Personal care becomes free from 1 October 2026. From that date, the government fully funds personal care (such as help showering and dressing), so it won't cost you anything.
Is personal care 100% funded for everyone?
Almost, but with conditions. From 1 October 2026, all personal care services move from the "Independence" contribution category to the "Clinical Supports" category, which means the government fully funds them and participants no longer pay contributions.
The key thing is that this removes the means-tested contribution, so it applies regardless of whether you're a full pensioner or a self-funded retiree.
But "everyone" comes with three conditions.
You'll pay nothing toward personal care only if you are approved to access personal care in your support plan and have available Support at Home funding.
- You have to be a Support at Home participant approved for the personal care service type. It's not a benefit for the general public, it's for people in the program.
- It still draws on your Support at Home budget. The change removes your personal contribution, but the service is still paid from your funding, so you need budget available to cover it. It isn't unlimited free care on top.
- It only covers personal care, meaning showering, dressing, non-clinical continence management, eating, personal hygiene and help self-administering medication.
Everyday-living help like cleaning, gardening and meals still attracts a means-tested contribution.
As one provider put it plainly, this announcement does not make all Support at Home services free.
One timing trap worth knowing: services delivered before 1 October 2026 still attract a contribution, even if they're claimed after that date.
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