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Understanding fees and charges

At St Andrew’s, as an independent not-for-profit community care provider, we believe in transparency of fees and charges. 

There are a number of fees and charges associated with Residential Aged Care, some of which are determined or subsidised by the Federal Government based on the individual’s own personal financial situation.

The total fees paid to St Andrew’s for Residential Aged Care equal:

1

Basic Daily Fee*

+

2

Means Tested Care Fee*

+

3

Accommodation Fee*

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Basic Daily Fee

This fee helps pay for the Resident’s day-to-day services such as meals, cleaning, facilities management and laundry. Everyone is expected to pay a Basic Daily Fee to cover these services.

The Basic Daily Fee is set at 85% of the single person rate of the basic age pension. The Federal Government sets the Fee on 20 March and 20 September each year, changing in line with increases to the age pension. Prices are published on the Department of Health website, with a current maximum Basic Daily Fee of $58.98 per day.

The Basic Daily Fee is payable on a fortnightly basis. The fee applies for every day of residence in the Home, including days when the Resident may be away overnight, e.g. on holiday or in hospital.

Means Tested Care Fee

The Means Tested Care Fee is an ongoing fee that the Resident may pay towards the cost of their personal (e.g. bathing, dressing or grooming) and clinical (e.g. specialised nursing and medication assistance) care. The Federal Government decides whether the individual has the financial means to contribute towards their care costs, which could be up to $358.41 per day. The Resident will be advised of any Means Tested Care Fees by the Federal Government upon initial calculation and following periodic reviews. St Andrew’s will then charge these Means Tested Care Fees on a fortnightly basis.

Note that there are annual and lifetime caps on Means Tested Care Fees (also indexed in March and September each year). The maximum an aged care home can currently charge is $30,574.33 per year, or $73,378.49 in a lifetime.

Accommodation Fee

In addition to Basic Daily and Care Fees the Resident may also be required to pay an Accommodation Fee. The Accommodation Fee depends on the type of bedroom chosen (e.g. size and ensuite) and is based upon an individual’s assets and income determined by Services Australia upon completing a means test. Based on the outcome of the means test, a Resident may be required to pay none, a proportion, or all of the Accommodation Fee. The Resident is required to pay the full Accommodation Fee until the outcome of the means test is determined, and St Andrew’s may require a security deposit during this period.

To allow for flexibility there are four ways in which the Accommodation Fee can be paid:

  1. Daily Accommodation Payment
  2. Refundable Accommodation Deposit
  3. Combination Payment
  4. Drawdown Payment
Prices below based on room.
Option 1
Daily Accommodation Payment or “DAP”
79.88 Ballina Boronia Shared Room – Shared Bathroom.
Instead of paying for accommodation as a lump sum the Resident can chose to pay a daily fee. The amount payable is based on a daily rate, based on the bedroom type and as agreed with St Andrew’s, in line with the current MPIR (Maximum Permissible Interest Rate).
or
Option 2
Refundable Accommodation Deposit or “RAD”
350,000 Ballina Boronia Shared Room – Shared Bathroom.
This option is a lump sum accommodation payment. The balance of the deposit is refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s, less any amounts that have been deducted by agreement to meet other fees.
or
Option 3
Combination Payment

Refundable Accommodation Deposit

$  lump sum

AND

Daily Accommodation Payment

$   per day

Beach House Premier Room.
This involves part Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) and part Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP), with the part RAD being refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s.
or
Option 4
Drawdown Payment
This option is similar to the combination option but the DAP component is taken from the RAD, with the balance of the RAD refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s.
Option 1
Daily Accommodation Payment or “DAP”
108.4 Ballina Dianella Single Room – Shared Bathroom.
Instead of paying for accommodation as a lump sum the Resident can chose to pay a daily fee. The amount payable is based on a daily rate, based on the bedroom type and as agreed with St Andrew’s, in line with the current MPIR (Maximum Permissible Interest Rate).
or
Option 2
Refundable Accommodation Deposit or “RAD”
475,000 Ballina Dianella Single Room – Shared Bathroom.
This option is a lump sum accommodation payment. The balance of the deposit is refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s, less any amounts that have been deducted by agreement to meet other fees.
or
Option 3
Combination Payment

