Residential aged care fee scenarios - 1 July 2014 fee arrangements

Learn how aged care fees and contributions are calculated for residents on the 1 July 2014 fee arrangements. The scenarios on this page show how the means assessment works and how Services Australia calculates what a resident may pay based on their income and assets.

How to use these scenarios

The scenarios on this page show how fees are calculated and how the means assessment works for people entering residential care on 1 July 2014 fee arrangements. 

Aged care rates are regularly indexed and resident fees change over time. The rates and thresholds used in these scenarios were current on 20 March 2026.

For the full list of current residential care rates, refer to:

Learn about charging for residential aged care.

Visit the fee scenarios for residents on 1 November 2025 fee arrangements.

Note: These fee scenarios are examples for general information only. They do not constitute financial advice. Individuals should seek independent financial advice to determine the best way to pay for their care.

Terms used

The following terms are used in the scenarios:

  • Basic daily fee – payable by everyone in residential care
  • Means tested care fee – payable if a person’s income and assets are above a certain amount, calculated by Services Australia based on a means assessment
  • Accommodation costs – payable to cover (accommodation payment) or contribute towards (accommodation contribution) the cost of accommodation in an aged care home
  • Higher everyday living fee – payable if a person agrees to receive additional services beyond what the aged care home is required to provide
  • Means assessment form – a form some people need to fill in to provide their financial details to Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for their aged care means assessment
  • Fee advice letter – a letter Services Australia sends to residents and their providers outlining the fees and type of accommodation costs that apply for the resident.

Full pensioner – Michael

1 July 2014 fee arrangements

Michael is 79 years old and receives the full age pension. He rents an apartment and does not own a home. After a stroke, Michael needs full-time care. An aged care assessor finds him eligible for a government-funded place in an aged care home.

To find out what fees he must pay when he enters care, Michael needs his means (income and assets) assessed by Services Australia.

As he is on the age pension and does not own his home, Services Australia already has enough information about his financial circumstances to complete his means assessment. This means Michael does not need to fill in a means assessment form. Instead, he makes sure his Centrelink income and assets details are up to date. Then he calls Services Australia on 1800 227 475 to ask for a fee advice letter.

Michael had an approval for a Home Care Package on 12 September 2024, so he is covered by the ‘no worse off principle’ and his fees will be set under the 1 July 2014 fee arrangements. 

His first entry to residential care is after 1 November 2025, so his accommodation costs will be set under the 1 November 2025 accommodation arrangements.  

When Michael chooses an aged care home, he must agree on a room price with the provider. The means assessment will determine if he needs to pay the agreed room price, or if he is eligible for assistance with his accommodation costs. 

Michael has $15,000 in assets and an annual income of $32,000.

Michael will not pay a means tested care fee or an accommodation payment because, as a full pensioner:

  • his annual income is below the income free area ($35,313.20) 
  • his assets are below the asset free area ($64,500).

The government will pay his accommodation costs and contribute the full government subsidy to the cost of his care.

Under his current personal and financial circumstances, Michael will pay a basic daily fee of $66.80 per day.

Michael may also pay a higher everyday living fee if he chooses to buy additional services beyond those his aged care home must provide.

Under his current circumstances, Michael's provider cannot ask him to pay:

  • a contribution towards his accommodation costs
  • a means tested care fee.

However, an accommodation contribution and means tested care fee can become payable for Michael if his income and assets increase. 

Self-funded retiree – Sofia

1 July 2014 fee arrangements

Sofia, 92, is a self-funded retiree who owns her own home. Her partner has passed away. She has been approved for a government-funded place in an aged care home.

Sofia was receiving a Home Care Package on 12 September 2024, so she is covered by the ‘no worse off principle’ for her means testing arrangements.

For residential care the 1 July 2014 means testing arrangements will apply for her, and her fees will be set under the 1 July 2014 fee arrangements. As Sofia is entering residential care after 1 November 2025, her accommodation costs will be set under the 1 November 2025 accommodation arrangements. 

