FirstTech
FY26 Pocket Guide
Age Pension calculator

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    Residential aged care

    This guide provides the following rates and thresholds:

    • - Post 1 Nov 2025 rules - people who first entered residential aged care on or after 1 November 2025
    • - Pre-1 Nov 2025 rules - people who first entered residential aged care before 1 November 2025
    • - Support at Home - replaced the Home Care Packages program from 1 November 2025

    There are situations where people who first entered residential aged care before 1 November 2025 or were approved for a Home Care Package on 12 September 2024 are assessed under the new rules. See the FirstTech 'Post 1 November 2025 - Residential Aged Care and Support at Home' guide for more information.

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    Residential aged care - basic daily care fees (Post 1 Nov 2025 rules)
    Fee Amount

    Basic daily care fee

    $65.55
     
     

    Payable by all residential aged care recipients.

    Thresholds are current for the period: 1 Nov 2025 to 31 Dec 2025.

     

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    Residential aged care – means tested amount (Post 1 Nov 2025 rules)
    Means tested amount is
    Income test contribution + asset test contribution

     

    Income test contribution - single
     
    Assessable incomeIncome tested amount
    $0 to $34,762.00 Nil
    $34,762.00 to $86,402.32 50% over $34,762.00
    $86,402.32 to $101,105.00  $25,822.16
    $101,105.00 to $117,230.20  $25,822.16 + 50% over $101,105.00
    $117,230.20 to $139,048.00  $33,884.76
    More than $139,048.00  $33,884.76 + 50% over $139,048.00
     
     

    Total of the calculated amount above is divided by 364 to calculate daily amount.

    Thresholds are current for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025

     

    Income test contribution – member of illness separate couple
     
    Assessable incomeIncome tested amount
    $0 to $34,034.00 Nil
    $34,034.00 to $85,678.32 50% over $34,034.00
    $85,768.32 to $101,105.00  $25,822.16
    $101,105.00 to $117,230.20  $25,822.16 + 50% over $101,105.00
    $117,230.20 to $136,136.00  $33,884.76
    More than $136,136.00  $33,884.76 + 50% over $136,136.00
     
     

    Total of the calculated amount above is divided by 364 to calculate daily amount.

    Thresholds are current for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025

    Total assessable income

    Income assessable for Centrelink/DVA purposes (50% of combined value for member of a couple)

    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 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025

     

    Asset test contribution
    Assessable assets Assessable amount
    $0 to $63,000.00 Nil
    $63,000.00 to $210,555.20 17.5% over $63,000.00
    $210,555.20 to $252,000.00 $25,822.16
    $252,000.00 to $355,366.66 $25,822.16 + 7.8% over $252,000.00
    $355,366.66 to $532,055.20 $33,884.76
    More than $532,055.20 $33,884.76 + 7.8% over $532,055.20
     
     

    Total of the calculated amount above is divided by 364 to calculate daily amount.

    Thresholds are current for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025

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

    For a member of an illness separated couple, 50% of combined assessable assets are included. When assessing the former home, 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 November 2025 to 31 December 2025.

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    Residential aged care – hotelling contributions (Post 1 Nov 2025 rules)
    Daily hotelling contribution is the lesser of:
    Means tested amount – $70.94
    Maximum hotelling contribution of $22.15
     
     

    Note, where calculated hotelling contribution is less than $1 per day, it is reduced to NIL.

    Thresholds are current for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025

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    Residential aged care – non clinical care contributions NCCC (Post 1 Nov 2025 rules)
     
    Daily NCCC is the lesser of:
    Means tested amount - $93.09
    Maximum NCCC of $105.30
     
     

    Note, where calculated NCCC is less than $1 per day, it is reduced to NIL.

    Daily NCCC payable until the earlier of reaching the lifetime cap (currently $135,318.69), or for 4 years.

    Thresholds are current for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025

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    Residential aged care – accommodation costs (Post 1 Nov 2025 rules)
    Daily means tested amount at date 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 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025

    RAC = refundable accommodation contribution

    DAC = daily accommodation contribution

    RAD = refundable accommodation deposit

    DAP = daily accommodation payment

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    Residential aged care – accommodation contribution (Post 1 Nov 2025 rules)
    Daily accommodation contribution (DAC) is the lesser of:
    Daily means tested amount
    Maximum accommodation supplement payable to the facility
     
     

    Note the daily accommodation contribution cannot exceed the daily accommodation payment that would be payable for that room.


    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 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025


    Maximum permissible interest rate
    Date range Interest rate
    1 Oct 2025 – 31 Dec 2025 7.61%
    1 Jul 2025 – 30 Sep 2025
    		 7.78%
     
     

    Note: Interest rate fixed at time of entry to facility.

