Personal care becomes free on 1 October 2026 — for everyone
Last updated 20 August 2026
The short version
- From 1 October 2026, help with showering, bathing, dressing, grooming and continence care will have no participant contribution — regardless of your income, assets or pension status.
- It happens because personal care moves into the clinical care category, which has always been free under Support at Home.
- The change is automatic. You don’t need to apply, call anyone or change providers.
- Contributions still apply to everyday living services (cleaning, gardening, meals) and to other independence services such as transport and social support.
The government committed around $1 billion to fully fund personal care after months of complaints that contribution charges were forcing people to cut back on showers. The change takes effect for services delivered on or after 1 October 2026.
What changes on 1 October
Under Support at Home, what you pay depends on which category a service sits in. Personal care currently sits in the “independence” category, where contributions range from 5% for full pensioners to around 50% for self-funded retirees. From 1 October it is treated as clinical care instead — and clinical care is free for everyone.
| Your situation | Until 30 September | From 1 October |
|---|---|---|
| Full pensioner | 5% of the service price | Free |
| Part pensioner / CSHC holder | 5–50%, means-tested | Free |
| Self-funded retiree | Around 50% | Free |
| Grandfathered (“no worse off”) | 0–25%, per your protected rate | Free |
What it means in dollars
Take a self-funded retiree receiving four hours of personal care a week at a typical $115 an hour. That’s $460 a week in services. Today, a contribution of around 50% means roughly $230 a week from their own pocket. From 1 October, that same care costs them nothing — a saving in the order of $12,000 a year. A full pensioner on the same hours saves around $23 a week.
“Free” means no contribution from your pocket. The provider’s price for personal care is still paid from your quarterly Support at Home budget, so hours of care still draw the budget down at the provider’s hourly rate. Providers’ prices vary a lot — a high rate now costs you hours rather than dollars, which is another reason to compare what providers charge.
What doesn’t change
- Everyday living services — cleaning, laundry, gardening, meal services — still attract contributions of 17.5% to around 80% depending on your means.
- Other independence services — transport, social support, respite — still attract contributions of 5% to around 50%.
- Your contribution percentages for those categories are not changing on 1 October; only personal care moves category.
- Nursing, allied health and care management were already free and stay free.
What you should do
-
Nothing, before 1 October
NowThe change applies automatically to everyone receiving Support at Home services, including people on grandfathered “no worse off” arrangements.
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Check your first statement after the change
Early NovemberYour monthly statement for October services should show a $0 contribution against personal care items. If you’re still being charged a contribution on showering, dressing or continence care, query it with your provider — and escalate to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission if it isn’t fixed.
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Rethink your service mix if you cut back
October onwardsMany people reduced personal care hours this year because of the cost. If that’s you, this is the moment to put them back — the hours will draw on your budget but cost you nothing out of pocket.
Not sure what you’ll pay after October?
Tell us your situation and service mix, and we’ll talk through what changes for you — and whether your provider’s prices are worth staying for.
Common questions
Does this apply to me if I’m grandfathered under “no worse off”?
Yes. If your protected rate had you paying anything toward personal care, that drops to zero from 1 October. If you were already paying nothing, nothing changes. See our grandfathering guide for how the rest of your fees work.
Is cleaning or gardening becoming free too?
No. Everyday living services keep their contribution rates (17.5% to around 80%, means-tested). Only personal care is moving into the free clinical category.
Will providers put their prices up because of this?
They can — hourly price caps were deferred in May 2026, so prices are set by providers. A price rise wouldn’t cost you a contribution on personal care, but it would drain your quarterly budget faster. The government publishes median prices each quarter; use them as your benchmark and switch if your provider is well above market.
I pay privately for personal care while I wait for my budget. Is that free now too?
No — this change applies to services funded under Support at Home. If you’re still on the waitlist, privately purchased care remains a private cost, though Commonwealth Home Support Programme services may be available in the meantime.
Sources
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing — announcement of fully funded personal care under Support at Home, 26 May 2026.
- My Aged Care, myagedcare.gov.au — Support at Home costs and contributions, accessed 20 August 2026.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing — National Summary of Support at Home Prices (median service prices), 2026.
- Support at Home Program Manual — service categories and participant contributions.