Published date: 29 October 2025
Information for current aged care home residents
Under the ‘no worse off’ principle, you will continue to pay the same types of fees if you moved into your aged care home before 1 November 2025.
While your fee arrangements won’t change, there are some important changes you should be aware of for 1 November, when the new Aged Care Act starts.
New requirement to report changes in circumstances
If you’ve had an aged care means assessment, you must report any changes in your personal or financial circumstances to Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). This helps keep your aged care fees correct.
- From 1 November, it is a legal requirement to report changes to your circumstances within 28 days.
- You need to report changes to both your and your partner’s income or assets, including the payment of a refundable deposit.
- To update your details call Services Australia on 1800 227 475 or DVA on 1800 838 372, or visit the Services Australia website.
Under the new Act, your aged care provider will regularly report the amount of refundable accommodation deposit (RAD) or refundable accommodation contribution (RAC) they hold for each resident. This will help keep your financial circumstances up to date and your fees correct. Services Australia will confirm the correct information with you before updating your means assessment.
Changes to fees for optional services
From 1 November, additional and extra service fees will be replaced with an optional higher everyday living fee.
Existing additional and extra service agreements will cease by 31 October 2026. You should speak to your provider about the new higher everyday living fee, including their plans to support the transition of existing additional and extra residents over the next 12 months. Read about higher everyday living, additional and extra service fees on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.
Opting in to 1 November 2025 fee arrangements
You can choose to opt in to the new fee arrangements. It’s important to seek financial advice before making this decision as it can’t be undone. Residents may pay more under the new arrangements.
To opt in, you need to submit a Continuing residential aged care recipient opting into the new arrangements form to your provider.
Use the fee estimator to get an idea of the fees payable under different fee arrangements.
Read this letter to current residents for more information about what’s changing.
Last updated date: 29 October 2025
