Charging fees
Respite care
A resident entering your service for residential respite care may pay up to 4 types of fees:
- a basic daily fee
- a booking fee
- an extra service fee
- additional service fees.
Read more about fees for residential respite care.
Permanent care
A resident entering your service for permanent care may pay up to 5 types of fees:
- a basic daily fee
- a means tested care fee
- accommodation costs (payment or contribution)
- an extra service fee
- additional service fees.
Read more about fees for permanent residential care.
Permanent care pre 1 July 2014
A resident who entered care before 1 July 2014 and is still on pre 1 July 2014 fee arrangements may pay up to 5 types of fees:
- a basic daily fee (at 1 of 3 rates)
- an income tested fee
- accommodation costs (bond or charge)
- an extra service fee
- additional service fees.
Read more about fees for pre 1 July 2014 permanent residential care.
Means assessment
Residents in permanent care need a means assessment to find out whether they’re eligible for government support with their means tested care fees and accommodation costs.
Services Australia assesses their income and assets to determine how much they can pay.
You need to agree on a room price in writing with each resident before they enter your care. Whether they pay the agreed amount will depend on their means assessment.
A resident can complete a means assessment either before or after they enter care. They do not need a means assessment to enter your care.
Read more about:
- means assessment for residential aged care
- how Services Australia determines fees in the residential aged care fee scenarios.
Charging accommodation costs
Residents in permanent care may pay an accommodation payment or contribution. They can pay as:
- a lump sum
- a daily payment
- a combination of both.
In contrast, residents on pre 1 July 2014 fee arrangements may pay an accommodation bond or charge. They can choose from lump sum or rental-style payment options, or do a combination of both.
Read more about accommodation costs for residents on current fee arrangements or pre 1 July 2014 fee arrangements.
Refunding lump sums
You must refund the balance of a lump sum paid for accommodation when a resident permanently leaves your care. This includes a refundable deposit or an accommodation bond.
Read more about refunding lump sums in residential aged care.
Managing fees and accommodation costs
There are rules on how you collect, review and manage fees and accommodation costs in your residential aged care home.
Read more about managing resident fees and accommodation costs.