About extra service fee approvals
Notice:
The Australian Government replaced the extra service fee and additional service fee with the higher everyday living fee (HELF) from 1 November 2025.
For further information about HELF, please refer to the higher everyday living fee fact sheet.
What are extra service fees?
Extra service fees are what registered providers of residential aged care charge for ‘bundles’ of extra services.
Extra services involves the provision of a significantly higher than average standard of services. This can include:
- a higher standard of accommodation
- a wider range of higher-quality food
- better non-care services such as recreational and personal interest activities.
Providers can only offer extra services if they are a provider with extra service status.
Under previous law, IHACPA was responsible for approving approve applications from providers to increase extra service fees.
Transition to higher everyday living fee (HELF)
Extra service fees have been replaced by HELF with the Aged Care Act 2024. IHACPA does not have a role in approving HELF.
HELF is similar to extra service fees, as they are an optional fee for people who choose to receive a higher standard of everyday living services in residential aged care.
These are in addition to services providers are required to provide under the Aged Care Rules and the Residential Care Service List. Residents will also have additional consumer protections.
As part of the transition, no new extra service fee (or additional services fee) arrangements can be entered from 1 November 2025 onwards.
Existing extra service fee arrangements can continue until 31 October 2026 for people who agreed to these fees prior to 1 November 2025.
While providers can increase extra service fees in line with existing contracts (signed prior 1 November 2025), IHACPA will not need to approve these increases.
If you have questions about extra services or transitioning to HELF, contact the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
If you wish to suspend your extra service status and stop charging extra service fees, contact the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. We do not handle these requests.