How we fund residential respite care
The Australian Government pays subsidies and supplements to registered providers to deliver care for older people temporarily staying in an aged care home. This is known as ‘respite care’.
Under the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) funding model, the respite care subsidy is calculated based on location and assessed care needs. Eligible people are entitled to 63 days of subsidised respite care in a financial year. This can be extended by up to another 21 days if an aged care assessor approves it.
Learn more about managing residential respite care.
About respite care subsidy
As a registered provider, you are paid a daily subsidy for each person in your care approved for government-funded residential respite care.
The respite care subsidy has 2 components:
- Fixed subsidy (equivalent to the Base Care Tariff for permanent residential care) to meet shared costs of delivering care, based on a homes’ location or specialised status.
- Variable subsidy (AN-ACC respite classification) to meet respite resident’s care needs, based on a residential aged care funding assessment.
For more information, see the AN-ACC funding guide.
AN-ACC respite classification
The AN-ACC respite classification determines the variable subsidy you are paid to meet each respite resident’s assessed care needs.
There are 3 AN-ACC funding classes for respite residents. Each class represents residents with similar clinical characteristics and daily care costs.
| AN-ACC class | Resident characteristics |
| Respite Class 1 | Independent mobility |
| Respite Class 2 | Assisted mobility |
| Respite Class 3 | Not mobile |
You can view respite residents’ AN-ACC classifications in the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal.
For more information, see section 5 of the AN-ACC funding guide.
Funding assessment
Each respite resident has a residential aged care funding assessment to determine the appropriate AN-ACC respite classification that meets their assessed care needs.
When a person enters residential respite, a referral for an initial classification assessment will trigger after you notify Services Australia of a new resident.
If a respite resident leaves care before their funding assessment, an assessment organisation will undertake an assessment at the person’s home before another respite episode.
You can request a reclassification assessment if a person’s mobility has changed.
Find out what you need to do to prepare for funding assessments.
For more information, see section 5 and 7 of the AN-ACC funding guide.
Default subsidy rate
You will receive a default subsidy rate equal to Respite Class 2 during the period between a respite resident’s entry and when their residential aged care funding assessment is completed.
Once the resident is assigned an AN-ACC class, the subsidy for the actual respite classification will replace any default subsidy paid up to that time.
Any difference between the actual and default subsidy will be adjusted through the Services Australia payment system.
For more information, see section 5 of the AN-ACC funding guide.
Respite accommodation supplement
You will receive the respite accommodation supplement for each day a respite resident is in your care, to help cover their accommodation costs.
This rate is equal to the maximum rate of the accommodation supplement payable for eligible permanent care residents at your residential care home.
Services Australia automatically pays this supplement for eligible respite residents.
Other supplements
You will receive the hotelling supplement on behalf of respite residents.
Respite residents may also be eligible for the:
How to claim
You must submit an online claim each month with Services Australia using the Aged Care Provider Portal.
You must include the details of each respite resident you are claiming for in that month.
Learn more about claiming for residential aged care funding.
Current rates
The respite care subsidy is subject to change on 1 October each year, following advice from the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority.
The respite accommodation supplement is indexed 20 March and 20 September each year.
See the daily rates and indexation arrangements in the Schedule of Subsidies and Supplements.
Find out more
- Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) funding guide
- Managing residential respite care
- Fees for residential respite care
Contact
Aged care subsidies and supplements contact