Fees & Charges

Residential Aged Care

Basic Daily Fee

This fee covers living costs such as meals, laundry and electricity. This fee is set at 85% of the single person rate of the basic age pension and increases in line with the pension each March and September. 

This fee is paid by all residents and - for some - may be the only fee paid.

Means Tested Care Fee

This is an additional contribution towards the cost of care that some residents may be required to pay. Services Australia will calculate if there is a requirement to pay this fee based on an assessment of a resident's income and assets, and advise the amount. 

There are annual ($34,174.16) and lifetime ($82,018.15) caps in place that apply to the means tested care fee. Once these caps are reached, a resident cannot be asked to pay further means tested care fees. 

Accommodation Payment

This is for accommodation in the home chosen. Some residents will have their accommodation costs met in full or in part by the Australian Government, whilst others will need to pay the accommodation price (Refundable Accommodation Deposit or equivalent Daily Accommodation Payment) applicable for the home. 

Eligibility for assistance from the Government with the accommodation cost is determined by Services Australia and is based on the assets of the resident.

Income & Assets Assessment

All residents entering into Aged Care are assessed to determine if they are eligible to receive assistance with their accommodation costs from the Australian Government or if they need to pay a means tested care fee. 

For this assessment to occur, the form Permanent Resident Aged Care - Request for a Combined Assets and Income Assessment (SA457) must be completed and lodged with Centrelink. If this form is not completed, a resident will not be eligible for any Australian Government assistance toward their fees and will have to pay the full cost of both their care and accommodation, which can be quite substantial. 

Residential Care Fee Estimator

A useful tool to help estimate the fees a prospective resident may be asked to pay is contained on the MyAgedCare website.

This fee estimator is to be used as a guide only but does give some idea, based on the income and assets entered into the estimator, of the fees that may be applicable to permanent entry into a home.