Support at Home (SAH) replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025, and yes, it does include means testing. But the test is applied in a specific way that catches fewer people than you'd think. Understanding how it works can help you figure out whether you'll pay a contribution or receive a fully government-funded package.
How the means test works
The government assesses your income and assets to determine whether you'll pay a contribution toward your care costs. If your income and assets fall below the threshold, your care is fully government-funded. If they exceed it, you'll pay a contribution based on how much over the threshold you are. The thresholds are indexed annually, so they change each year.
Income assessment
For income, the government looks at your assessable income, this typically includes pensions, superannuation withdrawals, rental income, and investment returns. However, the first $50,000 of your assets is disregarded entirely. After that, the government applies a deeming rate to calculate how much income your assets are assumed to generate. This means you don't pay based on what your assets actually earn; you pay based on a government-set rate.
Asset thresholds
Your home is generally excluded from the asset test, which is significant for most Australians. Other assets, savings, investments, rental properties, and so on, are counted. The asset threshold changes yearly with indexation. If your total assessable assets are below the threshold, you won't pay a contribution based on assets alone.
Who pays a contribution
If your income and assets put you above the threshold, you'll pay a contribution. This contribution is capped, you won't pay more than a certain percentage of your income, even if your assets are substantial. The government also sets a maximum daily contribution amount. This safety net means that even if you're quite wealthy, your out-of-pocket cost is limited.
Clinical care is always free
One crucial point: nursing and allied health services (physiotherapy, speech pathology, occupational therapy) are 100% government-funded under SAH. They don't count toward your package budget and aren't subject to any means test. This applies regardless of your income or assets.
What to do next
The best way to find out whether you'll pay a contribution is to contact your local aged-care assessment team or speak with a provider. They can run a preliminary assessment based on your circumstances. When you're comparing providers, make sure you understand how they'll help you manage your package, whether you want to self-manage it or have them coordinate services for you. Both models work within the same means-tested funding, but they differ in how much care you can access for your money.