What Does Cleaning Cost Under Support at Home?
Cleaning is an "everyday living" service, which carries the highest contribution. Here's what that means in practice.
Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025. Under it, what you contribute depends on the type of service and your pension status. For background on the program, see Understanding Support at Home.
Three service types, three contribution levels
- Clinical care (e.g. nursing, physio): no contribution.
- Independence (e.g. personal care): a moderate contribution.
- Everyday living (domestic assistance such as cleaning, and gardening): the highest contribution.
Everyday living contribution rates
For people who started on Support at Home from 1 November 2025, the published rates for everyday living services are:
- Full pensioners: 17.5% of the service price.
- Part pensioners and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders: between 17.5% and 80%, based on an income and assets assessment.
- Self-funded retirees (no CSHC): 80%.
Worked example: if your provider's price for an hour of cleaning were $80, a full pensioner would contribute $14 and a self-funded retiree $64. (The $80 is only for illustration; prices vary by provider.)
The lifetime cap
Your non-clinical contributions count towards a lifetime cap, shared with residential aged care, and the cap is indexed twice a year. Check My Aged Care for the current figure.
If you had a Home Care Package before 12 September 2024
The Department of Health says you'll be no worse off: if you paid fees before, you'll pay the same or less; if you didn't, you won't be asked to.
Tips to make your budget go further
- Ask your provider for their price list so you can see the price of each service.
- Focus funded hours on the tasks you can't safely do, and consider booking extras privately.
- Ask for the same cleaner each visit.
How Silv's fits in: Silv's is an approved WorkSafe (WorkCover) provider for household services. NDIS, DVA, TAC and aged-care clients are served through provider arrangements, subject to your approved supports and agreement with your provider. Not sure where you stand? Call or WhatsApp 0489 220 588 and we'll talk it through.
Frequently asked questions
Is cleaning free for full pensioners under Support at Home?
No. Cleaning is an everyday living service, and full pensioners contribute 17.5% of the service price under the rates for people who started from 1 November 2025.
Is there a cap on what I pay?
Yes. Non-clinical contributions count towards a lifetime cap, which is indexed twice a year. My Aged Care publishes the current figure.
I had a Home Care Package before. Will I pay more?
If you had or were approved for a package on or before 12 September 2024, the Department of Health says you'll be no worse off.
Talk to us about cleaning through your Support at Home provider, or privately.
Ask about aged care cleaningSources: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Support at Home participant contributions (health.gov.au); published contribution rates as summarised by Homage (homage.com.au). Checked October 2026. Rates and caps are indexed; confirm with your provider or My Aged Care.