FirstTech
FY26 Pocket Guide
Age Pension calculator

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    Residential aged care

    The following rates and thresholds impact residents who enter an aged care facility on or after 1 July 2014.

    With the commencement of the new Aged Care Act, new rules will apply to people entering a residential aged care facility on or after 1 November 2025. In addition, the Support at Home program will replace the Home Care packages program from 1 November 2025.

    The information in this section will be updated to include the new rules from 1 November 2025.

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    Residential aged care - basic daily care fees
    Fee Amount

    Basic daily care fee

    $65.55
     
     

    Payable by all residential aged care recipients.

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Sep 2025 – 19 Mar 2026.

     

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    Residential aged care - means tested amount (single)
    Means tested amount is
    Income test contribution + asset test contribution
    Income test contribution is
    (Total assessable income – $34,762.00) x 50% ÷ 364
    Total assessable income includes

    Income assessable for Centrelink/DVA purposes

    Centrelink/DVA income support payments for singles and members of an illness separated couple (less minimum pension and energy supplements of $1,552.20 pa each)

    DVA war widows pension (no qualifying service) less 4% GST supplement

    DVA disability pension (recipient or partner no qualifying service) less 4% GST supplement
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Sep 2025 – 19 Mar 2026

    Note, different rules will apply to people entering a residential aged care facility from 1 November 2025. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

     

    Asset test contribution
     
    Assets included in asset test contribution  
    17.5% of assessable assets between $63,000 and $210,555.20
    1% of assessable assets between $210,555.20 and $505,665.60
    2% of assessable assets above $505,665.60
     
     

    Total of the calculated amount above is divided by 364.

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Sep 2025 – 19 Mar 2026

    Note, different rules will apply to people entering a residential aged care facility from 1 November 2025. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

    Assessable assets
    Assets assessable for Centrelink/DVA purposes
    Refundable accommodation deposit/contribution
    Capped value of former home  $210,555.20
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Sep 2025 – 19 Mar 2026

    Note, different rules will apply to people entering a residential aged care facility from 1 November 2025. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

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    Residential aged care - means tested amount (couple illness separated)
    Means tested amount is
    Income test contribution + asset test contribution
    Income test contribution is
    (Total assessable income - $34,034.00) x 50% ÷ 364
     
    Total assessable income
     
    Total assessable income includes
    Income assessable for Centrelink/DVA purposes
    Centrelink/DVA income support payments for singles and members of an illness separated couple (less minimum pension and energy supplements of $1,552.20 pa each)
    DVA war widows pension (no qualifying service) less 4% GST supplement
    DVA disability pension (recipient or partner no qualifying service) less 4% GST supplement
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Sep 2025 – 19 Mar 2026

    Note, different rules will apply to people entering a residential aged care facility from 1 November 2025. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

     

    Asset test contribution
     
    Assets included in asset test contribution  
    17.5% of assessable assets between $63,000 and $210,555.20
    1% of assessable assets between $210,555.20 and $505,665.60
    2% of assessable assets above  $505,665.60
     
     

    Total of the calculated amount above is divided by 364.

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Sep 2025 – 19 Mar 2026

    Note, different rules will apply to people entering a residential aged care facility from 1 November 2025. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

    Assessable assets include
    Assets assessable for Centrelink/DVA purposes
    Refundable accommodation deposit/contribution
    Capped value of former home (applies separately to both members of a couple)  $210,555.20
     
     

    Where client is a member of a couple, 50% of combined assessable assets are used for the calculation of asset tested amount. When assessing the former home in this case, the capped value is a separate individual threshold, with the client’s 50% of the combined value subject to their cap.

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Sep 2025 – 19 Mar 2026

    Note, different rules will apply to people entering a residential aged care facility from 1 November 2025. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

  •  
    Residential aged care - means tested care fee
    Daily means tested care fee is calculated as:
    Lesser of:
    Means tested amount – $70.94
    Cost of care1
    The means tested care fee cannot exceed:
    Annual cap $35,238.11
    Lifetime cap $84,571.66
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Sep 2025 – 19 Mar 2026

    Note, where a client’s calculated means tested care fee would otherwise be less than $1 per day, it is reduced to Nil.

    Note, different rules will apply to people entering a residential aged care facility from 1 November 2025. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

    1 Note: From 1 July 2025, the highest cost of care is $407.33 per day including primary supplements

  •  
    Residential aged care - accommodation costs
    Means tested amount at time of entry Accommodation cost  payable Payment methods

    Less than $70.94

    Accommodation contribution

    RAC, DAC or combination

    More than or equal to $70.94

    Accommodation payment

    RAD, DAP or combination
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Sep 2025 – 19 Mar 2026

    RAC = refundable accommodation contribution, DAC = daily accommodation contribution

    RAD = refundable accommodation deposit, DAP = daily accommodation payment

     

  •  
    Residential aged care - accommodation contribution
    Daily accommodation contribution (DAC) is the lesser of:
    Means tested amount
    Maximum accommodation supplement payable to the facility 
    Maximum accommodation supplement
    Newly built or significantly refurbished? Meets the 40% low means resident quota? Maximum accommodation supplement
    Yes Yes $70.94
    Yes No $53.21
    No Yes $46.26
    No No $34.70
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Sep 2025 – 19 Mar 2026

    Note, different rules will apply to people entering a residential aged care facility from 1 November 2025. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

    Refundable accommodation contribution (RAC) is:
    (DAC ÷  maximum permissible interest rate) x 365
    Maximum permissible interest rate
    Time of entry Maximum interest rate
    From 1 Oct 2025 – 31 Dec 2025 7.61%
    From 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Sep 2025
    		 7.78%
    Minimum permissible asset level
    		 Amount
    Minimum amount of assets a resident must be left with if they pay at least part of their accommodation costs as a RAC
    		 $63,000
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Sep 2025 – 19 Mar 2026

    Note, different rules will apply to people entering a residential aged care facility from 1 November 2025. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

  •  
    Residential aged care - accommodation payment

    An accommodation payment can be paid as a daily accommodation payment (DAP), a refundable accommodation deposit (RAD), or a combination of both.

