How Much Will I Have to Pay for Support at Home?

What Is an Income and Assets Assessment for Support at Home?

An income and assets assessment is a financial check used by the Australian Government to determine how much you may need to contribute toward the cost of your care under the Support at Home program.

It helps ensure that government funding is targeted fairly — so those who can afford to contribute do, while those with limited means receive greater support.
Your assessment results help decide how much of your care is government-subsidised and how much you’ll pay yourself.

How It’s Worked Out

From November 2025, when Support at Home replaces the current Home Care Packages system, Services Australia will use a combined income and assets test rather than just income alone.

If you already receive the Age Pension, your existing financial information will generally be used for this assessment. Otherwise, you’ll be asked to provide updated details through Services Australia.

Things the Government Will Look At

Services Australia considers both your income and assets, including:

• Government payments (e.g. Age Pension, DVA Pension)

• Income from superannuation or annuities

• Dividends from shares or managed funds

• Rental income

• Overseas pensions or income from trusts

• Financial assets such as bank accounts, term deposits, and investments (used to calculate deemed income)

• Real assets, like property or other significant holdings, depending on ownership and use

Things the Government Generally Won’t Look At

• The value of your home, as long as you or your partner live in it

• Everyday personal items such as furniture, a car, or jewellery

• The income or assets of other family members who live with you

While your home and personal belongings are protected, Support at Home does consider both income and assets overall — not just income as it did under Home Care Packages. This means things like investments or secondary properties may influence how much you contribute, but full pensioners with modest means will generally continue to receive the highest level of subsidy.

Read on:

• Does Medicare Cover Support at Home?
• How Many Hours Can You Get from Level 1 to Level 8 Support at Home Funding?
• What Happens When You Need More Funding?

How much will I *actually* have to pay?

Your contribution to your services depends on two things:

How to work out how much you need to contribute to your care

✅ 1. Check your current Age Pension status

• Full Pensioner: Receiving the full Age Pension? You’re in the lowest contribution bracket.
• Part Pensioner: Receiving a reduced Age Pension due to income/assets? You’ll pay more, based on a means test.
• Not receiving the Age Pension: You might still qualify for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)—and that affects your contribution rate too.

Where to check:
  Log in to myGov and go to your Centrelink account or call Services Australia.

✅ 2. Apply for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (if not on a pension)

• This card is for self-funded retirees who don’t get the pension but meet income test limits.
• Holding a CSHC puts you in a middle contribution band—much lower than those without it.

Apply here:
  Commonwealth Seniors Health Card – Services Australia

✅ 3. Understand how your contribution is calculated

• Part pensioners: Rates depend on your Age Pension means assessment—Centrelink already has this.
• CSHC holders: You’ll undergo a separate income and asset assessment when you apply for Support at Home.

✅ 4. Keep your details up to date

Changes in income, assets, or relationship status can shift your contribution level. Update Centrelink or the aged care assessor as needed.

How to check what you’ll pay

You’ll need to complete an income assessment first (if you haven’t already). This isn’t a financial exam — just a way to figure out how your care will be funded.

You can do this:

• Online at servicesaustralia.gov.au
• By calling 1800 227 475
• Or by asking your provider to help you apply

Once your information is reviewed, you’ll get a letter showing if you’ll be asked to contribute — and how much.

Tip: If you’re applying with your partner, both incomes are considered — even if only one of you is receiving care.

Transitioning from a Home Care Package to Support at Home

If you currently receive a Home Care Package, you don’t need to reapply for support. When the Support at Home program begins in November 2025, your care will automatically move across to the new system.

Your existing services, provider, and funding level will stay largely the same — just managed under a new structure designed to give you more flexibility and transparency.

Services Australia will use your most recent income assessment to determine any contributions, so you won’t need to redo your financial paperwork unless your circumstances have changed.

No worse off policy

The government has committed to a "no worse off" policy, meaning you won’t pay more out-of-pocket under the new system than you would have under your Home Care Package. This is known as grandfathering.

To be covered under this protection, you must have:

• Already been receiving a Home Care Package,
• Been placed in the National Priority System, or
• Been assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package

...by 12 September 2024.

If you meet that cut-off, your contribution arrangements will be preserved under the new Support at Home system.

What happens if you're assessed after 12 September 2024?

If you're approved for care after the cut-off, you’ll still receive support under the new system — but your co-contributions may be calculated differently. Instead of being tied to your package level, they’ll reflect the actual cost of the services you receive.

Key takeaway: This transition is designed to be smooth, automatic, and fair. If you’re already in the system by mid-September 2024, your fees are protected. If you enter later, you’ll still receive support — just under a slightly different structure.

When your provider reaches out closer to the transition date, use it as a chance to review your care and ask about any changes that might affect you.

What to do if you can’t afford it

If the numbers feel like too much, say something. You're not stuck.

Talk to your care provider. They might help you rearrange services or apply for financial hardship support. And if your situation changes, maybe your partner has passed, or income has dropped — you can ask for a reassessment.

“We’ve all had those days where you hit the wall — paperwork, appointments, confusion, worry. Let that be the day you ask someone to stand beside you.”

Tip: There’s no shame in asking for help. Everyone’s needs shift and that’s exactly why reassessments exist.

Parting thoughts

Understanding the income-tested care fee isn’t just about the numbers — it’s about knowing what you’re entitled to, and what’s fair.

You don’t need to have it all worked out at once. And you don’t need to do it alone.

If you’re ready to find out what care you can access — and what it might cost — talk to someone who does this every day. Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422, or chat to a provider you trust.

📞 Need a Hand?

The team at St Vincent’s Care can walk you through the process, explain what you’re eligible for and help you plan your services. A quick chat can save hours of frustration and give you confidence about your next steps.

Call us today on 1800 960 223