If your provider has been charging fees above the legal care management cap, every month you've overpaid is money that should have gone to actual care. This calculator shows you the dollar amount.
In short: Enter your classification level, the total fee percentage your provider charges, and how many months you've been paying it. The calculator shows the estimated overcharge in dollars and what to do about it. The care management fee is legally capped at 10% of your quarterly budget — anything above that is recoverable.
The legal rule: Care management fees cannot exceed 10% of your quarterly budget. For Classification 3, that's a maximum of $547.99 per quarter. Administration fees are not capped, but must be disclosed in your service agreement.
What should I do if the calculator shows I've been overcharged?
1
Get the exact figures from your statements. Pull your monthly statements for the period and add up the actual care management and administration fees charged. The number above is an estimate — your real figure may be higher or lower.
2
Check your service agreement. The fee percentage should be stated in your original service agreement. If the fee charged doesn't match what was agreed, that's a separate issue — you may be owed a refund regardless of whether it exceeds the cap.
3
Contact your provider in writing. Email them with the specific figures. Say: "I've reviewed my statements from [start date] to [end date]. My total care management and administration fees were [amount], representing [%] of my quarterly budget. The legal care management cap is 10%. I'd like an itemised breakdown and an explanation of any fees above this cap."
4
If they don't respond or won't fix it, contact OPAN (📞 1800 700 600) for free advocacy support, or lodge a complaint with the ACQSC (📞 1800 951 822). Keep a copy of all correspondence.
Email script to your provider
"I'm writing about the care management and administration fees charged on my Support at Home account from [start date] to [end date]. Based on my Classification 3 quarterly budget of $5,479.94, I calculate that my total combined fees represent approximately 30% of my budget per month. The care management fee is legally capped at 10% ($547.99/quarter) under the Aged Care Rules 2025. Please provide an itemised breakdown showing care management and administration fees separately, and advise whether any adjustment or refund applies."
How does the care management fee cap work in practice?
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 Classification 3 ($5,479.94/quarter), that cap is $547.99 per quarter. This cap applies to care management specifically — administration fees are separate and not capped, but must be disclosed in your service agreement.
Is the administration fee capped?
Administration fees are not legally capped under the current Support at Home rules. However, they must be clearly disclosed in your service agreement before you sign. If you were not told about administration fees upfront, or if the percentage charged differs from what was agreed, you can dispute it.
What if my provider charges a combined fee without itemising?
Ask your provider to provide a written breakdown separating care management fees from administration fees. Providers are required to be transparent about fee structures. If they refuse to itemise, contact OPAN on 1800 700 600 for free advocacy support.
Can I get a refund if I was overcharged?
If your provider charged above the legal care management cap, you can request a correction and refund in writing. If they refuse, lodge a complaint with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822. The Commission has powers to require providers to remedy billing errors.
Last updated: 25 April 2026 · Budget figures effective 1 November 2025, indexed 1 July annually
Important: This calculator provides an estimate only. The care management fee cap of 10% applies to care management specifically — administration fees are a separate charge. Always verify against your actual statements and service agreement before taking action.
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