To find out what fees she must pay when she enters care, Sofia goes to Service Australia's website to apply online for an aged care calculation of your cost of care.  Services Australia will assess her means and advise Sofia of her maximum aged care fees. 

Sofia’s annual income is $52,000. Her home is valued at $960,000 and her remaining assets are valued at $340,000. The aged care means assessment caps the assessable value of her home at $214,884 – the home exemption cap. This puts her total assessable assets at $554,884. 

Services Australia will use these figures to calculate Sofia’s means tested amount and determine whether she is eligible for government support. Services Australia uses an income test and an assets test to work out Sofia's means tested amount. This determines whether Sofia will: 

  • receive government support for her accommodation costs or pay the room price negotiated with her aged care provider 
  • pay a means tested care fee. 

Income test

Sofia’s assessed annual income ($52,000) is checked against the single person rate of the income free area ($35,313,20). 

Her income tested amount is 50% of her income in excess of the income free area divided by 364. 

Sofia’s income tested amount 

= 50% x ($52,000 - $35,313,20) / 364 
= $22.92 

Assets test

Sofia’s total assessable assets ($554,884) are checked against 3 indexed asset thresholds: 

  • Asset free area = $64,500 
  • First asset threshold = $214,884 
  • Second asset threshold = $515,652 

Her asset tested amount is calculated by taking the sum of: 

  • 17.5% of her assets in excess of $64,500 up to $214,884 
  • 1% of her assets in excess of $214,884 up to $515,652 
  • 2% of her assets in excess of $515,652 

and expressing it as a daily amount (dividing by 364). 

Sofia’s asset tested amount 
= [(17.5% x $150,384)) + (1% x $300,768)) + (2% x $39,232)] / 364 
= [$26,317.20 + $3,007.68 + $784.64] / 364 
= $82.71 

Means tested amount

This is the sum of Sofia’s income tested amount and her asset tested amount. 

Sofia’s means tested amount 
= income tested amount + asset tested amount 
= $22.92 + $82.71 
= $105.63 

Sofia’s means tested amount is greater than the maximum accommodation supplement ($72.30), so she is not eligible for government support for her accommodation costs.

Sofia must negotiate a room price before she moves in. She will pay her agreed room price as an accommodation payment.  

Sofia has the choice to pay her accommodation payment as: 

  • a daily accommodation payment (DAP)  
  • a lump sum refundable accommodation deposit (RAD) 
  • any combination of both. 

She agrees on a room price of $650,000 as a RAD and an equivalent DAP of $136.23. 

Refundable accommodation deposit (RAD)

If Sofia chooses to pay her full accommodation costs as a RAD, she will pay a DAP until her provider receives the RAD payment. 

Sofia’s RAD = $650,000 

When Sofia leaves the aged care home, her provider must refund the RAD balance to her or her estate. RAD retention amounts and any other amounts she has agreed to have deducted will not be refunded.

Daily accommodation payment (DAP)

Sofia can choose to pay for her accommodation entirely by non-refundable daily payments. 

Sofia’s provider converts her RAD ($650,000) into a DAP of $136.23 per day using the maximum permissible interest rate (MPIR). The MPIR applied is the rate current on the day Sofia agrees the room price.  

Sofia’s DAP 
= RAD × MPIR / 365 
= $650,000 x 7.65% / 365 
= $136.23 

Sofia’s DAP will increase twice a year on 20 March and 20 September due to DAP indexation.

Accommodation payment – combination RAD and DAP

Sofia can choose to pay a partial RAD and pay the rest as a DAP. It is up to Sofia what amount she would like to pay as a RAD or DAP. 

If Sofia decides to pay $250,000 of her accommodation cost as a RAD and the rest as a DAP, her provider will calculate her reduced DAP using her outstanding room price amount. 

