Step 4.3

What is the Home Care Income and assets test?

Income and Assets Tested Care Fee

Support at Home continues to be government subsidised but if you can afford to make a contribution then it is expected that you do.  Changes from November 1st 2025 will mean that you will pay a little more for Independence services and every day living support, if you can afford to.

Under Support at Home you will only pay contribution fees for the services you use, rather than a fixed daily fee for your package.

Contributions will be based on both income and assets (the age-pension means test), not just income as under the old Home Care Package rules.

Under the new Support at Home program, there are 3 main different service categories.

Different categories of services will attract different contribution percentages. Contributions will also depend on if you are a full pensioner, a part pensioner or a self-funded retiree.

Clinical support services (e.g., nursing, physiotherapy): you make no contribution. 

  • 0% contribution for full pensioners
  • 0% contribution for part pensioners
  • 0% for self-funded retirees

Independence services / home modifications / equipment: moderate contribution.

  • 5% contribution for full pensioners
  • 5% to 50% contribution for part pensioners
  • 50% contribution for self-funded retirees

Everyday living supports (domestic help, gardening, etc): higher contribution.

  • 17.5% contribution for full pensioners
  • 17.5% to 80% contribution for part pensioners
  • 80% contribution for self-funded retirees

There is a lifetime cap that applies.  Once you have paid $135,318.69 (as of 1st November 2025) you will not have to pay further contributions under the Support at Home program.

What if you were already receiving a Home Care Package or were on the waiting list?

If as of 12 September 2024 you were already approved for a Home Care Package (or on the waitlist), and you do not pay the current income-tested care fee, you will not be required to pay one under Support at Home.

If you currently pay an income-tested care fee under a Home Care Package, you will transition into Support at Home under “no worse-off” rules you will pay the same or less, not more.

Annie Donaldson

agedcare101 Registered Nurse and Carer

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A special thanks to our contributors

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Caroline Egan

DCM Media, agedcare101

Caroline has a wealth of experience writing within the retirement and aged care sector and is a contributing journalist for the Villages.com.au and agedcare101 blog and accompanying newsletters.

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Ian Horswill

Journalist

Ian is a journalist, writer and sub-editor for the aged care sector, working at The DCM Group. He writes for The Weekly Source, agedcare101, villages.com.au and the DCM Institute fortnightly newsletter Friday. Ian is in daily contact with CEOs of retirement living, land lease and the aged care operations and makes a new contact every week. He investigates media releases, LinkedIn and Facebook for a good source for ideas for stories.

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Lauren Broomham

Retirement and Aged Care Journalist

Lauren is a journalist for villages.com.au, agedcare101 and The Donaldson Sisters. Growing up in a big family in small town communities, she has always had a love for the written word, joining her local library at the age of six months. With over eight years' experience in writing and editing, she is a keen follower of news and current affairs with a nose for a good story.

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Jill Donaldson

Physiotherapist

Jill has been practicing as a clinical physiotherapist for 30 years. For the last 13 years she has worked solely in the Aged Care sector in more than 50 metropolitan and regional facilities. Jill has also toured care facilities in the US and Africa and is a passionate advocate for both the residents in aged care and the staff who care for them. She researches and writes for DCM Media.

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Chris Baynes

DCM Media, agedcare101

Chris has been a journalist and publisher in the retirement village and aged care sectors for 11 years. He has visited over 250 retirement villages and 50 aged care facilities both within Australia and internationally. Chris is a regular speaker at industry conferences plus is a frequent radio commentator.

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Annie Donaldson

Nurse and Carer

Annie has a long career in both nursing and the media. She has planned and co-ordinated the medical support from both international TV productions and major stadium events. In recent years she has been a primary family carer plus involved in structured carer support.