Understanding Support at Home contribution rates

How contribution rates work under Support at Home

Here’s the good news: thanks to the reforms, participants can expect more service hours of support for the same level of funding. Let’s break the major changes down a little. 

Clinical supports won’t require a contribution

Clinical supports cover services like nursing, physiotherapy and allied health. Under Support at Home, clinical support services will be entirely funded by the government. This means participants won’t have to contribute anything to receive services and supports under this category. 

Learn more about contributions per service

You won’t have to worry about up-front package fees

Support at Home has also removed up-front package management fees. This means participants can free up more of their budget for direct care services. 

You will pay per service

Another major change we’ll see under Support at Home is the introduction of a pay-per-service model. Instead of being charged administration and compliance fees across your entire funding package, you will only pay these fees for services that you actually use. 

While this means hourly rates for support will increase, it also means more of your funding can go to direct care services, and less on administration fees. 

Understanding co-contributions

The federal government will continue to fund aged care services. Those who can afford to do so will make contributions to aged care costs. How much you contribute will depend on your circumstances, the level of support you require, your income and assets. 

Contribution rates by pension status

Age pension status is the second factor that determines what a participant pays for each service. Generally, we can expect to see:

• the lowest contributions for full pensioners
• moderate contributions for part pensioners
• the highest contributions for self-funded retirees

All participants who are eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) will have lower contributions. This will apply whether you have applied for the card or not. 

The table below outlines the Support at Home contribution rates for different age pension statuses.

Clinical supports: no contributions 

You will make no contribution for clinical support services, so you won’t need to contribute anything to access this service category, regardless of your age pension status. 

This includes anyone who is:  

• A full pensioner
• A part pensioner 
• A self-funded retiree who holds or is eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card - CSHC
• A self-funded retiree who is not eligible for a CSHC 

Clinical supports cover specialised services that support you to maintain or regain functional or cognitive independence. These services can include nursing, physiotherapy, prescribed nutrition care and allied health. 

The Support at Home guidelines maintain that these services must be delivered directly, or be supervised, by university qualified or accredited health professionals trained in the use of evidence-based prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management practices to deliver safe and quality care to older people. 

Independence supports: 5–50% contributions

Independence supports cover services for managing daily living, including personal care, social support, assistive technology and home modifications. 

Independence supports will require a contribution rate between 5 and 50%, depending on your age pension status. This means:

• Full pensioners will pay a 5% contribution fee.
• Part pensioners, self-funded retirees and CSHC holders will pay between 5 and 50% contribution fee based on an assessment of their income and assets.
• Self-funded retirees will pay a 50% contribution fee. 

Everyday living: 17.5–80% contributions 

Everyday living supports cover services to support participants to keep their home in a liveable state. This category covers services like domestic assistance, home maintenance and repairs, gardening and meal services. 

Everyday living supports will require a contribution rate between 17.5 and 80% depending on your age pension status. This means:

• Full pensioners will pay a 17.5% contribution fee.
• Part pensioners, self-funded retirees and CSHC holders will pay between 17.5 and 80% contribution fee based on an assessment of their income and assets.
• Self-funded retirees will pay a 80% contribution fee.

Contribution caps and hardship arrangements 

You won’t pay further individual contributions once they reach the $130,000 lifetime cap under Support at Home and the non-clinical care component of their contribution to residential care. 

If something happens outside your control, and you can’t afford your aged care costs, you can apply for financial hardship assistance. The process will remain the same after 1 November 2025.

If you have been receiving hardship support before the reforms take place on 1 November 2025, you will be able to continue with the same arrangement under Support at Home.  Once your hardship arraignment expires, you will need to either apply for a new one, or pay the contribution rate relevant for you.

What does this mean for older Australians?

• Participants will never pay for clinical supports.
• Participants will only contribute to services they receive, according to their means.
• Older Australians currently receiving a HCP (or waiting for a HCP on the National Priority System) will have peace of mind that they will be no worse off under Support at Home.

What does this mean for aged care providers?

• Providers will be required to have processes in place for every participant in Support at Home to collect participant contributions where relevant.
• Providers will be required to document these processes and be clear with participants about how much they are expected to contribute for services in each category of services before they commence services.

How to find your contribution rate

Under the guiding principle of “no worse off” your exact contribution rate will depend on your circumstances. 

• If you are already a Home Care Package recipient: your contribution under Support at Home will be the same or less as you pay now. This is also the case if you are currently on the national priority system.
• If you apply for Support at Home after 1 November 2025: your contribution rate will be calculated by your aged pension status, as well as an income assessment by Services Australia.