Key points

  • Full pensioners pay 0% for clinical care, 5% for independence services, and 17.5% for everyday living services
  • Clinical services like nursing and allied health are always free regardless of pension status
  • A lifetime cap protects you from paying too much over time
  • If you transitioned from a Home Care Package, the “no worse off” principle applies
  • Changes to your pension status will affect your co-contribution rates
  • Always check your invoices against the published rates for your category

How Support at Home fees work for full pensioners

The Support at Home program uses a co-contribution model. This means the government pays the majority of your service costs, and you pay a percentage out of pocket. The percentage you pay depends on two things: the type of service, and your financial situation.

For full Age Pension recipients, the rates are the lowest available. Here is what you pay:

Service categoryWhat it coversFull pensioner co-contribution
Clinical careNursing, physiotherapy, OT, speech pathology, podiatry, dietetics, other allied health0% (free)
Independence servicesHome modifications, assistive technology, transport5%
Everyday livingCleaning, meals, gardening, social support, domestic assistance17.5%

These rates are set by the government and apply nationally. Your provider cannot charge you a higher percentage than what your means assessment determines.

For a full overview of pricing across all income levels, see our guide to Support at Home prices. You can also estimate your Support at Home budget and contributions based on your classification level and co-contribution rates.

What the three service categories mean in practice

Understanding the categories helps you predict what you will pay for each type of support.

Clinical care: 0% (completely free)

If you are a full pensioner, you pay nothing for clinical services. This is one of the most significant features of the Support at Home program. Under the old Home Care Packages system, clinical services came out of your package budget. Now they are fully subsidised.

Clinical services include:

  • Registered nurse visits (medication management, wound care, catheter care, health monitoring)
  • Physiotherapy (falls prevention, mobility, exercise programs)
  • Occupational therapy (home safety assessments, equipment recommendations)
  • Speech pathology (swallowing assessments, communication strategies)
  • Podiatry (foot care, diabetic foot assessments)
  • Dietetics (nutritional assessments, meal planning for health conditions)
  • Psychology and counselling

From 1 October 2026, personal care (showering, dressing, grooming, non-clinical continence, eating, hygiene, and help self-administering medication) also moves into clinical supports and becomes fully government funded, with no participant contribution. Until 1 October 2026 a contribution applied to personal care; from then it is free.

This means your care plan can include as much clinical care as your classification level allows without reducing your budget for other services.

Independence services: 5%

Independence services help you maintain your ability to live at home safely. At a 5% co-contribution, you pay $5 for every $100 of service cost.

For example, if a home modification costs $100, you pay $5 and the government pays $95.

Independence services include:

  • Home modifications (grab rails, ramps, bathroom modifications)
  • Assistive technology (mobility aids, personal alarms, sensor equipment)
  • Transport to medical appointments and activities
  • Aids and equipment

Everyday living services: 17.5%

Everyday living services are the domestic and social supports that help you manage daily life. At 17.5%, you pay $17.50 for every $100 of service cost. These are also the supports families ask about most often through Carevo, where personal care, domestic assistance and transport are the top three requested services.

Everyday living services include:

  • Domestic assistance (cleaning, laundry, ironing)
  • Meal preparation or meal delivery
  • Garden maintenance
  • Social support and companionship
  • Community access and outings

While 17.5% is the highest rate full pensioners face, it is still substantially lower than the rates for self-funded retirees and higher-income participants.

The lifetime cap on co-contributions

The Support at Home program includes a lifetime cap on how much you pay in total co-contributions. Once your cumulative contributions reach this cap, the government covers the full cost of all your services from that point forward.

How the cap works:

  • The cap applies to your total co-contributions across all service categories (independence and everyday living)
  • Clinical care has no co-contribution, so it does not count towards the cap
  • The cap is indexed annually in line with pension increases
  • The cap applies across providers, so if you switch providers, your previous contributions still count

What this means for full pensioners:

Because full pensioners pay the lowest co-contribution rates (5% and 17.5%), it takes longer to reach the lifetime cap. But it does provide a safety net, particularly for people with high service usage over many years.

Your provider should track your cumulative contributions. You can also check your total through My Aged Care. If you believe you have reached the cap and are still being charged, raise it with your provider immediately.

The “no worse off” principle

If you were receiving a Home Care Package before the Support at Home program started on 1 November 2025, a specific protection applies to you: the “no worse off” principle.

What it means:

The government guarantees that people who transitioned from Home Care Packages will not pay more in co-contributions under Support at Home than they were paying under the old system. If the new rates would result in higher out-of-pocket costs, your contributions are capped at your previous level.

Who it applies to:

  • People who held an active Home Care Package on 1 November 2025
  • People who were in the national priority queue waiting for a package on that date

How it works in practice:

Your provider should automatically apply the “no worse off” calculation. They compare what you would pay under the new rates against what you were paying under the old system, and charge you the lower amount.

If you transitioned from a Home Care Package and believe you are paying more than before, gather your old invoices and raise it with your provider. If they cannot resolve it, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or the Older Persons Advocacy Network on 1800 700 600.

What happens if your pension status changes?

Your co-contribution rate is tied to your means assessment, which is based on your income and assets. If your financial circumstances change, your rates may change too.

Moving from full pension to part pension

If your income or assets increase (for example, you receive an inheritance, sell a property, or your partner passes away and their assets transfer to you), you may move from the full pension to a part pension or lose the pension entirely.

