Residential Care Service Voucher 2026: eligibility, co-payment and homes
Facts checked 18 Oct 2026. Written by our editors from the official sources below; not yet reviewed by a social worker or nurse. Not medical, legal or financial advice.
The voucher follows the user: the government subsidises eligible elderly people directly, and they choose, and can switch, among the homes in the scheme. There are 281 recognised homes now (voucher home list).
Who can apply?
People who have been assessed under the Standardised Care Need Assessment as needing residential care and are waiting on the Central Waiting List for a care-and-attention or nursing home place. SWD sends invitation letters in batches by application date; invitees send the form and documents to the RCSV Office or apply online through the Voucher Information System for the Elderly. SWD says processing generally takes about eight weeks.
Voucher value and co-payment
From 1 April 2026 the voucher is worth $17,015 a month for a care-and-attention place and $21,982 for a nursing home place. Homes charge their actual monthly fee, up to that value. An individual means test (income and assets) sets the co-payment level:
| Level | Monthly income limit (one person) | User share | Max co-pay, C&A | Max co-pay, NH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ≤ $5,250 | 0% | $0 | $0 |
| 1 | ≤ $7,875 | 10% | $1,702 | $2,198 |
| 2 | ≤ $10,500 | 20% | $3,403 | $4,396 |
| 3 | ≤ $13,125 | 30% | $5,105 | $6,595 |
| 4 | ≤ $15,750 | 40% | $6,806 | $8,793 |
| 5 | ≤ $21,000 | 50% | $8,508 | $10,991 |
| 6 | ≤ $31,500 | 62.5% | $10,634 | $13,739 |
| 7 | No limit | 75% | $12,761 | $16,487 |
The asset limit is $55,000 for level 0 and $582,000 for levels 1 to 6; income limits are shares of the one-person median monthly household income of $10,500.
What the standard service package covers
- Accommodation in a shared room, at least 3 meals a day plus snacks
- Basic and special nursing care, staff on duty 24 hours, personal care
- 2 rehabilitation sessions a week, regular visits by a registered doctor
- Regular social and recreational activities, laundry
- For nursing home places, also regular basic medical care and social work services
Worth knowing
- Six-month trial period to adapt to life in the home.
- Top-ups for extra services are optional and capped at 150% of the voucher value. Ask the home to list in writing what costs extra before signing.
- Voucher place vacancies change all the time: ask the home directly.
Enquiries: SWD RCSV Office, 3107 3280 / 3107 3290.
Voucher co-payment calculator (estimate)
Enter income and assets to see an estimate.
For reference only: an estimate from the income and asset limits in SWD's co-payment table. SWD's means test decides the real level (its guide says what counts as income and assets). This runs in your browser; nothing is sent.