21 Oct 2026

Support at Home Co-contributions: How They’re Calculated

---

Key Takeaways

• Four factors shape what you pay: Service type, contribution rate, agreed price, and actual usage all affect your co-contribution.
• Service categories matter: Independence and Everyday Living have different contribution rules.
• Financial circumstances affect your rate: Income, assets, and pension status help determine what you or your loved one may contribute.
• The calculation is percentage-based: Your contribution is applied to the agreed price of services actually received.
• Statements are worth checking: Reviewing service prices, contributions, and budget use can help you or your loved one understand ongoing costs.

When you or your loved one starts Support at Home, knowing the approved budget doesn’t automatically tell you what you’ll need to pay yourself. Contributions aren’t one fixed fee and can vary depending on the services used.

Understanding how Support at Home co-contributions are calculated can make costs easier to plan for. The calculation comes down to the service type, contribution rate, agreed provider price, and how much care is actually received.

The Four Factors That Determine What You Pay

Support at Home contributions are generally calculated as a percentage of the agreed price of each service you or your loved one receives. The Australian Government pays the remaining share, so the amount you or your loved one contribute can differ between services.

The calculation depends on four connected factors:

• Service type: This determines whether the service sits under Independence or Everyday Living.
• Contribution percentage: The rate depends on the service category and, for some categories, financial circumstances.
• Agreed service price: The contribution is calculated against the price agreed with the provider.
• Amount received: A contribution applies only to services that are actually delivered.

Your Support at Home funding classification is separate from your or your loved one's contribution rate. It determines available funding, while contribution rules determine what you or your loved one may personally pay towards individual services.

How the Service Category Changes Your Contribution Rate

The service category is one of the main factors affecting what you or your loved one contributes. Support at Home uses three categories, each with a different contribution structure.

• Clinical Supports: 0% contribution. Services such as nursing and physiotherapy are fully government-funded.
• Independence: Full pensioners pay 5%. Part pensioners and self-funded Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders pay between 5% and 50%, while self-funded non-card holders and people who don’t disclose their means pay 50%.
• Everyday Living: Full pensioners pay 17.5%. Part pensioners and self-funded card holders pay between 17.5% and 80%, while self-funded non-card holders and people who don’t disclose their means pay 80%.

From 1 October 2026, approved personal care moves from Independence to Clinical Supports for contribution purposes. Eligible personal care will then attract no participant contribution when you or your loved one has available Support at Home funding.

How Your Income, Assets, and Pension Status Affect the Percentage

For Independence and Everyday Living services, Services Australia uses an income and assets assessment to determine the contribution percentage for you or your loved one. Pension status also matters, which is why two people using the same service may contribute different amounts.

For full and part pensioners, Services Australia can generally use financial information already held for pension purposes. Other participants may need to provide income and asset details. If means information isn’t disclosed, the maximum contribution rates generally apply.

You don’t need to calculate the means test yourself. Services Australia determines the rate, and changes in financial circumstances can affect that percentage over time.

Putting the Calculation Together and Checking What You’re Charged

Once you know the service price and contribution percentage, the calculation becomes clearer. If an Everyday Living service costs $100 and your assessed contribution rate is 30%, for example, you would contribute $30, and government funding would cover the remaining $70.

There are protections too. People receiving or approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024 may be covered by the no worse off principle. A lifetime contribution cap also applies, and eligible participants experiencing financial difficulty may be able to access hardship assistance.

Check your regular statements so you or your loved one can confirm the services delivered, agreed prices, contributions charged, and how the Support at Home budget is being used.

Understanding Your Support at Home Costs With The District Nurses

Knowing your percentage is only part of understanding care costs. You or your loved one should also know each service category, the agreed price, how often care is delivered, and whether transitional arrangements apply.

At The District Nurses, we help you understand how Support at Home funding and contributions relate to the services you receive. Our team can explain service categories, contribution arrangements, care costs, and changes such as personal care becoming fully government-funded for contribution purposes from 1 October 2026.

Contact The District Nurses today if you or your loved one would like help understanding your Support at Home contribution rate, service costs, or how your care budget is being used.