Rent assistance no longer payable

Under the aged care reforms, rent assistance will no longer be payable to pensioners in respite care.  Instead, additional subsidy in the form of pensioner supplement will be paid directly to the aged care facility.

To compensate pensioners for this change, they will pay the lower basic residential fee of $21.10 per day indexed ($21.52 from 2 April 1998).

In the case of respite care only, self-funded retirees will also pay the lower basic residential fee of $21.10 per day indexed ($21.52 from 2 April 1998).