When you or someone you care about is approved for a Home Care Package in Australia, one of the first questions that comes up is: “What will this cost me?”
This is where the SA456 Calculation of Your Cost of Home Care form comes in. It’s the key tool Services Australia (Centrelink) uses to assess how much you may need to contribute towards the cost of your Home Care Package — and it’s one of those forms that can feel intimidating at first glance.
Don’t worry! This guide will walk you through what the SA456 is, who needs to complete it, how income testing works, what’s on the form, and some practical tips for filling it out and lodging it on time.
We’ll also cover what happens once your fee is assessed and how to ask for a review if you think there’s been a mistake.
The SA456 Form (Cost of Home Care) can be downloaded from:
SA456 Form (Cost of Home Care) Download.
The Australian Government wants to help older people stay at home for as long as possible, rather than moving into residential aged care before they need to. To make that happen, the Home Care Packages Program provides subsidies to approved providers so they can arrange services like cleaning, personal care, meal prep, transport, and nursing support.
But the government doesn’t cover the full cost automatically for everyone. Depending on your financial situation, you may be asked to pay an income-tested care fee — and that’s what the SA456 determines. Think of it as your fair share towards your own care costs.
Filling in this form correctly is important because:
Not everyone who gets a Home Care Package needs to complete the SA456 form. Here’s how it works:
Keep in mind: your Home Care Package provider can’t collect your income-tested care fee unless Services Australia has done the calculation and confirmed the amount. So it’s worth getting this step sorted early to avoid delays in accessing services or misunderstandings about costs.
Before we get too deep into the paperwork, let’s look at how the Home Care Package fees are structured. There are three main components:
The maximum income-tested care fee you can be asked to pay is capped each year, so there’s a limit to how much you can be charged, no matter how high your income is.
So, what’s actually in the SA456? It’s basically a snapshot of your income situation, so Centrelink can see what you earn and decide whether you need to contribute more towards your care.
Here’s what you’ll be asked for:
The form also includes instructions and examples to help you figure out what counts as assessable income and what doesn’t.
Once you’ve filled in the SA456 and attached your supporting documents, you have a few options to submit it:
It’s a good idea to keep copies of everything you submit. And don’t delay! The sooner they get your form, the sooner you’ll know what your contribution is.
After Centrelink receives your SA456, they’ll review your income details and work out your income-tested care fee. They’ll then send you a letter or a notification through your myGov account explaining how much you need to pay.
This income assessment stays in place for 12 months. After that, you’ll usually get a review to check if your circumstances have changed — for example, if your investments or income go up or down significantly.
Life happens — and income can change. If your income changes, you must let Services Australia know. This could be a big change, like selling an investment property, or a smaller one, like a new pension payment starting. Keeping your details up to date helps make sure you’re paying the right amount — and not being under- or overcharged.
If you think Services Australia got it wrong, don’t panic. You have the right to ask for a review. This is called a review of a decision. It’s best to do this in writing and provide any extra evidence that might support your case. There’s no fee to request a review — and it can bring peace of mind to get it double-checked.
Here are a few friendly tips to make handling the SA456 less stressful:
One thing that can catch people by surprise is the concept of “deeming.” For income test purposes, Centrelink doesn’t just look at the actual interest you earn on savings and investments. Instead, they “deem” that you earn a set rate, regardless of what your real return is. This is meant to simplify the system and treat everyone fairly.
The current deeming rates are published on Services Australia’s website. When you complete the SA456, you’ll need to list the total value of your financial investments so they can apply deeming rules.
The Home Care Packages Program is evolving — and so is how fees are calculated. The government has signalled more reforms under the new “Support at Home” program due in November 2025. This might see changes to the forms and processes used to calculate contributions. So it’s a good idea to keep an eye on Services Australia’s website and talk to your provider if you hear about policy updates.
Dealing with forms like the SA456 can feel daunting, but at the end of the day, it’s all about making sure your contribution to your care is fair and reasonable. It protects you from surprises and helps keep our aged care system sustainable for everyone.
Fill it out carefully, get help if you need it, and don’t hesitate to ask questions — you deserve to feel confident about what you’re paying and why. And remember, you’re not alone — there are experts, advisers, and friendly Services Australia staff who can help you navigate the details, so you can focus on living well at home for longer.