When this happens:

  • Services Australia reassesses your pension entitlement
  • Your aged care means assessment is updated
  • Your co-contribution rates may increase
  • Your provider is notified and adjusts your invoices accordingly

The change is not immediate. There is a reassessment process, and you will be notified before any fee changes take effect.

Moving from part pension to full pension

If your income or assets decrease, you may become eligible for the full pension. In that case:

  • Contact Services Australia to update your circumstances
  • Request a new means assessment
  • Your co-contribution rates should decrease to the full pensioner rates
  • Notify your provider so they update your billing

What if I am not sure about my pension status?

Call Services Australia (Centrelink) on 132 300 to confirm your current pension status and income assessment. You can also check through your myGov account.

How to check you are paying the right amount

It is worth regularly checking that your invoices match your entitlements. Here is how:

Step 1: Confirm your pension status. Check your latest Centrelink letter or log in to myGov. Confirm whether you are on the full pension, part pension, or not receiving a pension.

Step 2: Check your means assessment. Your means assessment letter from Services Australia confirms which fee category you fall into. If you have not received one, or if it is outdated, request a new assessment.

Step 3: Review your invoices. Your provider must give you itemised invoices showing each service, its cost, the government subsidy, and your co-contribution. Check that the percentages match the published rates for your category.

Step 4: Compare with published rates. The Department of Health and Aged Care publishes the co-contribution rates on their website. Cross-reference your invoices against these rates.

Step 5: Raise discrepancies. If something does not add up, contact your provider first. If they cannot explain or resolve it, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.

Examples: what full pensioners actually pay

To make the rates concrete, here are some worked examples based on typical service costs. Note that actual prices vary by provider and location.

Example 1: Personal care

  • Service cost: $100 per hour
  • Co-contribution until 1 October 2026: 5% ($5 per hour)
  • Co-contribution from 1 October 2026: 0% (personal care moves into clinical supports and is fully government funded)

From 1 October 2026, if you receive personal care three times a week for one hour each visit, you pay nothing. Until that date, a 5% co-contribution applied (for example, $15 per week for three one-hour visits).

Example 2: Domestic cleaning (everyday living service)

  • Service cost: $95 per hour
  • Full pensioner co-contribution: 17.5%
  • You pay: $16.63 per hour
  • Government pays: $78.37 per hour

A weekly two-hour clean would cost you $33.25 out of pocket.

Example 3: Nursing visit (clinical care)

  • Service cost: $150 per hour
  • Full pensioner co-contribution: 0%
  • You pay: $0
  • Government pays: $150 per hour

No matter how many nursing visits you need, you pay nothing.

Example 4: Mixed services in a typical week

A full pensioner receiving (from 1 October 2026):

  • 3 hours personal care at $100/hr = $0 co-contribution (personal care is now fully government funded)
  • 2 hours cleaning at $95/hr = $33.25 co-contribution
  • 1 hour nursing at $150/hr = $0 co-contribution
  • 1 hour physiotherapy at $185/hr = $0 co-contribution

Total weekly co-contribution: $33.25 Total weekly service value: $630

This means the person receives $630 worth of services and pays $33.25 out of pocket. The government covers the remaining $596.75.

Couples and pension considerations

If both you and your partner are receiving Support at Home, each of you has your own classification level, funding allocation, and co-contribution rate. Your pension status is assessed as a couple for Centrelink purposes, but your aged care fees are calculated individually.

If one partner enters residential care while the other remains at home, this can affect your pension status and assets assessment. The home you live in continues to be exempt from the means test as long as the remaining partner lives there. Contact Services Australia if your living arrangements change so your pension and aged care fees can be reassessed.

Common questions from full pensioners

Do I still pay the basic daily fee?

The old basic daily fee from the Home Care Packages system no longer applies. Under Support at Home, the co-contribution percentages replace the flat daily fee. For full pensioners, this generally means you pay less overall.

Can my provider charge me extra fees on top of the co-contribution?

No. Providers cannot charge administration fees, case management fees, or package management fees on top of your co-contributions. These costs are now built into the service pricing structure. If a provider is charging you extra fees, this is not correct. Raise it immediately.

What if I cannot afford my co-contributions?

If you are experiencing financial hardship, talk to your provider. The government also has hardship provisions. Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or the Older Persons Advocacy Network on 1800 700 600 for advice.

Does my home affect my co-contribution rate?

Your principal home (the home you live in) is generally excluded from the means assessment for aged care purposes, as long as you or your partner is living in it. Investment properties and other assets are assessed.

How Carevo can help

Carevo is a connection platform that helps you find and compare aged care providers. With 2,131 aged care providers in the Carevo directory, you can compare options on pricing and service mix before you commit. If you are a full pensioner looking for a provider who offers transparent pricing and clear invoices, Carevo can connect you with options in your area.

Understanding your fees is important, and a good provider will explain your costs clearly before you sign a service agreement. If your current provider cannot explain your charges in plain terms, it may be worth exploring alternatives.

Summary

As a full pensioner on the Support at Home program, your out-of-pocket costs are the lowest available: 0% for clinical care, 5% for independence services, and 17.5% for everyday living services. The lifetime cap, the “no worse off” principle for transitioned HCP recipients, and hardship provisions provide additional protection.

Check your invoices regularly, confirm your pension status is up to date, and do not hesitate to question charges that do not look right. Your provider should be able to explain every line on your invoice. If they cannot, that is a sign to look elsewhere.