Sofia’s agreed room price = $650,000 

Sofia’s RAD paid = $250,000 

Sofia’s reduced DAP 
= (agreed room price – RAD paid) x MPIR / 365 
= ($650,000 – $250,000) x 7.65% / 365 
= $83.84 

Sofia's aged care provider must allow her to draw her reduced DAP from her paid RAD if she requests to do so. As her RAD balance decreases, her DAP will increase to maintain equivalence. Her provider may also allow her to draw other aged care fees from her RAD balance. 

RAD retention deductions will apply to any amount of RAD Sofia pays. DAP indexation will apply to any amount of DAP she pays. 

Means tested care fee

Subtracting the maximum accommodation supplement ($72.30) from Sofia's means tested amount ($105.63) gives her means tested care fee

Sofia’s means tested care fee 
= means tested amount – maximum accommodation supplement 
= $105.63 – $72.30 
= $33.33 

This fee may change if Sofia’s financial circumstances change. 

Under Sofia's current personal and financial circumstances, she will pay the following when she enters her chosen aged care home: 

  • a basic daily fee of $66.80 per day 
  • a means tested care fee of $33.33 per day 
  • the accommodation payment she agreed with her provider. She can pay this as either: a RAD of $650,000; a DAP of $136.23 per day; or any combination of RAD and DAP. 

Sofia may also pay a higher everyday living fee if she chooses to buy additional services beyond those her aged care home must provide. 

Annual and lifetime caps apply for the means tested care fee. The caps are indexed and the 20 March 2026 rates are $35,910.43 and $86.185.23. The cap amount that applies for a resident is the amount in effect when they reach it. 

Sofia should seek financial advice to decide the best way to pay for her aged care costs. Different payment options can have a different effect on her means tested care fee. 

Part pensioner – Jane

1 July 2014 fee arrangements

Jane, 84, and her partner, Roger, 85, are part-pensioners who live in their family home. Jane has limited mobility and is finding it difficult to manage without full-time care. She and Roger have decided that she should move into an aged care home.

Jane gets an aged care needs assessment and receives approval for a subsidised place in an aged care home. 

After receiving her approval, Jane and Roger look for suitable aged care homes and start to find out about the fees she will need to pay. 

Jane was receiving a Home Care Package on 12 September 2024, so she is covered by the ‘no worse off principle’ for her means testing arrangements. This means her residential care fees will be set under the 1 July 2014 fee arrangements. As she is entering residential care after 1 November 2025, her accommodation costs will be set under the 1 November 2025 accommodation arrangements. 

Jane knows she must pay a basic daily fee. To find out whether she will pay a means tested care fee or accommodation costs, she needs an aged care means assessment from Services Australia. 

Services Australia already has Jane’s income information as she is on a means tested government pension. However, because she owns her own home, Jane must give Services Australia extra details about her home. To do this, she applies online for an aged care calculation of your cost of care.   

After assessing Jane’s home, Services Australia will send her a fee advice letter outlining: 

  • the types of fees she can be asked to pay 
  • the maximum fees she could pay when she enters care. 

Roger and Jane’s family home is valued at $600,000. As Roger will continue to live in the home once Jane moves out, Services Australia will consider it occupied by a ‘protected person’. This means their house will not be included as an assessable asset.  

Jane and Roger have other combined assets valued at $156,000 and a combined annual income of $88,000. As a member of a couple, half of their combined income and assets belong to Jane. This means Jane has assessable assets valued at $78,000 and an assessable income of $44,000.  

Services Australia uses an income test and an asset test to work out Jane’s means tested amount to determine whether she will: 

  • receive government support with her accommodation costs or pay the room price negotiated with her aged care provider 
  • pay a means tested care fee. 

Income test

Jane’s assessed annual income ($44,000) is checked against the income free area for a couple living apart because of illness ($34,585.20, single rate). 

