Check your aged care service agreement before you sign
Your provider just sent a service agreement. It's 10–20 pages of dense legal language and nobody told you what to look for. This free tool checks your Support at Home service agreement for illegal clauses, over-cap fees, and missing protections — and gives you the exact words to push back with.
What this tool checks: Exit fees (prohibited under the Aged Care Act 2024), care management fees above the 10% legal cap, missing service descriptions, vague cancellation terms, and missing or inadequate notice periods for fee changes. Paste your agreement text and get a plain-English analysis in about 15 seconds.
By Steve Hadfield, AgedCareActionPlan.au · Last updated: 25 April 2026 · Checks against Aged Care Act 2024 and Aged Care Rules 2025
What should I check in a Support at Home service agreement?
Red flags
Exit fees
Exit fees are prohibited under the Aged Care Act 2024. If your agreement mentions them, that's illegal.
Minimum commitment periods
You have the right to change providers. Any clause requiring you to stay for a minimum period is not enforceable.
Unilateral fee changes
Providers must give at least 14 days written notice before changing fees. A clause allowing immediate changes is not acceptable.
Care management fee over 10%
The care management fee is legally capped at 10% of your quarterly budget. Any higher amount is unlawful.
Vague or open-ended services
The agreement should specify exactly what services you'll receive, how often, and at what cost. Vague descriptions give providers room to under-deliver.
Transfer fees
Transfer fees when changing providers are prohibited. Flag any mention of them.
What good looks like
✓Fee percentages clearly stated as a percentage of your quarterly budget
✓Services listed with specific frequency, duration, and cost
✓Minimum notice period for changes stated (14 days or more)
✓Complaints process clearly described
✓Exit process described without penalties
Paste your service agreement
Copy and paste the text from your service agreement. You don't need to paste the entire document — the fees section, services section, and exit/termination section are the most important parts.
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Common questions about aged care service agreements
Are exit fees allowed in a Support at Home service agreement?
No. Exit fees are prohibited under the Aged Care Act 2024. If your service agreement contains an exit fee clause, you can refuse to sign and ask the provider to remove it before you agree to anything. Transfer fees when changing providers are also prohibited. If a provider insists on these clauses, contact OPAN on 1800 700 600 for free advocacy.
What is the legal cap on the care management fee?
The care management fee is legally capped at 10% of your quarterly budget under the Aged Care Rules 2025. For a Classification 3 budget of $5,479.94 per quarter, the maximum care management fee is $547.99. If your agreement shows a higher percentage, your provider is charging above the legal limit.
How much notice must a provider give before increasing fees?
The Aged Care Rules 2025 require providers to give written notice before changing fees. Your service agreement must state the specific notice period — ask your provider to include this explicitly. If the agreement allows immediate fee changes without notice, ask for it to be amended before signing.
What services must be listed in a Support at Home service agreement?
Your agreement should list each service specifically — what it is, how often it will be delivered, how long each session runs, and what it costs. Vague descriptions like 'personal care as required' give the provider room to under-deliver. Ask for specific schedules before signing.
Can I change providers if I'm unhappy with my service agreement?
Yes. You have the right to change providers under the Aged Care Act 2024. The notice period is specified in your service agreement — check this before signing. No exit fees or transfer fees can be charged — both are prohibited. Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to update your provider details.
Need a complete action plan — not just the agreement check?
Includes provider scripts, fee comparison, and a step-by-step checklist for your state