Home Care Packages

However, the maximum amount you can be asked to pay over the maximum basic daily fee for a HCP, is up to 50 percent of your income exceeding the maximum base rate of the Age Pension.

The current Age Pension amount is $971.50 per fortnight for a single person or $1,064.00 with the included Maximum Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement.

You can negotiate with your provider on the costs of the services and care you receive. These costs will be agreed upon and fixed in your agreement before you receive any aged care services. This is your legal agreement with your service provider.

No full pensioner will pay an income tested care fee and no part pensioner will pay an income tested care fee greater than $6,341.32 per annum.

If you have an income of more than $60,268.00 per year, you will pay an income tested care fee on a sliding scale up to a total of $12,682.70 per annum.

However, no one will pay more than $76,096.50 in an income tested care fee over their lifetime (March 2023 rates).

You will only pay an income tested care fee if you can afford to do so. Your income assessment will determine if you can afford to contribute towards the cost of your care.

Your assets, including the family home, are excluded from the means testing arrangements for home care.

Exit fees

HCPs are portable which means that if you are moving to a different area or if you’re not happy with a provider’s services, you can simply take your package and any remaining funds with you to a new provider.

If you decide to change providers, the provider may charge you an exit fee to cover any administrative cost, which will be deducted from any unspent funds.

This is the amount that is ‘left over’ in your HCP budget and it will move with you to a new provider. If you no longer require your HCP, these unspent funds will be returned to the Government.

Exit fees may vary between providers and the amount should be clearly stated in the Home Care Agreement between you and the provider.

Quality and complaints

The Australian Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is responsible for the review of aged care services including Government subsidised home care services.

As an independent body, the Commission manages the accreditation of residential aged care services and the quality review of home care services across Australia. It evaluates these services against the set Aged Care Quality Standards.

The Commission is committed to promoting continuous improvement of aged care and ensures that quality and other reporting by service providers is streamlined while supporting accountability information and confidence for consumers.

If you are concerned about the care or services you are receiving, it is recommended that you first try to resolve any issues with your service provider.

If you feel you are not being heard or need help to address the issue, you can contact an aged care advocacy service to help you.

If the matter is not resolved you can make a complaint to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822 or visit agedcarequality.gov.au .

Your rights

No matter who you are, where you live, or the types of care you need, you have rights related to your home care that should be respected by providers.

You have a right to:

Be treated and accepted as an individual, and to have your individual preferences respected

Be treated with dignity, with your privacy respected

Receive care that is respectful of you, and your family and home Receive care without being obliged to feel grateful to those providing the care

Full and effective use of all human, legal and consumer rights, including the right to freedom of speech regarding your care

Your approved Home Care Package provider for genuine self-management

For a low 15% admin fee only