Her income tested amount is 50% of her income in excess of the income free area divided by 364. 

Jane’s income tested amount 
= 50% x ($44,000 – $34,585.20) / 364 
= $12.93 

Assets test

Jane’s total assessable assets ($78,000) are checked against 3 indexed asset thresholds: 

  • Asset free area = $64,500 
  • First asset threshold = $214,884 
  • Second asset threshold = $515,652 

Her asset tested amount is calculated by taking the sum of: 

  • 17.5% of her assets in excess of $64,500 up to $214,884 
  • 1% of her assets in excess of $214,884 up to $515,652 
  • 2% of her assets in excess of $515,652 

and expressing it as a daily amount (dividing by 364). 

Jane’s asset tested amount 
= [(17.5% x $13,500) + (1% x $0) + (2% x $0)] / 364 
= [$2,362.50+ $0 + $0] / 364 
= $6.49 

Means tested amount

This is the sum of Jane’s income tested amount and her asset tested amount. 

Jane’s means tested amount 
= income tested amount + asset tested amount 
= $12.93 + $6.49 
= $19.42 

Jane’s means tested amount is less than the maximum accommodation supplement ($72.30), so she is eligible for government support with her accommodation costs. 

After choosing an aged care service, Jane agrees on a room price of $440,000 as a RAD and an equivalent DAP of $92.22. As someone eligible for government support, Jane will not pay this room price. However, as Jane’s means tested amount is greater than zero, she must contribute towards her accommodation costs. 

Jane has the choice to pay her accommodation contribution as: 

  • a lump sum refundable accommodation contribution (RAC) 
  • a daily accommodation contribution (DAC) 
  • a combination of both. 

Daily accommodation contribution (DAC)

If Jane chooses to pay her accommodation contribution as a DAC, she will pay the lower of either: 

  • her means tested amount ($19.42 per day) 
  • the accommodation supplement applicable to her aged care service for that day ($72.30) 
  • the room price she agreed expressed as a DAP ($92.22 per day, indexed). 

Jane’s DAC = $19.42 

The government will pay her provider the difference between the accommodation supplement applicable for that day ($72.30) and Jane’s DAC ($19.42), which is $52.88 per day. 

Jane’s DAC will vary from time to time, depending on changes to the amounts above. 

Accommodation contribution – combination RAC and DAC 

If Jane later chooses to pay a partial RAC of $40,000, her provider will calculate her reduced DAC by converting her RAC into an equivalent daily amount and subtracting it from the full DAC. 

The provider uses the MPIR current on the day Jane enters the aged care home to calculate the DAC equivalent to the partial RAC paid. 

Jane's provider must draw down her reduced DAC from her $40,000 RAC if she asks them to. As her RAC balance decreases, Jane's DAC will increase to maintain equivalence. 

Equivalent daily amount for RAC paid 
= RAC x MPIR / 365 
= $40,000 x 7.65% / 365 
= $8.38 

Jane’s reduced DAC 
= full DAC – equivalent daily amount for RAC paid 
= $19.42 – $8.38 
= $11.04 

RAD/RAC retention deductions will be applied to any amount of RAC that Jane pays.

Means tested care fee

Subtracting the maximum accommodation supplement ($72.30) from Jane's means tested amount ($19.42) gives her means tested care fee

Jane’s means tested care fee   
= means tested amount – maximum accommodation supplement 
= $19.42 – $72.30) 
= -$52.88 (less than zero) 
  
As this gives an amount less than zero, Jane won't pay a means tested care fee. This may change in the future if her financial circumstances change. 

Jane will pay: 

  • a basic daily fee of $66.80 per day 
  • an accommodation contribution of $19.42 per day (if she chooses to pay by DAC). 

Jane may also pay a higher everyday living fee if she chooses to buy additional services beyond those her aged care home must provide. 

She will not pay a means tested care fee under her current circumstances. 

Jane and Roger should seek financial advice to help them decide the best way to pay for Jane's care. 

