Income Tested Fees
1 Jul 2024

What is an Income Tested Fee?
An income tested fee, or ITF, is a government-mandated fee that some people on a Home Care Package must pay. The income tested care fee is an additional contribution that some people will pay toward their Home Care Package. It's based on your individual income, including your pension. Services Australia conducts regular income assessments to determine whether an individual needs to pay an ITF. The assessment is based on your individual income, including your pension. If your income is above a certain threshold, your package provider must collect this fee on behalf of Services Australia. This guide covers what an income tested fee is, when you will have to pay it, and covers the easiest way to pay it. This fee goes to the Australian Government but will be collected by your Home Care Package provider. Your provider must collect this fee if Services Australia has determined that you must contribute to the cost of your Home Care Package.Will I have to pay an Income Tested Fee?
Services Australia will conduct an income assessment to determine if you are required to pay an income-tested fee. This fee is different for everyone. It’s based on your income, including your pension. However, full pensioners and people with an income up to $33,027.80 do not pay an income-tested care fee. This amount is updated with indexation on 20 March and 20 September each year. If your financial circumstances change, you should notify Services Australia. Notify the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) if they have completed your income assessment. You may start a home care package before Services Australia can conduct an income assessment. If this is the case, Services Australia will ask you to pay the maximum income-tested fee until your income assessment has been completed. At Trilogy Care, we refund any excess that has been charged once your income assessment has been completed and Services Australia has issued the refund.How much will I have to pay?
The fee is based on a person’s income, and everyone will have to pay a different amount. The fee also accounts for whether you are a member of a couple, their income, and your living arrangements. You may be required to pay an amount of up to $18.30 per day if you fall into one of the following categories:- If you are single and earn over $33,027.80
- If you are a member of a couple living together and earn over $25,576.20
- If you are a member of a couple living apart due to illness and earn over $32,351.80
- If you are single and earn over $63,559.60
- If you are a member of a couple living together and earn over $48,588.80
- If you are a member of a couple living apart due to illness and earn over $62,883.60