03 Aug 2026

Understanding Your Support at Home Contribution: Income-Tested Fees Explained

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Key Takeaways

• Clinical care is fully funded: Nursing, allied health, and personal care (from 1 October 2026) attract no participant contribution, regardless of your income or assets.
• Contributions only apply to independence and everyday living services: These are means-tested, so what you pay depends on your income, assets, and pension status.
• Full pensioners pay the lowest rates: A minimum of 5% for independence services and 17.5% for everyday living services.
• Self-funded retirees without a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card pay the most: Up to 50% for independence services and 80% for everyday living services.
• A lifetime cap protects long-term care recipients: Once contributions reach the cap, you pay nothing further for Support at Home services.
• Financial hardship assistance is available: If you cannot afford your contributions, you can apply to Services Australia for fee relief.

 

One of the most common questions people have when starting the Support at Home program is: how much will I actually pay? The answer depends on the types of services you receive, your income and assets, and your pension status. Understanding how the contribution system works can help you plan ahead and make the most of your funded care.

This guide explains the three service categories, how testing works, what different groups of participants can expect to pay, and what protections are in place to keep care affordable.

How Support at Home Divides Services Into Three Categories

The Support at Home program groups services into three categories, each with a different funding arrangement. Knowing which category your services fall into is the starting point for understanding your costs.

Clinical support includes nursing care, allied health services such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and from 1 October 2026, personal care services such as showering, dressing, and continence assistance. These are fully funded by the Australian Government and attract no participant contribution, regardless of your income or assets.

Independence services include transport, social support, assistive technology, and home modifications. These attract a moderate means-tested contribution.

Everyday living services include domestic assistance such as cleaning, gardening, and meal preparation. These attract the highest means-tested contribution.

What Does Income-Tested Mean?

For independence and everyday living services, your contribution is not a fixed amount. It is calculated as a percentage of the service price, determined through a means assessment conducted by Services Australia. This assessment takes into account your income and assets in a process similar to the Age Pension means test.

Sources of income considered in the assessment include your Age Pension (if any), superannuation withdrawals, rental income, and returns from investments. Your assets are also assessed alongside your income to arrive at your individual contribution rate.

Once your rate is determined, Services Australia will notify both you and your provider. Your contributions may change over time if your financial circumstances change, so it is worth reviewing your assessment if your situation shifts significantly.

What Different Groups Can Expect to Pay

Your pension status plays a significant role in determining your contribution rate. The rates below apply to people who entered Support at Home after 12 September 2024 and are subject to the standard contribution rules.

Full pensioners pay the lowest contribution rates:

• Independence services: minimum 5% of the service price
• Everyday living services: minimum 17.5% of the service price

 

Part pensioners pay rates on a sliding scale between the full pensioner and self-funded retiree rates, based on their individual means assessment.

 

Self-funded retirees who hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) pay similar rates to part pensioners:

• Independence services: 5% to 50%
• Everyday living services: 17.5% to 80%

 

Self-funded retirees without a CSHC pay the highest contribution rates. The income-tested fee for this group is capped at $13,724.45 per year (subject to indexation).

 

People who do not receive any government payments, but whose income and assets are assessed as equivalent to a full pensioner can access the lowest contribution rates by providing their financial details to Services Australia.

The No-Worse-Off Principle for Existing Participants

If you transitioned to Support at Home from the Home Care Packages program on 1 November 2025, a grandfathering protection known as the no-worse-off principle applies. Under this arrangement, your contributions under Support at Home will be the same or lower than they were under the old system.

Full pensioners who paid no income-tested care fee under the Home Care Packages program prior to 12 September 2024 will not be required to pay fees under Support at Home.

Grandfathered participants also retain the lower lifetime contribution cap that applied under the previous system, rather than the higher cap that applies to new participants.

The Lifetime Contribution Cap

A lifetime cap limits the total amount you can be asked to contribute across Support at Home and residential aged care combined. Once you reach this cap, you will not pay any further contributions, regardless of how long you continue to receive services.

For participants subject to the standard contribution rules from 1 November 2025, the lifetime cap was $135,318.69 at commencement (indexed on 20 March and 20 September each year). Grandfathered participants retain the lower cap of $84,571.66 (also indexed).

Services Australia will notify you when you are approaching or have reached your lifetime cap.

What If You Cannot Afford Your Contributions?

If you are experiencing genuine financial difficulty, you can apply to Services Australia for financial hardship assistance. If approved, the Australian Government will pay some or all of your contributions for the period you are assessed as being in hardship. You will need to meet certain eligibility criteria for this assistance.

You can also use the Support at Home fee estimator on the My Aged Care website to get an indication of what your contributions might be before your formal assessment is completed.

How The District Nurses Can Help

Navigating the contribution rules under Support at Home can feel complicated, particularly for those new to the aged care system or managing significant changes in their care needs. At The District Nurses, we work with our clients and their families to help them understand what they are likely to pay and how to get the most value from their funded care.

With more than 129 years of experience supporting Tasmanians at home, we are here to answer your questions and help you plan confidently. View our Support at Home services and pricing or contact our team to get started.

Contact The District Nurses today to discuss your Support at Home contribution and care options.