Residential Fees
About Residential Fees
Moving into an aged care home involves several kinds of fees. These generally include a basic daily fee, a means-tested care fee based on an assessment of income and assets, and accommodation costs. Accommodation can be paid as a lump sum, a daily payment, or a combination. Some facilities also charge optional extra service fees.
What a person actually pays depends on their own financial assessment through Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. A general description can explain the types of fee, not what one person will pay. A personal picture generally starts with an aged care assessment and a means assessment, and My Aged Care (1800 200 422) is the place to begin both.
At a glance
- Basic daily fee, means-tested care fee, and accommodation costs.
- Accommodation: lump sum, daily payment, or a combination.
- Optional extra service fees depend on the facility.
- Your own cost depends on your own financial assessment.
This is general information, not financial or funding advice. Program names, amounts and eligibility rules change over time. Always confirm current detail with the relevant official body before relying on it.
How to prepare before arranging support
- Ask for an aged care assessment and a means assessment. My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 is the place to begin both.
- Expect your financial assessment, through Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, to decide the means-tested care fee.
- Decide how to pay accommodation costs: a lump sum, a daily payment, or a combination.
- Ask each facility about optional extra service fees.
Information and records to have ready
- My Aged Care reference number and assessment outcome
- Support plan, approval notices and provider agreement
- Current fee schedule, budget statements and invoices
- Health, safety and communication information shared with consent
Questions to ask a provider
- Are you approved to deliver the current program and required services?
- What fees, contributions, management charges, travel or establishment costs apply?
- When can support start, and what happens if needs increase or a regular worker is absent?
- How are service changes, complaints and moving to another provider handled?
- Which costs are government funded and which remain the person’s responsibility?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Relying on an old program name or fee description
- Comparing headline prices without all recurring charges
- Assuming approval means immediate provider capacity
- Signing before understanding suspension, change and exit terms
Frequently asked questions
What fees apply in an aged care home?
A basic daily fee, a means-tested care fee and accommodation costs. Accommodation can be a lump sum, a daily payment or both. Some facilities also charge optional extra service fees.
Who can confirm what Residential Fees means for me?
Ask My Aged Care. A provider can explain its services and billing, but it cannot make a binding funding decision for the responsible body.
Does a provider listing prove it accepts residential fees?
No. A directory or public-register listing describes a provider and the supports it lists. Confirm the funding arrangement, approval and current availability with the provider before booking.
What if the rules or my circumstances change?
Check the current guidance with My Aged Care, tell your providers promptly and update written agreements or approvals before relying on the changed arrangement.
Official sources
Other Aged Care topics
Browse providers or explore other funding topics.
Helpful reading
- NDIS jargon explained: the terms you will hear and what they mean: Plans, supports, coordinators, managers, registered providers: a plain-language glossary of the words that come up most often.
- NDIS or My Aged Care: which system supports you?: Two government systems support people with disability and older people. Here is how to think about which one applies and what to do if you are not sure.
- Keeping records of your NDIS supports: a simple system: Good records make plan reviews, claim queries and changes of provider far easier. Here is a light-touch way to keep them.