When moving into residential aged care permanently from Support at Home, your home care budget ends and unspent funds cannot transfer to pay facility fees. However, personal contributions made towards Support at Home count towards your lifetime contribution cap alongside any residential non-clinical care contributions.
Key Takeaways
- Unspent Support at Home funding cannot transfer to pay residential aged care accommodation or care fees.
- Contributions paid towards Support at Home count towards your government lifetime care contribution cap.
- Providers cannot charge exit fees when you leave the Support at Home program.
- Temporary hospital stays, holidays and residential respite pause your services rather than ending your program enrolment.
- Paused quarterly budgets carry forward limits capped at $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly allocation.
Moving Into Aged Care Permanently: What Changes?
Moving from your own home into residential aged care is a major change. But before you focus on the fees of your new home, it is worth understanding what happens to your Support at Home funding.
The key distinction is whether you are leaving Support at Home or simply pausing your services.
Moving permanently into residential aged care.
Support at Home is designed to fund care delivered in the community. When you move into an aged care home as a permanent resident, you leave the Support at Home. program. Your home care budget doesn’t follow you into residential aged care and any unspent funds cannot be used to pay your fees in the home.
How Contributions Count Towards Your Lifetime Cap
The contributions you made towards your Support at Home services count towards the lifetime cap, so you should take note of what you have paid. When you are living in the aged care home any means tested non-clinical care contribution that you pay will also count towards the lifetime cap. Once you reach the lifetime cap your non-clinical care contribtuion will stop but your other fees will continue.
Deciding to move into an aged care home does not automatically end your Support at Home services. You and your provider should agree on the date your Support at Home services will finish. Services delivered up to that date can still be claimed, and your provider should finalise your account. There is no exit fee for leaving Support at Home.
Pausing Services vs Leaving the Program
Not every break from Support at Home means you have left the program. There are several situations where you may need to temporarily pause your services, including a hospital stay, holiday or respite stay in a residential aged care home.
The important thing is to notify your Support at Home provider if you are going to be away and arrange for your services to be paused.
While your services are paused, your Support at Home budget continues to accumulate. However, there are limits on how much can be carried forward ($1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget) so a long period without services does not mean you can build up an unlimited balance.
Respite Stays Are a Pause, Not an Exit
A short-term stay in an aged care home for respite is also a pause rather than an exit from Support at Home. Respite can provide a break for you or your carer while allowing you to return home and continue receiving support in the community. This is different from moving permanently into residential aged care.
A permanent move means you leave Support at Home and enter an aged care home as a permanent resident. Your Support at Home budget cannot be used to pay for your residential aged care costs. If you are thinking about moving from Support at Home to residential aged care the important question is not simply, “What happens to my unused home care budget?” It is how the move changes the overall cost of care.
Understanding Residential Aged Care Costs When Moving Into Aged Care
Support at Home, respite and residential aged care each have different funding, means testing and contribution arrangements. Before you make a permanent move make sure you understand the costs of your residential aged care.
For current residential and home care fee figures, see the Schedule of Aged Care Fees and Charges.
You can also use the Aged Care Fee Calculator to understand the different cost components before making a permanent move.
Compare Aged Care Providers for Free
Understanding your care options can make it easier to consider how aged care costs may fit with your wider financial arrangements.
Aged Care Decisions is a free, independent comparison service. We help families find and compare aged care providers, including Support at Home providers, in one place.
Our team prepares a custom Support at Home Provider Options Report. This outlines providers matched to your location and needs, along with standard Support at Home prices in your area.
For a limited time, you will also receive a custom Support at Home Costs Report. This provides a personalised view of your likely Support at Home fees, so you can compare your options with clearer cost information.
Having this information ready can also help you prepare for conversations with an aged care financial adviser or other qualified professional.
We do the running around for you, reducing stress and hassle. Get started with Aged Care Decisions today at no cost.
Get your free Provider Options Report and Support at Home Costs Report today.
FAQs
Can I transfer my unspent Support at Home funds to an aged care home?
No, unspent Support at Home funding cannot be transferred or used to pay residential aged care fees. Support at Home funding is strictly allocated for care delivered in the community. When you move permanently into an aged care home, your home care package ceases and any unspent government subsidy returns to the program.
Do my Support at Home contributions count towards my residential care caps?
Yes, personal contributions you paid towards Support at Home services count towards your lifetime contribution cap. When living in an aged care home, any means-tested Non-Clinical Care Contributions you pay also accumulate towards this same threshold. Once reached, this specific contribution stops while accommodation and daily living fees continue.
Are there exit fees when leaving Support at Home?
No, approved providers cannot charge exit fees when you leave the Support at Home program. You and your provider agree on a finish date for your services. Your provider will finalise your billing account for any services delivered up to that agreed date.
What happens to my home care budget during residential respite?
Residential respite counts as a temporary pause in services rather than an exit from Support at Home. Your funding allocation continues while paused, subject to carry-over limits. You can carry forward up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget, allowing you to resume home support upon discharge.
Do I need to notify my provider before taking a temporary leave?
Yes, you must notify your Support at Home provider before taking leave for a holiday, hospital admission or respite stay. This ensures your provider officially pauses scheduled visits and prevents unexpected billing issues during your absence.
The information contained in this article is intended as general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice, legal advice or professional advice. While care has been taken to ensure the information is accurate and up to date at the time of publication, rules, rates and circumstances can change.
