The Higher Everyday Living Fee (HELF) has replaced the Extra Service Fee and Additional Service Fee as part of the new aged care rules which came into effect on 1 November 2025. The intent is to provide protection to residents purchasing additional services with their residential aged care.
The fees will only be applied for the following:
- Voluntary opting into specific services
- For people who want and can make use of services
- For as long as residents wish to use those services
A HELF can be charged for services that allow a resident to purchase additional goods and services which are above and beyond the required standards which must be provided for residential aged care. The cost of fees charged is based on the goods and services offered, regardless of the type of room being occupied by the aged care resident.
There are some consumer protections governing the provision of HELFs which include:
- A HELF can only be entered into after a resident enters into a service agreement
- A HELF agreement must be in place which is separate from an aged care accommodation agreement. This means residents will not be forced to agree to extra HELF services as part of a condition of entry to obtain a room.
- Residents can vary or cancel their HELF charges within a 28-day cooling-off period after entering care, without incurring a cancellation fee.
Existing residents who have an Extra or Additional Service arrangement in place before 1 November 2025 have 12 months to work with their provider to transition to the new HELF arrangement. No new Extra or Additional Service agreements can be entered after 1 November 2025 onwards (residents entering from 1 November 2025 onwards will have the HELF rules apply to them).
If you have any further questions or need more specific information, please contact our office on 8378 4000 for a chat.