    Daily accommodation payment (DAP) is:
    (RAD x maximum permissible interest rate) ÷ 365
    Maximum permissible interest rate
    Time of entry Maximum interest rate
    From 1 Oct 2025 – 31 Dec 2025 7.61%
    From 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Sep 2025
    		 7.78%
    Refundable accommodation deposit (RAD)
    Rates and thresholds Amount
    Minimum permissible asset level
    (Minimum amount of assets a resident must be left with if they pay at least part of their accommodation costs as a RAD)    		 $63,000
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Sep 2025 – 19 Mar 2026

    Note, different rules will apply to people entering a residential aged care facility from 1 November 2025. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

  •  
    Home care - basic daily care fee
    Home care package Care needs Basic daily care fee per day

    Level 1

    		 Basic care needs  $12.09

    Level 2

    		 Low level care needs $12.78

    Level 3

    		 Intermediate level care needs $13.14

    Level 4

    		 High level care needs $13.49
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Sep 2025 – 31 Oct 2025

    Note, the new Support at Home program will commence on 1 November 2025 with different rules applying. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

  •  
    Home care - income tested care fee (single)
    Income   Income tested care fee

    Income less than $34,762.00

    Nil

    Income between $34,762.00 and $66,960.40

    Lesser of:

    • (Total assessable income – $34,762.00) × 50% ÷ 364
    • Cost of package
    • Annual cap                $7,047.55
    • Lifetime cap              $84,571.66

    Income exceeds $66,960.40

    Lesser of:

    • (((Total assessable income – $66,960.40) x 50%) + $6,862.18) ÷ 364
    • Cost of package
    • Annual cap                $14,095.20
    • Lifetime cap                $84,571.66
     
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Sep 2025 – 31 Oct 2025

    Note, the new Support at Home program will commence on 1 November 2025 with different rules applying. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

  •  
    Home care - income tested care fee (couple living together)

    For couples, halve the combined assessable income.

    Income   Income tested care fee

    Income less than $26,871.00

    Nil

    Income between $26,871.00 and $51,142.00

    Lesser of:

    • (Total assessable income – $26,871.00) × 50% ÷ 364
    • Cost of package
    • Annual cap                $7,047.55
    • Lifetime cap            $84,571.66

    Income exceeds $51,142.00

    Lesser of:

    • ((Total assessable income – $51,142.00) × 50%) + $7,047.55) ÷ 364
    • Cost of package
    • Annual cap            $14,095.20
    • Lifetime cap           $82,347.13
     
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Sep 2025 – 31 Oct 2025

    Note, the new Support at Home program will commence on 1 November 2025 with different rules applying. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

  •  
    Home care - income tested care fee (couple illness separated)

    For couples, halve the combined assessable income.

    Income   Income tested care fee

    Income less than $34,034.00

    Nil

    Income between $34,034.00 and $66,232.40

    Lesser of:

    • (Total assessable income – $34,034.00) × 50% ÷ 364
    • Cost of package
    • Annual cap                 $7,047.55
    • Lifetime cap              $84,571.66

    Income exceeds $66,232.40

    Lesser of:

    • ((Total assessable income – $66,232.40) × 50%) + $7,047.55) ÷ 364
    • Cost of package
    • Annual cap             $14,095.20
    • Lifetime cap            $84,571.66
     
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Sep 2025 – 31 Oct 2025

    Note, the new Support at Home program will commence on 1 November 2025 with different rules applying. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

  •  
    Home care - total assessable income
     
    Total assessable income when calculating the home care income tested fee includes
    Income assessable for Centrelink/DVA purposes

    Centrelink/DVA income support payments

    • For singles or members of an illness separated couple, (less minimum pension and energy supplements of $1,552.20 pa each)
    • For members of a couple living together (less minimum pension and energy supplements of $1,170.00 pa each)
    DVA war widows pension (no qualifying service) less 4% GST supplement
    DVA disability pension (recipient or partner no qualifying service) less 4% GST supplement
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Sep 2025 – 31 Oct 2025

    Note, the new Support at Home program will commence on 1 November 2025 with different rules applying. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

  •  
    Cost of package for income tested care fee
    Home
    care package    		 Care
    needs    		 Annual
    amount

    Level 1

    Basic care needs

    $10,931.75

    Level 2

    Low level care needs

    $19,224.55

    Level 3

    Intermediate level care needs

    $41,847.25

    Level 4

    High level care needs

    $63,440.65
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 20 Mar 2025 – 30 Jun 2025

    Note, the new Support at Home program will commence on 1 November 2025 with different rules applying. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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