Fees and accommodation costs

Basic daily care fee

Everyone living in aged care pays a basic daily care fee. It covers day-to-day living costs such as meals, heating and cleaning. The fee is set at 85% of the single aged pension and increases twice a year as the pension increases.

Hotelling contribution and non-clinical care contribution

Whether you pay this, and how much, depends on the outcome of a Centrelink income and assets assessment. It is an additional contribution towards the cost of your care: you pay a higher share and the government pays less.

The amount is calculated by Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). You will need to complete a Residential Aged Care – Calculation of your cost of care and/or Residential Aged Care – Property Details Assessment form and lodge it with Services Australia or DVA. This can be done before moving into permanent care (it does not apply to respite care). You will receive a letter telling you whether a means-tested care fee applies.

The contribution is calculated for each day of care. Generally, if your assets or assessable annual income are above set amounts, a means-tested care fee applies. It is capped at an annual amount, after which it reduces to zero for the rest of that year (counted from your admission date), and it reduces permanently to zero once you reach the lifetime cap.

The My Aged Care fee estimator can help you see what you may need to pay.

Some residents have their accommodation costs met in full or in part by the Australian Government. Others pay the full accommodation price set by Cowra Retirement Village. Services Australia will advise which applies to you based on your income and assets assessment.

• Fully supported: if your assessed assets are under a set amount, the Australian Government covers your accommodation costs.
• Partial contribution: if your assets fall between set amounts, you pay an accommodation contribution and the government pays the balance. Services Australia advises the split.
• Full payment: if your assets are above the set amount, you make a full accommodation payment.

Current accommodation prices at Cowra Retirement Village vary depending on the room. See the accommodation options document.

Unless a RAD is paid on or before the admission date, all residents are charged a DAP until a Services Australia fee letter is received. The payment type can be changed if the fee letter indicates a different result, or if you decide to pay your accommodation costs with a RAD.

The My Aged Care website has an easy-to-use aged care fee estimator that gives an estimate based on your individual circumstances.