Demystifying Support at Home Fees and Out-Of-Pocket Costs

Many families welcome the extra help offered by the Support at Home program but aren’t always sure how fees and out-of-pocket costs work.

The way fees are set out can feel confusing, particularly if you have used other home care arrangements in the past. Support at Home is structured differently, and prices aren’t always easy to compare at a glance.

This article explains how Support at Home fees work in clear, practical terms. It will help you understand what you may be asked to contribute, where your funding is going and what to look out for when choosing a provider.

Why Support at Home Fees Can Feel Confusing

Support at Home brings together government funding, provider pricing and personal contributions. Some costs are fully covered, some are partly subsidised and some depend on the provider you choose.

Understanding how fees are structured can help you feel more in control. It also reduces the risk of unexpected costs later.

The Three Main Types of Costs Under Support at Home

A helpful way to think about it is to group costs into three broad areas. Every provider must work within government pricing rules, but how these costs are structured can vary.

Care Management

Care management covers the behind-the-scenes work that keeps your services running smoothly. This can include:

Assessing your needs and goals
Developing and updating your care plan
Coordinating services and schedules
Reviewing progress and adjusting support
Liaising with health professionals or other services

Care management fees are capped by the government. These limits ensure most of your funding is available for direct services, while still allowing providers to meet their planning and coordination responsibilities.

Administration and Service Management Costs

Providers also have operational costs. These include things like rostering staff, billing, meeting quality and safety requirements, government reporting and providing customer support.

A key change under the Support at Home program is how these costs are charged. Rather than paying separate package management fees, many administrative costs are now built into the price of services. This means you usually only pay these costs when you use services, instead of paying a fixed percentage of your funding.

Direct Services and Out-of-Pocket Costs

Direct services are the practical supports you receive at home. These can include:

Personal care such as showering and dressing
Domestic assistance like cleaning and laundry
Transport and social support
Gardening and home maintenance
Meals and food preparation

Government funding subsidises these services, but you may still pay a contribution depending on the type of service and your personal circumstances.

If a provider’s price is higher than the available subsidy, the difference becomes an out-of-pocket cost.

How Contributions and Provider Pricing Work Together

Under Support at Home, the cost of your care is shared between the government and you.

Clinical services (like nursing) are 100% funded by the government.
Independence and Everyday Living services (like cleaning or transport) are subsidised, but you may need to pay a participant contribution.

This contribution is usually set as a percentage of the service price depending on your pension status.

Read more about pensioner status and how it affects your Support at Home Contributions.

Why Provider Pricing Matters

Because your contribution is often a percentage of the total price, the amount you pay depends on the provider you choose.

Example: If you are required to contribute 20% towards domestic assistance:

Provider A charges $60 per hour. Your cost is $12.
Provider B charges $80 per hour. Your cost is $16.

Even though the government subsidy increases to cover the bulk of the higher rate, your out-of-pocket cost also rises. Additionally, using a more expensive provider consumes your quarterly budget faster, meaning you may receive fewer hours of care overall.

Currently, providers set their own service prices. While government price caps are scheduled to begin from 1 July 2026, until then, prices can vary significantly between providers.

Learn more: Support at Home Price List

Why Fee Structures Vary Between Providers

No two providers structure their fees in exactly the same way.

Some prefer lower care management charges with higher hourly rates for services. Others spread costs differently across their pricing.

What matters most is not any single fee, but how the overall mix translates into practical support for you. Looking at a typical week of services often gives a clearer picture of value than just percentages.

Questions That Can Help You Understand Costs Upfront

You are entitled to clear information about fees. Asking the right questions early can make a big difference.

You might ask:

Can you show me, in dollars, how much of my funding goes to care management each month?
What would a typical week of support look like for me?
What would my out-of-pocket contribution be for that typical week?
If my needs change, how easily can my services and costs be adjusted?
Are there any additional charges if you arrange services or equipment from another organisation?

Transparent providers expect these questions and are usually happy to walk through the numbers with you.

Understanding The Provider Perspective

Support at Home comes with strict quality, safety and reporting obligations. These requirements add administrative work and costs for providers.

The most helpful providers are not necessarily the cheapest on paper. They are the ones who are open about how fees are structured and how they affect your budget. Clear communication is often a good sign that a provider is focused on sustainable support.

How Aged Care Decisions Can Help

Comparing providers can be overwhelming, especially when pricing structures differ.

Aged Care Decisions is free for families and offers an independent fee. We receive the same fee regardless of which provider you choose, so there is no incentive to recommend one provider over another.

Our team can help you: