19 May 2026: hourly price caps deferred indefinitely
Last updated 20 August 2026
On 19 May 2026, the government announced that the hourly price caps legislated to start on 1 July 2026 would be deferred indefinitely. No new start date has been set. Providers continue to set their own prices - with a different set of protections around them.
What changed
Caps on what providers can charge per hour for each service were meant to arrive with the new financial year. Instead of caps, the settings now are:
- Refund powers. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission can order providers to refund overcharging.
- Mandatory monthly statements, so every charge is itemised and visible.
- Published price data. The government publishes a quarterly “National Summary of Support at Home Prices”, so you can see what’s normal.
The decision split the sector: consumer groups including COTA and OPAN criticised the deferral, while providers welcomed it.
Who it affects
Everyone with a Support at Home budget. Without caps, the price differences between providers stay large - and because your quarterly budget is a fixed amount, a higher hourly rate simply buys you fewer hours of care. The national medians are the best benchmark: around $115 an hour for personal care and around $110 for cleaning, for example, with evening and weekend surcharges common. A provider well above the medians needs a good explanation.
Comparing providers’ prices now matters more, not less. Two line items do most of the damage when they’re high: the hourly rates themselves, and the care management fee (capped at 10% of your budget, but not every provider charges the full 10%).
What to do
- Get your provider’s current price list and compare it against the medians in our guide to what providers charge.
- Check what you’re paying for care management - our care management fee comparison shows how providers differ.
- Read your monthly statement each month; it’s now the main consumer protection. See how to read statements and budgets.
- If you believe you’ve been overcharged, ask for a correction - and if that fails, the Commission can order refunds. There’s no need to rush; you can query old charges too.
- If the numbers still don’t stack up, remember switching providers is free, anytime, with no exit fees.
Paying more than the medians?
Tell us your postcode and we’ll show you what other providers in your area charge - free, no obligation.
Sources
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, health.gov.au - announcement on Support at Home pricing arrangements, 19 May 2026.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing - National Summary of Support at Home Prices (quarterly median service prices), 2026.
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission - provider obligations, statements and refund powers, 2026.
- Public responses from consumer and provider peak bodies, including COTA Australia and OPAN, May 2026.