Support at Home Contributions

The aged care funding system in Australia shifted on 1 November 2025, with the Support at Home program replacing the previous Home Care Packages framework. Under this new system, most people will now contribute to the cost of care services based on their income and assets, whether they are pensioners, part‑pensioners, or self‑funded retirees. (My Aged Care)

This means pensioners may still have to make contributions, although the amounts they pay are typically lower than those for people with higher incomes and assets.

How Contributions Work

Under Support at Home, your contributions are based on a means assessment (income and assets), completed by Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (if applicable). They determine how much you will pay for different types of supports. 

Once your assessment is complete, you’ll receive a letter showing your individual contribution rates for each service type.

What You May Be Asked to Pay

Your contribution depends on three main factors:
✔️ Your pension status (full pension, part pension, or self‑funded)
✔️ Your income and assets
✔️ The specific services you receive — Support at Home contributions are only charged for services you use. 

Full Pensioners

• Full pensioners generally pay the lowest contribution rates.

• If you were assessed under the old Home Care Package system as not liable for a care fee before 12 Sep 2024, you will not be asked to pay contributions under Support at Home. (Health, Disability and Ageing)

Part Pensioners

• Part pensioners usually have moderate contribution rates based on income and assets.

Self‑Funded Retirees

• Self‑funded retirees generally pay higher contributions.

• Contribution rates may be reduced if you hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, depending on eligibility and income. 

What Services Are Charged and What Might Be Free

Under the Support at Home program, different types of services have different contribution rules: 

✔️ Clinical Supports — such as nursing, occupational therapy, continence care — are typically fully government‑funded, so you usually do not pay for clinical services.

✔️ Independence Supports — like showering, mobility assistance, or medication help — may have a small contribution, often a percentage of the provider’s fee based on your assessment. 

✔️ Everyday Living Supports — including housekeeping, gardening, transport, meal preparation — generally attract higher percentages of contribution based on income/assets. 

• Contributions are usually expressed as a percentage of the service cost rather than fixed daily fees. 
• You only pay contributions for services you actually receive.

Lifetime Cap on Contributions

There is a lifetime cap on total contributions you can be asked to make under Support at Home. Once you reach this cap, you will not pay further contributions for eligible services — regardless of how long you continue receiving support. 

There are two lifetime cap pathways depending on when you entered aged care and your situation:

• A standard lifetime cap (indexed annually — approximately $135,000 +). 

• A legacy cap for those benefiting from the “no worse off” rule if they were already on Home Care Packages before 12 Sep 2024. 

Financial Hardship Assistance

If you truly cannot afford to pay your contributions, you can apply for hardship assistance. If approved, the Australian Government may cover part or all of your costs. 

Summary – Who Pays What?

In Summary:

• Support at Home no longer offers a flat daily fee exemption for pensioners — most people now pay based on means and services used. 

• Clinical care is generally fully funded by the Government; everyday living and independence supports are where contributions apply. 

• Contributions are only charged for services you receive and are capped over a lifetime.