FirstTech
FY26 Pocket Guide

Key Topics

  •  

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

    Note that substantial changes to residential aged care rules, fees and charges are expected to apply to most people entering an aged care facility on or after 1 November 2025. The information in this section does not include these new rules.

    For further information about these important changes, see the FirstTech Aged Care Guide and FirstTech Aged Care quick reference guide.

  •  
    Fee Amount

    Basic daily care fee

    $63.82

     
     

    Payable by all residential aged care recipients.

    Thresholds are current for the period: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

     

  •  
    Means tested amount is
    Income test contribution + asset test contribution
    Income test contribution is
    (Total assessable income – $34,005.40) 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 $1,536.60 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: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

    Note, different rules are expected to apply to most people entering an 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 $61,500 and $206,663.20
    1% of assessable assets between $206,663.20 and $496,989.60
    2% of assessable assets above $496,989.60
     
     

    Total of the calculated amount above is divided by 364.

    Thresholds are current for the period: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

    Note, different rules are expected to apply to most people entering an 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  $206,663.20
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

    Note, different rules are expected to apply to most people entering an aged care facility from 1 November 2025. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

  •  
    Means tested amount is
    Income test contribution + asset test contribution
    Income test contribution is
    (Total assessable income - $33,277.40) x 50% ÷ 364
     
    Total assessable income
     
    Total assessable income includes
    Income assessable for Centrelink/DVA purposes (50% of combined value for member of couple)
    Centrelink/DVA income support payments for singles and members of an illness separated couple (less minimum pension and energy supplements of $1,536.60 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: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

    Note, different rules are expected to apply to most people entering an 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 $61,500 and $206,663.20
    1% of assessable assets between $206,663.20 and $496,989.60
    2% of assessable assets above  $496,989.60
     
     

    Total of the calculated amount above is divided by 364.

    Thresholds are current for the period: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

    Note, different rules are expected to apply to most people entering an 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)  $206,663.20
     
     

    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: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

    Note, different rules are expected to apply to most people entering an aged care facility from 1 November 2025. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

  •  
    Daily means tested care fee is calculated as:
    Lesser of:
    Means tested amount – $69.79 (per day)
    Cost of care1
    The means tested care fee cannot exceed:
    Annual cap $34,311.23
    Lifetime cap $82,347.13
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

    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 are expected to apply to most people entering an 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

  •  
    Means tested amount at time of entry Accommodation cost  payable Payment methods

    Less than $69.79

    Accommodation contribution

    RAC, DAC or combination

    More than or equal to $69.79

    Accommodation payment

    RAD, DAP or combination

     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

    RAC = refundable accommodation contribution, DAC = daily accommodation contribution

    RAD = refundable accommodation deposit, DAP = daily accommodation payment

     

  •  
    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 $69.79
    Yes No $52.34
    No Yes $45.51
    No No $34.13
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

    Note, different rules are expected to apply to most people entering an 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 Jul 2025 – 30 Sep 2025 7.78%
    From 1 Apr 2025 – 30 Jun 2025
    8.17%
    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
    $61,500
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

    Note, different rules are expected to apply to most people entering an aged care facility from 1 November 2025. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

  •  

    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 Jul 2025 – 30 Sep 2025 7.78%
    From 1 Apr 2025 – 30 Jun 2025
    8.17%
    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)
    $61,500
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

    Note, different rules are expected to apply to most people entering an aged care facility from 1 November 2025. See the FirstTech Aged Care Guide for further information.

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

    Level 1

    Basic care needs  $11.77

    Level 2

    Low level care needs $12.45

    Level 3

    Intermediate level care needs $12.80

    Level 4

    High level care needs $13.14
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

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

  •  
    Income   Income tested care fee

    Income less than $34,005.40

    Nil

    Income between $34,005.40 and $65,416.00

    Lesser of:

    • (Total assessable income – $34,005.40) × 50% ÷ 364
    • Cost of package
    • Annual cap                $6,862.18
    • Lifetime cap             $82,347.13

    Income exceeds $65,416.00

    Lesser of:

    • (((Total assessable income – $65,416.00) x 50%) + $6,862.18) ÷ 364
    • Cost of package
    • Annual cap                $13,724.45
    • Lifetime cap               $82,347.13
     
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

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

  •  

    For couples, halve the combined assessable income.

    Income   Income tested care fee

    Income less than $26,301.60

    Nil

    Income between  $26,301.60 and $49,977.20

    Lesser of:

    • (Total assessable income – $26,301.60) × 50% ÷ 364
    • Cost of package
    • Annual cap                $6,862.18
    • Lifetime cap            $82,347.13

    Income exceeds $49,977.20

    Lesser of:

    • ((Total assessable income – $49,977.20) × 50%) + $6,862.18) ÷ 364
    • Cost of package
    • Annual cap            $13,724.45
    • Lifetime cap           $82,347.13
     
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

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

  •  

    For couples, halve the combined assessable income.

    Income   Income tested care fee

    Income less than $33,277.40

    Nil

    Income between $33,277.40 and $64,688.00

    Lesser of:

    • (Total assessable income – $33,277.40) × 50% ÷ 364
    • Cost of package
    • Annual cap                 $6,862.18
    • Lifetime cap              $82,347.13

    Income exceeds $64,688.00

    Lesser of:

    • ((Total assessable income – $64,688.00) × 50%) + $6,862.18) ÷ 364
    • Cost of package
    • Annual cap             $13,724.45
    • Lifetime cap            $82,347.13
     
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

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

  •  
     
    Total assessable income when calculating the home care income tested fee includes
    Income assessable for Centrelink/DVA purposes (50% of combined value for member of couple)

    Centrelink/DVA income support payments

    • For singles or members of an illness separated couple, (less minimum pension and energy supplements of $1,536.60 pa each)
    • For members of a couple living together (less minimum pension and energy supplements of $1,157.00 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: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

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

  •  
    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: 1 Jul 2025 – 19 Sep 2025

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