Non-Clinical Care Contribution

If your means assessment shows that you need to pay the full hotelling contribution, you may also be asked to contribute towards the cost of your non-clinical care.

This contribution helps cover everyday support services such as help with bathing, getting around, and taking part in lifestyle activities. It works in a similar way to the means tested care fee, but it does not include the cost of clinical care. The non-clinical care contribution has a daily limit of $107.32, while the means tested care fee has an annual cap.

If you are required to pay the non-clinical care contribution, Services Australia will advise both you and your aged care provider of the exact amount once you move into care.

Daily and Lifetime Caps on the Non-Clinical Care Contribution

There is also a lifetime limit on how much you need to pay. This means you will no longer pay the non-clinical care contribution once you have contributed a total of $137,917.01 (indexed), or after 4 years of cumulative contributions — whichever happens first. Any fees you have paid under the Support at Home program also count towards this lifetime cap.

The daily and lifetime caps are adjusted (indexed) twice a year, in March and September, so they may change over time. You can learn more about these updates, including annual and lifetime caps, while you are living in residential aged care.