Key Takeaways
- Price caps were due on 1 July 2026 but were deferred in May 2026, no new date has been set.
- A price cap is a maximum, not a fixed price, and it has not been cancelled, only postponed.
- Clinical care is already free, and care management is already capped at 10% of your budget.
- Without caps, providers set their own prices, so rates can vary widely between providers.
- Comparing provider prices is the most direct way to protect your budget while caps are on hold.
Support at Home price caps were due to start on 1 July 2026. In May 2026 the government deferred them, and that has prompted a lot of questions. Below are straight answers to the ones people are asking most. For the longer-form background on how the caps were designed and what the deferral changes, see our companion guide to Support at Home price caps.
The basics
What is a Support at Home price cap?
A price cap is a government-set maximum on what a provider can charge for a Support at Home service. It is a ceiling, not a fixed price, a provider can charge less than the cap, but never more. The caps were also designed to be all-inclusive, so the capped rate would cover travel, admin and overheads, with no separate fees added on top.
When do the Support at Home price caps start?
They were scheduled to start on 1 July 2026. On 19 May 2026 the government deferred them, and no new start date has been set. Until caps are introduced, providers continue to set their own prices for services.
Have the price caps been cancelled?
No. The caps have been deferred, not cancelled. The government still intends to introduce price caps, the change is to the timing, not the policy. A start date may be announced later, once pricing under the new system has been studied more closely.
Why the caps were deferred
Why did the government defer the price caps?
The government said Support at Home is still too new, it only began in November 2025, to set an accurate cap. It also warned that a cap introduced too early could push prices up rather than down, as providers priced below it drift towards it, and that a cap set too low could force providers out of regional areas and lengthen waitlists.
Is the deferral good or bad for people receiving care?
It depends on your view. Industry groups welcomed it, arguing a premature cap would have reduced choice and provider viability. Some consumer advocates are uneasy, because a cap is a hard legal protection and deferring it leaves no fixed ceiling on prices. The government has announced extra oversight, refunds for overcharging, monthly statements and published price comparisons, to fill the gap.
What it means for what you pay
Can my provider raise its prices while there are no caps?
Yes. During the current transition period, providers set their own service prices and can change them. A reasonable provider gives written notice and a clear reason before a rise takes effect. The care management fee is separately capped at 10% of your quarterly budget and is not affected.
What does the deferral mean for my care budget?
Your funding and classification are unchanged. What the deferral affects is the price side: there is no government ceiling on service rates, so what you pay depends on which provider you use. Because prices vary widely between providers, comparing them is the most direct way to get more care from the same budget.
Will price caps lower my fees when they arrive?
For some people, yes. If your provider currently charges above what a future cap allows, the cap would bring that rate down. If your provider already charges within a competitive range, a cap may make little difference. Until caps are set, there is no published figure to compare against, which is why comparing providers now still matters.
The protections still in force
Are there any limits on what providers can charge right now?
Yes. Even without price caps, care management fees are capped at 10% of your quarterly budget, entry and exit fees are banned, and there is a lifetime limit on what you contribute. Clinical care, such as nursing and allied health, is fully government-funded.
What is the 10% care management cap?
Care management is the fee a provider charges to plan, coordinate and review your care. Under Support at Home it cannot exceed 10% of your quarterly budget, well down from the 25–35% some providers charged under Home Care Packages. This cap is in force now and is not affected by the price-cap deferral.
What can I do if I think I have been overcharged?
Ask your provider for a written breakdown of the charge first. If you are not satisfied, contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822, fee and overcharging complaints are a priority, and the Commission is gaining the power to order refunds where a provider has overcharged.
What to do now
What should I do now that price caps are deferred?
Read your recent statements and work out your effective hourly rate for each service. Compare it against other providers in your area. Ask your provider for a full written fee schedule. And remember you can switch provider at any time, your funding follows you, with no exit fees.
You can compare Support at Home provider prices in your area on this site, with no sign-up required.