    Refundable accommodation contribution
    (DAC / maximum permissible interest rate) x 365
    Minimum permissible asset level
    		 Amount
    Minimum amount of assets a resident must be left with if they pay at least part of accommodation costs as a RAC
    		 $63,000
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025


    RAC retention amounts
    Retention amount
    		 Maximum term
    2% pa of RAC balance (deducted no more frequently than monthly)
    		 5 years
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    Residential aged care – accommodation payment (Post 1 Nov 2025 rules)
    Daily accommodation payment (DAP)
    (RAD x maximum permissible interest rate) ÷ 365
    Maximum permissible interest rate
    Date range Interest rate
    1 Oct 2025 – 31 Dec 2025 7.61%
    1 Jul 2025 – 30 Sep 2025
    		 7.78%
     
     

    Note: Interest rate fixed at time of entry to facility.


    DAP indexation
    Date range Indexation date
    20 Sept 2025 – 19 March 2026 1.0
     
     

    DAP is indexed by CPI. Indexation occurs twice per year on 20 March and 20 September.


    Minimum permissible asset level Amount
    Minimum amount of assets a resident must be left with if they pay at least part of accommodation costs as a RAD $63,000
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025


    RAD retention amounts
    Retention amount Maximum term
    2%pa of RAD balance
    (deducted no more frequently than monthly)    		 5 years
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    Residential aged care – basic daily care fees (Pre-1 Nov 2025 rules)
    Description Fee
    Basic daily care fee $65.55
     
     

    Payable by all residential aged care residents.

    Thresholds are current for the period: 1 Nov 2025 to 31 Dec 2025


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    Residential aged care – means tested amount (Pre-1 Nov 2025 rules)
    Means tested amount
    Income test contribution + asset test contribution
    Income test contribution
    (Total assessable income – income free area) x 50% / 364
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025


     
    Total assessable income
    Income assessable for Centrelink/DVA purposes (50% of combined value for member of a couple)
    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 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025


     

    Income free area
     
    Family situation Amount
    Single $34,762.00
    Couple, illness separated (each) $34,034.00

     

    Asset test contribution
     
    Assessable assets Assessable amount
    $0 to $63,000.00 Nil
    $63,000.00 to $210,555.20 17.5% over $63,000.00
    $210,555.20 to $505,665.60 $25,822.16 + 1% over $210,555.20
    $505,665.60+ $28,773.26 + 2% over $505,665.60
     
     

    Total of the calculated amount above is divided by 364 to calculate daily amount.

    Thresholds are current for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025


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

    For a member of an illness separated couple, 50% of combined assessable assets are included. When assessing the former home, 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 November 2025 to 31 December 2025


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    Residential aged care – means tested care fee (Pre-1 Nov 2025 rules)
    Daily means tested care fee is the lesser of:
    Means tested amount – $70.94
    Cost of care*
    Annual cap $35,238.11
    Lifetime cap $84,571.66
     
     

    * From 1 October 2025, the highest cost of care is $403.80 per day including primary supplements

    Note, where calculated means tested care fee is less than $1 per day, it is reduced to NIL.

    Thresholds are current for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025


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    Residential aged care - accommodation costs (Pre-1 Nov 2025 rules)
    Daily means tested amount at date 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 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025

    RAC = refundable accommodation contribution, DAC = daily accommodation contribution

    RAD = refundable accommodation deposit, DAP = daily accommodation payment

     

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    Residential aged care - accommodation contribution (Pre-1 Nov 2025 rules)
    Daily accommodation contribution (DAC) is the lesser of:
    Daily 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 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025


    Maximum permissible interest rate
    Date range Interest rate
    1 Oct 2025 – 31 Dec 2025 7.61%
    1 Jul 2025 – 30 Sep 2025
    		7.78%
     
     

    Note: Interest rate fixed at time of entry to facility.


    Refundable accommodation contribution
    (DAC / maximum permissible interest rate) x 365
    Minimum permissible asset level
    		 Amount
    Minimum amount of assets a resident must be left with if they pay at least part of accommodation costs as a RAC
    		 $63,000
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025


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    Residential aged care - accommodation payment (Pre-1 Nov 2025 rules)
    Daily accommodation payment (DAP)
    (RAD x maximum permissible interest rate) / 365
    Maximum permissible interest rate
    Date range Interest rate
    1 Oct 2025 – 31 Dec 2025 7.61%
    1 Jul 2025 – 30 Sep 2025
    		7.78%
     
     

    Note: Interest rate fixed at time of entry to facility.


    Minimum permissible asset level Amount
    Minimum amount of assets a resident must be left with if they pay at least part of accommodation costs as a RAD $63,000
     
     

    Thresholds are current for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025.


