Contributing financially to your Home Care Package – Is it Compulsory?
There is one type of fee which may be compulsory; The Income Tested Fee which depends on your unique financial situation and is independent of your choice of Provider.
Income Tested Fee
The Income Tested Fee is based on your income and not your choice of Provider. Depending on your income and assets, you may be asked to contribute more to the cost of your Home Care Package. This fee is calculated by the Department of Human Services following an assessment of your financial situation. Approved Providers are not able to waive this fee, it is compulsory.
You can only be asked to pay an income-tested care fee if you have a yearly income above the following approximate thresholds:
- Individual person – $25,711.40
- Member of a couple but now separated due to illness (individual income) – $25,243.40
- Member of a couple living together (combined income) – $39,925.60.
There are annual and lifetime caps that apply to the income-tested care fee. Once these caps are reached, you cannot be asked to pay any more income-tested care fees.
