Support at Home Price Caps: The Full Breakdown
Support at Home price caps in 2026: why they were deferred, what protects you instead, and how contributions and the lifetime cap actually work.
When the Support at Home program launched, the plan was for the government to cap what providers could charge. That plan has changed. This guide breaks down where Support at Home price caps actually stand in 2026, why they were paused, what is protecting older people in the meantime, and how the costs and contributions work — so you can read your quotes with clear eyes.
What Support at Home is
The big update: caps were deferred
Why the pause
What protects you instead
How the costs are structured
The lifetime cap on contributions
How to read a quote right now
Frequently asked questions
Are there Support at Home price caps in 2026?
Not yet. Formal price caps were due to start on 1 July 2026 but were deferred on 19 May 2026, with no confirmed new date. Until they are introduced, providers set their own prices, while transparency and enforcement measures protect you in the meantime.
Why were the price caps paused?
The government judged that global cost pressures had pushed prices unusually high, and that setting a cap against an unstable baseline could hurt both providers and older people. It chose to wait for the market to settle, adding published median prices, refund powers and other safeguards instead.
What does Support at Home cost me?
It depends on the type of care and your means. Clinical care like nursing and therapy is fully funded with no contribution. You contribute more toward personal care and most toward everyday living help. Full pensioners pay less; self-funded retirees pay more.
Is there a limit on what I pay overall?
Yes. A lifetime cap limits the total contributions you can be asked to make across Support at Home and residential aged care combined, so your costs cannot rise without end. It is a ceiling on your personal contributions, not the price of any single service.