After a five-year freeze, deeming rates are set to increase on 20 September 2025. For some older Australians, this may not be a welcome change. An increase in deeming rates increases assessable income for Centrelink and Veterans’ Affairs, which may reduce entitlements and/or increase aged care fees. But for many people, the impact may not be significant. Why the change? Deeming is used to determine a level of assessable income from your financial investments – bank accounts, shares, managed funds, some superannuation and income streams, loans you have made and excess gifting. Deeming rates are usually reviewed twice a year,…

Big changes are on the way for aged care, with new rules starting from 1 November 2025. While these changes aim to create a more sustainable and fairer system, they do bring added complexity — especially when it comes to understanding the fees and making the right financial decisions. Here are the five key things you need to know: 1. Aged care will cost more – but is still subsidisedIf you or a loved one is moving into residential aged care from 1 November 2025, the amount you’ll need to contribute will be higher. That said, the Government will continue…

It’s been confirmed – the aged care reforms originally set to begin on 1 July 2025 have been deferred by four months and will now commence on 1 November 2025. It became clear that extra time was needed to allow the whole sector to be better prepared and get ready for the significant changes ahead. The Government needs more time to finalise the rules. Aged care providers need more time to train their staff, adjust administrative systems, and ensure they can continue to deliver quality care under the new framework. One of the biggest changes is the introduction of the…

Moving into residential aged care is a big step, and one of the most important financial decisions you’ll need to make is how to pay for your room. The legislative rules provide clear guidelines on your payment options and the timeframe in which you must decide. With so much happening when you make the move, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or rushed. That’s why it’s important to understand the 28-day rule. What is the 28-day rule? Once you move into residential aged care, you have 28 days (from date of permanent entry) to decide how you want to pay for…