Fee estimator

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Fee estimator - form

Use this quick calculator to give an indication of the fees you may have to pay if you receive a Home care package.

Your actual fees will depend on the level of your package, what your chosen provider charges you and your income assessment.

An important note for pensioners. If you receive the one off payment of $750.00 – as part of the Government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19) – it will not be counted as income. That means it won’t be included in income or means assessments for aged care.

Use this quick calculator to give an indication of the fees you may have to pay if you move into an aged care home.

Your actual fees will depend on what your chosen provider charges you and your means assessment (which is an assessment of your income and assets).

An important note for pensioners. If you receive the one off payment of $750.00 – as part of the Government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19) – it will not be counted as income. That means it won’t be included in income or means assessments for aged care.

Your Details

Do you have a partner?
Additional fields shown
I'm not sure
Answer ‘yes’ if you are legally married or in a de facto relationship, even if you live apart for health reasons.
Do you live with your partner?
What impact does this have?
Your contribution to your care costs will vary depending on whether you are living with you partner or are permanently separated for health related reasons.
  • You should answer ‘no’ here if you are permanently living apart from your partner for health related reasons, for example, if your partner is in an aged care home.
  • You should answer ‘yes’ if you and your partner are only temporarily separated, for example, if your partner is visiting relatives interstate.
Do you currently own (or are paying off) the home you are living in?
Additional fields shown
I'm not sure
You can have only one family home. It can include a house, unit, caravan, mobile home or interest in a retirement village owned by either you or your partner.

A granny flat is not considered to be a home or an asset under the aged care asset test.
Is there a protected person currently living in your home?
What impact does this have?

Your home will be included as an asset unless it is occupied by a protected person. A protected person is:
  • your partner or dependent child
  • your carer who has lived with you in the home for the past two years and is eligible for an income support payment
  • a close relation, such as a sister, brother, parent, child or grandchild who has lived with you in the home for the past five years and is eligible for an income support payment.
Please note your contribution to your care costs will vary depending on whether you are living with your partner or are permanently separated for health related reasons, so:
  • you should answer ‘no’ here if you are permanently living apart from your partner for health related reasons, for example, if your partner is in an aged care home.
  • you should answer ‘yes’ if you and your partner are only temporarily separated, for example, if your partner is visiting relatives interstate.

Your Finances

What do I include in my income?
You should include
  • Income support payments from the Australian Government such as the age pension or service pension
  • net income from rental property
  • war widow/widower pensions and some disability pensions
  • net income from business, including farms
  • income from superannuation income streams such as annuities and allocated pensions
  • overseas pension income
  • family trust distributions
  • dividends from private company shares.
Do not include interest from your bank accounts or financial investments.
What do I include in my income?
You should include
  • Income support payments from the Australian Government such as the age pension or service pension
  • net income from rental property
  • war widow/widower pensions and some disability pensions
  • net income from business, including farms
  • income from superannuation income streams such as annuities and allocated pensions
  • overseas pension income
  • family trust distributions
  • dividends from private company shares.
Do not include interest from your bank accounts or financial investments.
Your financial assets will be deemed to earn a certain rate of income.
How do I find this out?
Enter the market value of your home less any outstanding mortgages on the home. You don't need to get the value of your home professionally valued. Include your best estimate of the market value based on other house sales in the area.
What assets do I include?
You should include
  • bank, building society and credit union accounts
  • cash
  • term deposits
  • cheque accounts
  • friendly society bonds
  • managed investments
  • listed shares and securities
  • loans and debentures
  • shares in unlisted public companies
  • gold and other bullion
  • gifted assets - if you have gifted amounts above $10,000 in the last year or $30,000 in the last five years, include the amount above these limits as a financial asset.
If you have a partner, enter your combined financial assets.
Do not include your family home.

For more guidance on what types of financial assets to include, see the Income and Assets Checklist.
What assets do I include?

Other assets include:

  • household contents and personal effects (these are typically valued at $10,000)
  • foreign assets including investments, business interests and real estate
  • investment property
  • special collections such as stamps, art works or antiques
  • superannuation balances
  • private trusts, family trusts and private companies
  • refundable accommodation deposits.

For more guidance on what types of other assets to include, see the Income and Assets Checklist.

What debts do I include?

A debt is any loan, mortgage, charge or encumbrance held over an asset which has been included as a financial asset or other asset.

  • do not include the value of the mortgage over the family home (if there is one)
  • do not include credit card debt or personal loans

For more guidance on what types of debt to include, see the Income and Assets Checklist.

Show disclaimer
The Fee Estimator is provided as a guide for your general information only. It gives you an estimate of fees and payments for aged care, based on the information you enter at the time. The actual amount of the fees and payments payable will depend on your personal situation, the time you enter care, the information you provide to the relevant Australian Government Departments and your personal and financial information at the time of the assessment.

All reasonable care has been taken in preparing and designing the Fee Estimator and tools; however, the Commonwealth provides no warranty and makes no representation that the information provided by the Fee Estimator and tools is appropriate for your particular circumstances or indicates you should follow a particular course of action. You should consider obtaining independent legal, financial, taxation or other advice to check how the website information relates to your particular circumstances. The Commonwealth is not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly on or through this website, by use of the Fee Estimator.

We respect your privacy and the information you provide will not be used for any other purpose except to provide an estimate. We suggest you print or save a copy of the results from the estimator for your personal use. The Australian Government will not store the information you enter into the fee estimator. The information will be deleted once you close your internet browser.

How to confirm fees

To confirm your fees, you may need to complete an income or means assessment. Find out what you need to do with our Income and means assessment tool.

There is also more information on costs for Home Care Packages and seeking financial advice for your circumstances.

How to confirm fees

To confirm your fees, you may need to complete an income or means assessment. Find out what you need to do with our Income and means assessment tool.

There is also more information on costs for Aged Care Homes and seeking financial advice for your circumstances.
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Fees for extra or additional optional services.

If you choose any extra or additional optional services you will need to agree on the fees with the aged care home for those services.