Support at Home (SAH) is government-funded aged care delivered at home, but most people contribute toward the cost based on their income and assets. Understanding how co-contributions work helps you plan your budget and know what to expect.
What is a co-contribution?
A co-contribution is the amount you pay toward your Support at Home services. The government funds the rest. Your payment is calculated using a means test that looks at your income and assets. It's not a fixed fee, it's personalised based on your financial circumstances.
Income-based contributions
If your income exceeds a threshold, you'll pay a percentage of your SAH costs. The government sets income thresholds each financial year, and they're indexed annually. The more income you have above the threshold, the higher your contribution. However, there's a maximum amount you can be asked to pay, so your co-contribution is capped.
Asset-based contributions
Your assets also affect what you pay. The aged care means test counts most assets, including property, savings, investments, and superannuation, toward your asset score. If your assets exceed the asset limit, you'll contribute based on the excess. Like income, asset contributions are capped at a maximum amount.
How the two combine
You'll pay whichever is higher: the income-based contribution or the asset-based contribution. You won't pay both at full rate. The system ensures you contribute fairly based on your overall financial position, but protects you from paying more than the maximum.
What you don't pay for
Clinical care, nursing and allied health services like physiotherapy or speech pathology, is 100% government-funded under SAH. It doesn't count toward your co-contribution, and it doesn't draw on your package budget. This is a significant benefit that reduces your out-of-pocket costs.
Getting your assessment
Your local aged care planning team (or your chosen provider) will run your means test and tell you what you'll contribute. You can ask for a detailed breakdown. If your circumstances change, income drops, assets reduce, you can request a reassessment. The system is designed to be transparent, so you know exactly what you're paying and why.
Compare providers to maximise your hours
While co-contributions are set by government means testing, what you get for your funding varies by provider. A self-managed model typically delivers significantly more care hours than a fully coordinated service for the same government funding. Compare providers to see how your co-contribution translates into actual hours of support.