Understanding Support at Home costs

What is the Support at Home program?

Support at Home is a government program. It provides funding to help older Australians live safely and independently in their own homes.

If you’re over 65 (or over 50 for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people), you may be eligible for government funding that helps cover or subsidise the cost of home-care services such as:

• Cleaning, laundry and home maintenance
• Personal care like showering or dressing
• Nursing or physiotherapy
• Transport, social support and meals

You choose the help you need; we coordinate the rest so you can focus on enjoying life at home.

How Support at Home funding works

When you’re approved for the Support at Home program, the government assigns you a funding level. There are eight levels — each represents a different amount of support and funding.

Do I have to pay anything for Support at Home?

The government subsidises most of the cost of your care. However, you may be asked to make a contribution (also known as a participant contribution) based on your income and the types of services you receive.

Here’s how it works:

Which Support at Home services you pay for

• Clinical care services such as nursing, physiotherapy and allied health are fully funded by the government — you don’t pay.
• Independence services, such as help with showering, getting dressed or transport, will require a moderate contribution from you.
• Everyday living services, including cleaning, gardening, meals and home maintenance, will attract the highest contribution rates.

How your Support at Home contribution is assessed

The contribution you pay is based on your income, assets and pension status, assessed by Services Australia. You can use the My Aged Care fee estimator to estimate what your participant contributions may be.

After your Services Australia assessment, you’ll receive a letter confirming your individual contribution rate, and we will include this in your service agreement.

Contribution ranges

Safeguards to protect you

• There is a lifetime contribution cap of $130,000 (indexed) on the amount you will ever be asked to pay for non-clinical services.
• If you face genuine financial hardship, you can apply for assistance through Services Australia.