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    Support at home – participant contributions

    Participants pay a percentage of the cost of each service provided, as outlined in the table below:

    Client situation Clinical care services Independence services Everyday living services

    Full pensioner

    		 Nil 5% 17.5%

    Part pensioner or CSHC holder

    		 Nil 5% to 50% 17.5% to 80%

    Self-funded retiree

    		 Nil 50% 80%
     
     

    See the FirstTech 'Post 1 November 2025 - Residential Aged Care and Support at Home' guide for more information on client situations and the different categories of services.

    See ‘No worse off’ rules for the calculation of participant contributions for people in this category

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    Support at home – percentage contribution calculation

    Full pensioners and self-funded retirees pay a fixed percentage of the cost of each service (see participant contributions table).

    Part pensioners and CSHC holders have their percentage contributions determined as follows:

    Step   Calculation

    Step 1

    50% x (assessable income – income free area)

    Step 2

    7.8% x (assessable assets – lower asset threshold)

    Step 3

    50% x (CSHC income limit – income free area)

    Step 4

    (Greater of Step 1 or Step 2, divided by Step 3) x 100

    Percentage contribution
    • Independence services: 5% + (Step 4 x 0.45)
    • Everyday living services: 17.5% + (Step 4 x 0.625)
     
     
     

    Thresholds used in percentage contribution calculation and ‘no worse off’ percentage contribution calculation:

    Thresholds: percentage contribution calculation
    Threshold Single Member of a couple
    Income free area $5,668 $4,940
    Lower asset threshold (homeowner) $321,500 $240,750
    Lower asset threshold (non-homeowner) $579,500 $369,750
    CSHC income limit $101,105 $80,884*
     
     

    *The single CSHC income limit applies to a member of a couple who is illness separated


    Thresholds are current for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025

    Assessable assets
    Assets assessable for Centrelink/DVA purposes
     
     

    Note, 50% of combined assets used for member of a couple.

    Assessable income
    Income assessable for Centrelink/DVA purposes
     
     

    Note, 50% of combined income used for member of a couple.

    Note, income support payments are not included in assessable income for Support at Home.

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    Support at home – classification level budgets (ongoing)
    Classification level Annual amount

    Level 1

    $10,732.04

    Level 2

    $16,035.64

    Level 3

    $21,966.70

    Level 4

    $29,696.28

    Level 5

    $39,697.61

    Level 6

    $48,113.74

    Level 7

    $58,147.50

    Level 8

    $78,106.04
     
     
     

    Note, people who were receiving a Home Care Package at 31 October 2025 will transition to the Support at Home program and receive the same level of funding.

    Thresholds are current for the period 1 November 2025 to 31 December 2025

     

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    Support at home – classification level budgets (short term)
    Classification level Annual amount

    Restorative care pathway

    $6,000 over 12 weeks

    End of life pathway

    $25,000 over 12 weeks

    Assistive technology & home modifications

    Low level - $500 over 12 months
    Medium level - $2,000 over 12 months
    High level - $15,000 over 12 months*

     
     
     

    * Can apply to extend to 24 months in case of home modifications.

    Note: Ongoing assistive technology budgets (different from those above) may apply in some cases for continence products and / or the maintenance of an assistance dog.

     

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    Support at home – no worse off (participant contributions)

    The ‘no worse off’ rules apply to people receiving or approved for a Home Care package on 12 September 2024.

    For people in this category, participant contributions are the same or less than they were paying under the Home Care Packages program.


    No worse off: Participant contributions

    Participants who were not paying an income tested fee under the Home Care Packages program, will not be asked to pay participant contributions under Support at Home.

    Participants who were paying an income tested fee under the Home Care Packages program, pay a percentage of the cost of each service provided, as outlined in the table below:

    Client situation Clinical care services Independence services Everyday living services

    Full pensioner

    		 Nil Nil Nil

    Part pensioner or CSHC holder

    		 Nil 0% to 25% 0% to 25%

    Self-funded retiree

    		 Nil 25% 25%
     
     

    See the FirstTech 'Post 1 November 2025 - Residential Aged Care and Support at Home' guide for more information on client situations and the different categories of services.

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    Support at home – no worse off (percentage contribution calculation)

    Full pensioners pay nil and self-funded retirees pay a fixed percentage of the cost of each service (see previous table).

    Part pensioners and CSHC holders have their percentage contributions determined as follows:

    Step Calculation

    Step 1

    50% x (assessable income – income free area)

    Step 2

    50% x (CSHC income limit – income free area)

    Step 3

    (Step 1 divided by Step 2) x 100

    Percentage contribution
    • Independence services: Step 3 x 0.25
    • Everyday living services: Step 3 x 0.25
     
     
     

    To ensure people covered by the ‘no worse off’ rules do not pay more than they were paying under the Home Care Packages program, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has advised:

    • - Assessable assets are not included when calculating the percentage contribution calculation
    • - A fortnightly contribution cap, equivalent to their income tested fee under the Home Care Packages program, limits participant contributions.

     

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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