There are two components to costs for a Home Care Package – the Basic Daily Fee and the Income Tested Care Fee.

Basic Daily Fee

Everyone commencing a Home Care Package may be asked to pay the basic daily fee.  However our usually policy is to work out a package with you that makes the basic daily care fee Nil. This means that for anyone on a full means tested aged pension, a home care package with us will normally not cost anything at all.

Plus

Income Tested Care Fee

Depending on your income, you may be asked to contribute more to the cost of your care. This extra amount is known as an income tested care fee.

The Department of Human Services works out the income-tested care fee based on an assessment of your financial situation. The assessment does not include the value of your home.

You cannot be asked to pay an income tested care fee if you are an individual and your income is less than $31,504 or if you are one of a couple living together and your income is less than $24,429 each.

There are annual and lifetime caps that apply to the income-tested care fee.  Once these caps are reached you cannot be asked to pay any more income-tested care fee.

For further information on home care fees and to access a cost calculator, please visit the My Aged Care website or contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.