your income and assets have not been assessed by Services Australia, you are classified as "means not disclosed" and charged at maximum rates — 50% for independence services and 80% for everyday living. For most people, completing the assessment results in a meaningfully lower rate. Call Services Australia on 1800 227 475 to arrange or update your assessment.
Once your total contributions reach the lifetime cap, you pay nothing further for non-clinical Support at Home services — regardless of how much care you receive. The cap accumulates across Support at Home and residential aged care combined.
Services Australia tracks your cumulative contributions and notifies you when you approach the cap. You don't need to track this yourself — but if you are a higher-rate payer (self-funded retiree receiving a significant volume of Everyday Living services), it is worth checking your current cumulative total with Services Australia on 1800 227 475.
Personal care — showering, dressing, grooming, mobility assistance — currently sits in the Independence category with a moderate contribution rate. From 1 October 2026, personal care reclassifies to Clinical. This means zero contribution for all participants, regardless of income or assets. If personal care is a significant part of your Support at Home plan, this will reduce your out-of-pocket costs from October 2026.
Your monthly statement should show your contribution as a line item against each service you received — not as a single lump sum. For example: "Personal care — 2 hours — provider price $100/hr — your contribution 5% — $10.00." If your statement shows a single "client contribution" figure without itemising which services it applies to, ask your provider for an itemised breakdown.
The contribution is calculated on the price your provider charges for the service — not on the government subsidy. If your provider's price for personal care is $110 per hour and your contribution rate is 5%, you pay $5.50 per hour. The government pays the remaining $104.50 directly to the provider.
Use the statement decoder to check every line. Contribution rates applied to the wrong service category — for example, a clinical rate applied to nursing care — is one of the most common billing errors in Support at Home.
Personal care currently sits in the Independence category and attracts a contribution based on your income and assets. From 1 October 2026, it reclassifies to Clinical — zero contribution for all participants regardless of income or assets. If personal care is a significant part of your plan, your monthly out-of-pocket costs will reduce automatically from that date. No action is required on your part.
Financial hardship provisions are available for people who genuinely cannot afford their assessed contributions due to circumstances beyond their control — unexpected changes in financial situation, exceptional expenses, or other hardship factors.
Hardship applications are assessed individually by Services Australia. Contact Services Australia on 1800 227 475 to discuss your situation. The process is separate from the standard means assessment.
A financial counsellor can also help you prepare a hardship application. The Carer Gateway (1800 422 737) can point you to free financial counselling services in your area.
Use the fee calculator to see how contribution rates affect your available care hours at your specific classification level.
Indicative rates: 0% clinical, ~5% independence, ~17.5% everyday living. Your exact rate is set by Services Australia based on your individual income and assets assessment.
Without a CSHC: ~50% independence, ~80% everyday living — but 0% for all clinical care. This is better than under HCP, where income-tested fees applied to all services. With a CSHC: rates similar to part pensioners.
New participants: $135,318.69 (indexed, as at 1 Nov 2025). Grandfathered (HCP on or before 12 Sep 2024): $84,571.66 (indexed). Once reached, no further contributions for non-clinical services. Cap is shared with residential aged care contributions.
Currently yes — it's an Independence service with a moderate contribution. From 1 October 2026, personal care reclassifies to Clinical — zero contribution for all participants regardless of income or assets.
You default to maximum rates: 50% independence, 80% everyday living. Providing details to Services Australia allows your rate to be tapered. For most people, providing details results in a significantly lower contribution.
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This guide is for information only — not legal, medical, or financial advice. Verified against the Aged Care Act 2024 and Aged Care Rules 2025. Check myagedcare.gov.au for current rates and rules.