Refundable Accommodation Deposit

$  lump sum

AND

Daily Accommodation Payment

$   per day

Beach House Premier Room.
This involves part Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) and part Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP), with the part RAD being refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s.
or
Option 4
Drawdown Payment
This option is similar to the combination option but the DAP component is taken from the RAD, with the balance of the RAD refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s.
Option 1
Daily Accommodation Payment or “DAP”
125.52 Ballina Lake and Beach Single Room – Ensuite.
Instead of paying for accommodation as a lump sum the Resident can chose to pay a daily fee. The amount payable is based on a daily rate, based on the bedroom type and as agreed with St Andrew’s, in line with the current MPIR (Maximum Permissible Interest Rate).
or
Option 2
Refundable Accommodation Deposit or “RAD”
550,000 Ballina Lake and Beach Single Room – Ensuite.
This option is a lump sum accommodation payment. The balance of the deposit is refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s, less any amounts that have been deducted by agreement to meet other fees.
or
Option 3
Combination Payment

Refundable Accommodation Deposit

$  lump sum

AND

Daily Accommodation Payment

$   per day

Beach House Premier Room.
This involves part Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) and part Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP), with the part RAD being refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s.
or
Option 4
Drawdown Payment
This option is similar to the combination option but the DAP component is taken from the RAD, with the balance of the RAD refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s.
Option 1
Daily Accommodation Payment or “DAP”
125.52 Ballina Dianella Single Room – Ensuite.
Instead of paying for accommodation as a lump sum the Resident can chose to pay a daily fee. The amount payable is based on a daily rate, based on the bedroom type and as agreed with St Andrew’s, in line with the current MPIR (Maximum Permissible Interest Rate).
or
Option 2
Refundable Accommodation Deposit or “RAD”
550,000 Ballina Dianella Single Room – Ensuite.
This option is a lump sum accommodation payment. The balance of the deposit is refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s, less any amounts that have been deducted by agreement to meet other fees.
or
Option 3
Combination Payment

Refundable Accommodation Deposit

$  lump sum

AND

Daily Accommodation Payment

$   per day

Beach House Premier Room.
This involves part Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) and part Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP), with the part RAD being refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s.
or
Option 4
Drawdown Payment
This option is similar to the combination option but the DAP component is taken from the RAD, with the balance of the RAD refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s.
Option 1
Daily Accommodation Payment or “DAP”
125.52 Ballina River and Hardwicke Single Room – Ensuite.
Instead of paying for accommodation as a lump sum the Resident can chose to pay a daily fee. The amount payable is based on a daily rate, based on the bedroom type and as agreed with St Andrew’s, in line with the current MPIR (Maximum Permissible Interest Rate).
or
Option 2
Refundable Accommodation Deposit or “RAD”
550,000 Ballina River and Hardwicke Single Room – Ensuite.
This option is a lump sum accommodation payment. The balance of the deposit is refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s, less any amounts that have been deducted by agreement to meet other fees.
or
Option 3
Combination Payment

Refundable Accommodation Deposit

$  lump sum

AND

Daily Accommodation Payment

$   per day

Beach House Premier Room.
This involves part Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) and part Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP), with the part RAD being refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s.
or
Option 4
Drawdown Payment
This option is similar to the combination option but the DAP component is taken from the RAD, with the balance of the RAD refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s.
Option 1
Daily Accommodation Payment or “DAP”
102.7 Byron Bay All Cottages Single Room – Ensuite.
Instead of paying for accommodation as a lump sum the Resident can chose to pay a daily fee. The amount payable is based on a daily rate, based on the bedroom type and as agreed with St Andrew’s, in line with the current MPIR (Maximum Permissible Interest Rate).
or
Option 2
Refundable Accommodation Deposit or “RAD”
450,000 Byron Bay All Cottages Single Room – Ensuite.
This option is a lump sum accommodation payment. The balance of the deposit is refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s, less any amounts that have been deducted by agreement to meet other fees.
or
Option 3
Combination Payment

Refundable Accommodation Deposit

$  lump sum

AND

Daily Accommodation Payment

$   per day

Beach House Premier Room.
This involves part Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) and part Daily Accommodation Payment (DAP), with the part RAD being refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s.
or
Option 4
Drawdown Payment
This option is similar to the combination option but the DAP component is taken from the RAD, with the balance of the RAD refunded when the Resident leaves St Andrew’s.

These accommodation prices are accurate as at 1 November 2024 and are subject to change. Final costs are confirmed on the date of admission (subject to receiving the assets and income assessment from Centrelink if a means test has been undertaken). More information on how aged care fees are determined can be found at https://www.myagedcare.gov.au

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