Part pensioner – Roger 

1 July 2014 fee arrangements

Roger, 85, has been approved for a place in an aged care home. He is on a part pension and has lived alone in his family home since his partner, Jane, moved to an aged care home. He will join her in the same home.  

Roger is covered by the ‘no worse off principle’ for means testing arrangements. He will pay for his residential care under the 1 July 2014 fee arrangements and the 1 November 2025 accommodation arrangements.  

Services Australia has Roger’s income information, because he is on a means tested government pension. However, because he owns his own home, Roger must give Services Australia extra details about his home. He does this by applying online for an aged care calculation of your cost of care.  

As Roger intends to move out of the family home, it will no longer be occupied by a ‘protected person’. This means Services Australia will include it as an assessable asset at a capped value of $214,884 – the home exemption cap.  

The assessment of Roger’s (and Jane’s) assets will exclude any value of the home above this amount. This cap on the value of a home applies separately to both members of a couple. 

Roger and Jane have a combined annual income of $88,000. Their home is valued at $600,000, and their other combined assets are valued at $156,000. As a couple, half of their combined income and assets belongs to Roger. This means Roger’s: 

  • assessable income is $88,000 / 2 = $44,000  
  • assessable assets are valued at $156,000 / 2 + $214,884 = $292,884. 

Services Australia uses an income test and an assets test to work out Roger's means tested amount to determine if he will: 

  • receive government support with his accommodation costs or pay the negotiated room price 
  • pay a means tested care fee. 

After assessing Roger’s income and assets, Services Australia sends him a fee advice letter outlining: 

  • the types of fees he can be asked to pay 
  • the maximum fees he could pay when he enters care if his circumstances remain the same. 

Income test

Roger’s assessed annual income ($44,000) is checked against the income free area for a couple living apart because of illness ($34,585.20, single rate). 

His income tested amount is 50% of his income in excess of the income free area divided by 364. 

Roger’s income tested amount 
= 50% x ($44,000 – $34,585.20) / 364 
= $12.93

Assets test

Roger’s total assessable assets ($292,884) are checked against 3 indexed asset thresholds: 

  • Asset free area = $64,500 
  • First asset threshold = $214,884 
  • Second asset threshold = $515,652 

His asset tested amount is calculated by taking the sum of:  

  • 17.5% of his assets in excess of $64,500 up to $214,884 
  • 1% of his assets in excess of $214,884 up to $515,652 
  • 2% of his assets in excess of $515,652 

and expressing it as a daily amount (dividing by 364). 

Roger’s asset tested amount 
= [(17.5% x $150,384) +(1% x $78,000) + (2% x $0)] / 364 
= [$26,317.20 + $780 + $0] / 364 
= $74.44

Means tested amount

This is the sum of Roger’s income tested amount and his asset tested amount. 

Roger’s means tested amount 
= income tested amount + asset tested amount 
= $12.93 + $74.44 
= $87.37 

Roger’s means tested amount is greater than the maximum accommodation supplement ($72.30). He is not eligible for government support with his accommodation costs and must make an accommodation payment rather than a contribution. 

Roger agrees on a room price of $450,000 as a RAD and an equivalent DAP of $94.32. He has the choice to pay this price as: 

  • a lump sum RAD 
  • a DAP 
  • any combination of DAP and RAD. 

Refundable accommodation deposit (RAD)

If Roger chooses to pay his full accommodation costs as a RAD, he must pay a DAP until his provider receives the RAD payment. 

Roger’s RAD = $450,000 

When Roger leaves the aged care home, his provider must refund the RAD less any deductions to Roger or his estate. RAD retention amounts and any other amounts Roger has agreed to have deducted will not be refunded. 

Daily accommodation payment (DAP)

Roger can choose to pay for his accommodation entirely by non-refundable daily payments. 

Roger’s provider converts his RAD ($450,000) into a DAP of $94.32 per day using the MPIR. The MPIR applied is the rate current on the day Roger agrees the room price. 

Roger’s DAP 
= RAD × MPIR / 365 
= $450,000 x 7.65% / 365 
= $94.32 

Roger’s DAP will increase twice a year on 20 March and 20 September due to DAP indexation.

Accommodation payment – combination RAD and DAP

If Roger decides to pay $100,000 of his accommodation cost as a RAD and the rest as a DAP, his DAP will be calculated using his outstanding room price amount. 

Roger’s agreed room price = $450,000 

Roger’s RAD paid = $100,000 

Roger’s DAP 
= (agreed room price – RAD paid) x MPIR / 365 
= ($450,000 – $100,000) x 7.65% / 365 
= $73.36 

Roger's provider must allow him to draw his DAP from his paid RAD if he requests to do so. The provider may also allow him to draw other aged care fees from his RAD balance. 

RAD retention deductions will apply to any amount of RAD Roger pays. DAP indexation will apply to any amount of DAP he pays. 

Means tested care fee

Roger’s means tested care fee is calculated by subtracting the maximum accommodation supplement ($72.30) from his means tested amount ($87.37). 

Roger’s means tested care fee 
= means tested amount – maximum accommodation supplement 
= $87.37 – $72.30 
= $15.07 

Roger’s means tested care fee is $15.07 per day.  

Roger will pay: 

  • a basic daily fee of $66.80 
  • a means tested care fee of $15.07 per day 
  • the accommodation payment he agreed with his provider. He can pay this as either: a DAP of $94.32 per day; a RAD of $450,000; or any combination of DAP and RAD. 

Roger may also pay a higher everyday living fee if he chooses to buy additional services beyond those his aged care home must provide. 

Jane and Roger should seek financial advice to decide the best way to pay for their aged care costs. As a couple, each of their aged care payment methods may affect the other’s aged care fees. Their chosen payment methods may also affect their age pensions. 

Couple – Jane and Roger

1 July 2014 fee arrangements

Couple Jane and Roger have both moved into an aged care home. Jane moved in first and then Roger joined her in the same home. 

When Roger moved into the home, both his and Jane's personal financial circumstances changed, and they updated their circumstances with Services Australia. This affects both their residential aged care fees. Jane now needs to pay a means tested care fee, and her accommodation contribution has increased.

Roger’s accommodation payment method will also affect both of their fees.

There are many things for Jane and Roger to consider when determining the best way to pay for their aged care costs, including:

  • whether or not to sell their family home
  • whether or not Roger should pay a RAD
  • how different payment methods will affect their age pensions.

If they keep the family home and Roger pays by DAP, Jane pays by DAC

Roger’s and Jane’s income and assets are divided equally between them in the means assessment. Before Roger moved into care, Jane was not eligible to pay a means tested care fee.  

From the time Roger entered aged care, Jane’s assessable assets increased from $78,000 to $292,884. This is because of the additional capped value of their home. 

Now that the family home is no longer occupied by Roger, Jane’s means tested amount increases to $87.37 (the same as Roger’s). Jane will now pay a means tested care fee of up to $15.07 per day, depending on her cost of care. 

Before Roger entered care, Jane was required to pay an accommodation contribution equivalent to a DAC of $19.42 per day.  

If Jane now chooses to pay her full accommodation contribution by DAC, she will still need to pay the lower of: 

  • her means tested amount (previously $19.42, now increased to $87.37 per day)  
  • the accommodation supplement applicable for that day ($72.30 per day) 
  • the room price she agreed expressed as a DAP ($92.22 per day, indexed). 

This means Jane’s DAC will increase to $72.30 per day. 

If Jane and Roger rent out their home for some extra income, this will be included in the means assessment and may increase their means tested care fees. The rent they receive may also affect their age pensions.

