- Fees for residential respite care
Providers can ask people in government-subsidised residential respite care to pay some fees. These fees are different from what you can charge for permanent (ongoing) residential care. - Fee and accommodation arrangements for permanent care
Different fee and accommodation arrangements can apply to residents in your care. These arrangements determine which fees and accommodation costs you can charge. - Changes to fee and accommodation arrangements
A resident’s fee and accommodation arrangements may change if they exit care for more than 28 days or choose to opt in to the new fee arrangements. - Means assessment
Residents entering permanent care need a means assessment to find out whether they are eligible for Australian Government support with their means tested fees and accommodation costs. - Basic daily fee
Every resident pays a basic daily fee to contribute to the costs of their daily living. Different rates apply depending on which fee arrangements they are on. - Means tested fees
Residents pay fees based on their means assessment. Services Australia advises the fee type and amount for each resident. Daily, annual and lifetime caps limit the amount a person pays. New types of means tested fees will be introduced on 1 November 2025. - Higher everyday living, additional and extra service fees
Fees for optional services are changing on 1 November. The new higher everyday living fee (HELF) will replace additional service fees and extra service fees. - Accommodation costs
This page provides an overview of accommodation costs for residents in government-subsidised aged care homes. It explains how costs are determined, the different payment options available and changes from 1 November 2025. - Maximum accommodation payment amounts
Providers must publish the accommodation prices for their rooms on My Aged Care. If they want to charge above the maximum accommodation payment amount, they need approval to do so. - Accommodation payments and contributions
Residents in permanent care may have to make an accommodation payment or contribution. Aged care providers must work out the correct amount of payment or contribution to charge based on the agreed room price, Services Australia advice and the payment method a resident chooses. - DAP indexation
Daily accommodation payments (DAPs) will be indexed from 1 November 2025. Providers will index the payment they charge twice a year. This only applies to residents on the 1 November 2025 accommodation arrangements. - RAD and RAC retention
Retention amounts will be deducted from refundable accommodation deposits and contributions (RADs and RACs) from 1 November 2025. Providers are responsible for calculating and deducting retention amounts. This only applies to residents on the 1 November 2025 accommodation arrangements. - Accommodation bonds and charges
Residents who entered care before 1 July 2014 may be required to pay an accommodation bond or charge. - Residential care fee scenarios
A resident’s fees will depend on the outcome of their means assessment and their negotiations with their aged care provider. See examples to better understand how Services Australia calculates fees and how the means assessment works for people entering residential care from 1 July 2014.
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