What you pay under Support at Home depends on a few things:
- the services you use
- your provider’s prices
- whether you need to make a participant contribution
- your Support at Home classification and quarterly budget
- whether you are using funded support, private support, or both.
At Careseekers, we make it easier to understand the worker you are choosing, the support being arranged and the hourly rate before you book. If your approved aged care provider agrees, they can pay Careseekers directly using your government funding for eligible services delivered through the platform. You can also use Careseekers for private aged care support.
The short answer
Under Support at Home, there is no single flat fee.
What you may pay depends on:
- your provider’s prices
- the type of service
- your income and assets
- whether the service attracts a participant contribution
- how much of your quarterly budget you want to use.
How provider prices work
Support at Home providers set their own prices.
My Aged Care says each provider charges differently for services and care management, and those charges come out of your quarterly budget. It also says providers must publish their full price list online so you can compare before choosing.
The Department of Health also says providers continue to set their own prices, but from 1 July 2026 those prices are subject to government price caps. Providers cannot charge above the capped price or add extra fees on top of it. Separate administration and travel fees cannot be charged on top.
What participant contributions mean
Under Support at Home, many participants contribute towards some services.
My Aged Care says:
- you only pay contributions for services you actually receive
- the government pays the rest of the service cost to the provider
- clinical care services such as nursing and physiotherapy do not require a participant contribution
- independence supports such as personal care have moderate contribution rates
- everyday living services such as cleaning and gardening have the highest contribution rates.
That means what you pay can look very different depending on the type of support you are arranging.
What affects how much you contribute
Your contribution can change based on:
- your income and assets
- the type of service you receive
- changes to your personal or financial circumstances
- indexation over time.
If you are a full or part pensioner, your contribution is based on your existing age pension income and assets assessment. If you are a non-pensioner and Services Australia does not already hold your details, they may ask you to provide them. If you do not provide them, you may be charged the highest rates.
How your quarterly budget fits in
If you receive ongoing Support at Home services, your annual funding is split into 4 quarterly budgets released in July, October, January and April. Your budget is made up of:
- government funding
- your contributions, where applicable.
That budget is what pays for your services. If you do not spend all of it, unspent funds can carry over into the next quarter up to $1,000 or 10%, whichever is greater.
What this means on Careseekers
Through Careseekers, you can:
- compare worker profiles
- view availability, experience and hourly rates
- choose the worker who best suits your needs
- arrange one-off, occasional or ongoing support.
If your approved provider agrees, they can pay Careseekers directly for eligible services arranged through the platform. That means your funded support can still be used while giving you more choice over who provides care.
You can also use Careseekers for private support. That can be useful if:
- you are waiting for funded services to begin
- you want extra services outside your funded supports
- you want more flexibility than your funded arrangement currently allows.
Can I pay privately for extra services?
Yes.
My Aged Care says you can enter into a private agreement with your provider for extra services that are not funded by the government.
For Careseekers users, that means private support can sit alongside funded support when needed.
What should you check before arranging support?
Before you go ahead, it helps to understand:
- what your provider charges
- what your likely contribution is
- whether the service you want is covered by your support plan
- whether your provider will pay through Careseekers
- whether you want funded support only, or funded plus private support.
The clearer those points are upfront, the easier it is to plan support without surprises.
Frequently asked questions
Is Support at Home free?
Not always. Many participants contribute towards some services, while clinical services do not require a participant contribution. What you pay depends on the service type and your circumstances.
Do all providers charge the same price?
No. Providers set their own prices, which is why it is important to compare. From 1 July 2026, those prices are subject to government price caps.
Will I pay for personal care under Support at Home?
Possibly. Personal care is treated as an independence support, so a participant contribution may apply depending on your circumstances.
Will I pay for cleaning or gardening under Support at Home?
Possibly. Everyday living services such as cleaning and gardening attract the highest contribution rates under Support at Home.
Do I pay a contribution for nursing care?
No. My Aged Care says clinical care services such as nursing and physiotherapy are fully covered by the government and do not require a participant contribution.
Can my provider pay Careseekers directly?
Yes, if your approved aged care provider agrees to pay Careseekers for eligible services delivered through the platform.
Can I use Careseekers for private support as well?
Yes. You can use Careseekers for privately paid support as well as eligible services funded through Support at Home.
Ready to understand your support costs more clearly?
We make it easier to compare workers, understand rates and arrange support with more visibility and choice.
Read: How Does Support at Home Work with Careseekers?
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