From 1 October 2026, eligible older Australians receiving the Support at Home program no longer pay contributions for approved personal care services.
What does this mean for you?
Personal care includes help with everyday activities you may find difficult to manage independently, such as:
- showering and personal hygiene;
- getting dressed;
- eating;
- non-clinical continence support; and
- assistance with taking your own medication.
Who is eligible?
To receive personal care without paying a contribution, you need to have it approved in your Support at Home plan and have enough funding available in your budget. The government covers the cost of approved personal care, so you won't pay a contribution for these services.
Other in-home aged care services, such as domestic assistance and gardening, may still attract contributions.
If you received personal care before 1 October 2026, the previous contribution arrangements still apply to those services, even if you're invoiced or your provider claims the cost after that date.
What should you do next?
If you already receive personal care through Support at Home, you don't need to do anything to access this change. Your existing services can continue as usual, provided you remain approved and have available funding. You do not need to be reassessed.
If you've been limiting the personal care you receive because of the cost, you could talk to your aged care provider about whether you can now get more help with things like showering and getting dressed. They can explain what's available under your care plan and funding.
For more information about Support at Home and the changes to personal care contributions, visit the My Aged Care website or call them on 1800 200 422.
