External
Departmental Instruction

DAILY FEES

Basic Fees

Plus

Extra fees based on income

Full-rate pensioners

Basic daily fee of $21.52 only.

This fee is:

  • based on 85% of full rate pension.
  • equal to $301.28 a fortnight.

Not applicable

Part-rate pensioners single

Basic daily fee of $21.52 plus

$0.25 for each dollar of income above pension 'income free area'. (1)

Part-rate pensioners member of a couple

Basic daily fee of $21.52 plus

$0.25 for each dollar of half of the couple's income above pension 'income free area'. (1)

Blind pensioners

Basic daily fee of $21.52 plus

$0.25 for each dollar of income above pension 'income free area'. (1)

Self- funded retirees

who do not receive a Centrelink or DVA pension

Basic daily fee of $26.91 plus

$0.25 for each dollar of income above pension 'income free area'. (1)

Respite care

Basic daily fee of $21.52 only.

Not applicable

Residents with dependent children

Basic daily fee of $21.52 only.

Not applicable

Residents who choose not to provide information on their income (2)

Up to $64.56 a day or

the cost of their care,

whichever is the lesser amount.

Ex-POWs in nursing home level care

DVA pays the daily fee on their behalf

Not applicable

Notes on table:

  1.            The income free area is currently $100 a fortnight for a single person and $176

       combined a fortnight for members of a couple.  This amount is indexed each July.

  1.          Residents who choose not to provide information on their income
  • If residents elect not to have their fees based upon their income, they will be required to pay the lesser of either the maximum fee, or the basic fee plus the cost of Commonwealth Government care subsidies.
  • $64.56 is the maximum amount that can be charged under the formula (ie. Basic fee + $0.25 in the dollar).
  • At the time of admission, an assessment will be made of the level of care the resident will require, which may affect the fee charged.

Note:  persons in hostels paying fees under a variable fee arrangement prior to

1 October 1997 are likely to continue to have their fees assessed under those arrangements.

This DI should be read in conjunction with DI C13/98 which covers changes to aged care that have occurred since 1 October 1997.