Aged Care Cost Planner (Australia): Daily Fees, RAD vs DAP and the Age Pension Effect Under the New Rules from 1 November 2025

NEW: Google Sheets edition included. Prefer Google Sheets? Your download includes a PDF with a one-click link to make your own copy (parity-tested: every formula cell matches the Excel version).

See what an aged care home will really cost you each day and each year under the new rules that started on 1 November 2025, and whether paying a lump sum (RAD), paying daily (DAP) or a mix leaves you with the most money. The workbook works out your means tested amount, your hotelling and non-clinical care contributions, your accommodation payment, and what a lump sum does to your Age Pension.

What it tells you

• Your daily and yearly cost in the first year: the basic daily fee, the hotelling contribution, the non-clinical care contribution and your accommodation, with a plain-English "what this means" box.
• Your means tested amount, step by step: the income tested and asset tested amounts, including your home up to the cap (or not at all if your partner or another protected person still lives there).
• RAD vs DAP vs your mix, compared over 1 to 10 years: fees, accommodation paid, the 2% a year retention on lump sums for up to 5 years, the option of taking the daily payment out of the deposit, the refund at the end, and the money you have left.
• Cash flow, year by year, for the option you choose, including the non-clinical care contribution stopping at the lifetime cap or after 4 years.
• The Age Pension effect: a lump sum is exempt from the assets test and is not deemed, and your former home is exempt for 2 years after you move into care. The workbook shows the pension each year, before and after the 2 years.
• Low means: if your means tested amount is under the accommodation supplement, it shows the daily accommodation contribution instead.

Built on the official figures

Every rate and threshold, at the 20 September 2026 figures, sits on a Rates & Rules tab with its effective date and source (the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing fee schedule, My Aged Care, Services Australia and DSS). A Checks tab confirms the workbook reproduces the Department's own published fee examples to the cent, and the DSS published Age Pension limits.

Built and checked by a CPA. Every formula tested against a separate calculation.

What's inside: Home, Dashboard, Your Details, Room & Payment, Your Costs, RAD vs DAP, Cash Flow, Age Pension Effect, Checks (21 checks), Rates & Rules, and Notes & Sources. Example data is included. Works in Microsoft Excel and LibreOffice.

Covers: singles and members of couples first entering residential aged care on or after 1 November 2025; keeping the home (empty, or with your partner or another protected person living there), selling it, or no home; rent from the former home.

Does not cover: people who entered care before 1 November 2025 (they keep their existing arrangements unless they opt in), Home Care Package grandfathering, higher everyday living fees and extra services, respite care, financial hardship assistance, DVA payments, gifting, and trusts or companies.

This is an estimate. Services Australia assesses your means and tells you and the home what you pay.

Designed by Plain Numbers Co with the help of AI tools. Listing images are designed previews of the actual file.

30-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE: if it doesn't work for your situation, message us within 30 days. We'll fix it, or refund you in full if you'd rather. This is in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law, which are not excluded.

General information only, not financial advice. This workbook does not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. Speak to Services Australia's Financial Information Service (132 300) or a licensed financial adviser before acting.