Margery Cole and Bartling Place Residential Care Services

There is an Accommodation Payment assessable for residents entering into residential care accommodation.

• Residential Care
  • Fees
  • Accommodation Payments
    
    
• Village Units
  • Fees
  • Initial Rental Contribution
    

Residential Care Fee Details

The fees payable by residents are fully regulated by the Commonwealth Government and consist of a Basic Daily Care Fee which is retained to meet operation costs; and for part pensioners and non-pensioners, will include, in addition to the Basic Daily Care Fee, an income tested amount which is later offset against the residents Commonwealth Subsidy entitlement otherwise receivable.

A pensioner supplement (equivalent to Rent Assistance) is also received direct from the Commonwealth Government as part of the subsidy provided for an aged pensioner resident’s care. Non-pensioner residents are required to pay a regulated fee which is correspondingly higher under the Commonwealth’s “ability to pay” philosophy .

The Basic Daily Care Fee is

• calculated as a daily amount payable monthly in advance, along with any other amounts payable, by Direct Debit from you bank account
• recalculated at each increase in the Aged Pension by the Commonwealth Government
• set according to the Aged Care Act 1997 and from 19th September 2006 is $29.98 per day for pensioners and $37.38 for non pensioners
• calculated at 85% of the Basic Rate Single Pension (excluding GST Supplement).

Income Tested Fees

Where individual income (excluding pension income) is in excess of $64.00 (single) or $114.00 (per couple) per week (the Aged Pension Income Free limit) then an additional amount, called an "Income Tested Amount", is also determined by the Government and must be charged as an addition to the Basic Daily Care Fee. The Income Tested Amount is calculated at 25% of any income in excess of the $64.00.

The amount so charged is then deducted from the Care Subsidy otherwise received by the Service from the Commonwealth Government, again highlighting the Commonwealth’s “ability to pay” philosophy.

Income Tax Treatment of Residential Care Fees

When a care subsidy is received by the Service for an individual resident then the fees paid by that resident may be claimed as a tax deduction under the Medical Expenses rebate in the residents’ taxation return when lodged. Taxation ruling No TR93/14 up to 30th September 1997 and the subsequent Information Sheet dated 19th August 1998, subsequently, applies.

Residential Care Accommodation Payments

An Accommodation Payment, which is additional to the Residential Care Fee payable is assessable for residents entering into residential care accommodation and the daily amount payable may be increased by an Accommodation Charge (High Care Resident); or, an Accommodation Bond (Low Care Resident) where the choice is made to pay the Bond as a periodic amount rather than as a lump sum. Both are subject to a resident's "ability to pay" although access to Residential Care is not restricted because of any financial incapacity.

These Accommodation Payments are based on a prospective residents' assessed ability to contribute to the cost of care so that where assets exceed $32,000 for a single person or $64,000 for a couple an Accommodation Payment is requested. The lump sum Accommodation Bond amount assessed for a Low Care Resident at admission is payable on entry (or later by arrangement), and is subject to the statutory prudential requirements.

The lump sum amount may be converted to a periodic (daily) payment in addition to other fees should this be a more appropriate option in the resident’s particular circumstances.

The Accommodation Charge amount assessed for a High Care Resident at admission is a daily amount assessed and payable in addition to the Basic Daily Care fee and any Income Tested Amount (See under Residential Care Fee above).

Low Care

The Accommodation Payment on Low Care admission, subject to ability to pay, is calculated after an assessment of assets and is called an Accommodation Bond (based on a lump sum amount) and a portion of this payment may be retained by the Service. The retained amount of the Accommodation Bond is up to 10% of the Bond amount and is deducted from the Principal amount monthly for a period of 5 years, the current five year maximum amount is $16,410.00. The minimum 90% balance of the bond amount will be returned to the resident upon cessation of residency after 5 years. Alternatively a periodic payment of principal and interest, together with any retained amount due, may be negotiated rather than payment of a lump sum amount.

High Care

The Accommodation Payment on High Care admission, subject to ability to pay, is called an Accommodation Charge and is calculated, from the assessment of assets, as a daily charge. The maximum charge, set at 20th September 2006 is $17.13 per day and is indexed by the Commonwealth each 6 months. The amount so calculated is payable for the period of residency in addition to the Basic Daily Care Fee and any "Income Tested Amount" payable (see above).

Commonwealth Care Subsidy Table Effective July 2004

These Subsidies are only payable for the "Maximum Number of Days" prescribed by Residential Care Subsidy Principles 1997.

Village Units

Village Resident "Fees"

Following admission to the Retirement Village and payment of the Initial Rental Contribution a Rental, comprising the Ongoing Rental amount and the Maintenance Fee amount, is payable monthly in advance by Direct Debit.

The Rental is an amount equal to the rental payable to gain maximum Rental Assistance under Social Security provisions and the Ongoing Rental and Maintenance Fee (adjusted according to the provisions of the Retirement Villages Act 1986) are adjusted accordingly. As at 1st October 2006 these amounts are $135.90 per fortnight and $93.50 per fortnight respectively; a total of $229.40 per fortnight. The maximum Rent Assistance for a single aged pensioner at that date was $103.20 per fortnight leaving an amount of $126.20 per fortnight or $63.10 per week to be found from other resources.

For further information, please see the "Prospective Residents Kit", available from our Village Co-ordinator, or contact the Chief Executive Officer at "Yallambee".

Initial Rental Contribution

An Initial Rental Contribution (Lump Sum), is set from time to time for each unit type available; from 1 July 2004 these amounts are :-

The Initial Rental Contribution amount is amortised over a period of 10 years at 0.8333% per calendar month so that after a period of 10 years there is no balance amount repayable by “Yallambee”. There is no interest payable on any part of the Initial Rental Contribution.