If they sell the family home and Roger pays by DAP, Jane pays by DAC

If Roger and Jane sell their home and keep the proceeds in the bank, those proceeds count as an assessable asset in the means assessment. This asset will affect their individual means tested care fees. It will also be included in the pension assessment and may affect their age pensions. 

In contrast to the family home, no cap is applicable to the value of financial assets. If they receive $600,000 for the house, the couple’s total assets of $600,000 and $156,000 are split equally between them. 

This gives each of them an assessable asset amount of $378,000, and affects their means tested amount and means tested care fees. The increase in financial assets will also increase deemed income for Roger and Jane. However, these scenarios don't include deemed income. 

Asset tested amount (Jane and Roger) 
= [(17.5% x $150,384) + (1% x $163,116) + (2% x $0)] / 364 
= [$26,317.20 + $1,631.16 + $0] / 364 
= $76.78 

Means tested amount (Jane and Roger) 
= income tested amount + asset tested amount 
= $12.93 + $76.78 
= $89.71 

Means tested care fee (Jane and Roger) 
= means tested amount – maximum accommodation supplement 
= $89.71 – $72.30 
= $17.41 

From selling the family home, Roger’s means tested care fee increases to $17.41. There is no change to Roger’s DAP of $94.32 per day (indexed), as it is based on the room price he agreed with his provider. 

Jane’s assets also increase by half of the value of the proceeds from the sale of the home. She is now required to pay a means tested care fee of $17.41, the same as Roger’s.  

Before Roger entered care, Jane was required to pay an accommodation contribution equivalent to a DAC of $19.42 per day. If Jane chooses to pay by DAC after selling the house, she will need to pay the lower of: 

  • her means tested amount (now $89.71 per day) 
  • the accommodation supplement applicable to her aged care service for that day ($72.30 per day)  
  • the room price she agreed expressed as a DAP ($92.22 per day, indexed). 

Jane’s DAC will increase to $72.30 per day if the couple sell their family home and keep the proceeds in the bank.

If they sell the family home and Roger pays by RAD, Jane pays by DAC

If Roger and Jane decide to pay a RAD of $450,000 for Roger, this will affect their individual means tested care fees. 

If they receive $600,000 for their house and use $450,000 to pay Roger’s RAD, both the paid RAD and remaining $150,000 are counted as assessable assets. No cap is applicable to the value of the RAD or the financial assets. The RAD is not considered a financial asset, so no income is deemed to be earned on this amount. Any amount paid as a RAD is also excluded from the age pension asset test and may affect their age pensions. 

The couple’s total assets of $600,000 and $156,000 are split equally between them to give each of them an assessable asset amount of $378,000. 

The increase in Roger’s assets will increase his: 

  • asset tested amount to $76.78 
  • means tested care fee to $17.41. 

When she entered care, Jane did not have to pay a means tested care fee. From selling the family home, Jane’s assets increased by half of the value of the proceeds. Jane will now be required to pay a means tested care fee of $17.41, the same as Roger’s.  

Before Roger entered care, Jane was required to pay an accommodation contribution equivalent to a DAC of $19.42 per day. If Jane has chosen to pay her full accommodation contribution by DAC, she will still need to pay the lower of: 

  • her means tested amount (now $89.71 per day) 
  • the maximum accommodation supplement ($72.30 per day) 
  • the room price she agreed expressed as a DAP ($92.22 per day, indexed). 

This means that Jane’s DAC will increase to $72.30 per day if the couple decide to sell their family home to pay Roger’s RAD. 

Jane and Roger should seek financial advice to determine the best way to pay for their aged care. As a couple, each of their aged care payment methods may affect the other’s aged care fees and the amount of money they have available to pay these fees. Their payment methods may also affect their age pensions.

To talk to someone who can help them understand the implications of their aged care costs, residents can call Services Australia’s free Financial Information Service on 132 300 and say 'financial information service' when asked why they are calling.

Date last updated: