Official update · document review
New deeming rates take effect 20 September 2026
The Social Security (Deeming Threshold Rates) Determination (No. 2) 2026 was registered on 21 August 2026 and sets the below-threshold deeming rate at 1.75% and the above-threshold rate at 3.75% from 20 September 2026. Services Australia uses deeming to work out income from financial assets. The Department's new Support at Home contribution schedule applies from 20 September 2026, but its deeming section still labels the rates as applying from 20 March 2026 and lists 1.25% and 3.25%. As checked on 21 September, those figures conflict with the registered determination. Do not reconcile the discrepancy locally or use either source alone to calculate an individual's contribution, fee, pension, refund, or payment outcome.
Document and workflow checks
Turn the official change into reviewable actions
- Record the registered determination and the 20 September Support at Home schedule as separate controlled sources, including each source date, checked date, displayed rates, and review owner.
- Do not silently choose 1.75% and 3.75% or 1.25% and 3.25% for an individual aged care outcome while the official sources conflict; do not relabel a rate as a threshold amount.
- Use the person's authorised Services Australia assessment or official notice for individual outcomes and escalate an unexplained mismatch through the provider's approved finance or advice pathway.
- Delay any template, budget, invoice, statement, or client-communication rule change that depends on resolving the discrepancy; preserve the prior version and the later correction trail.
Who may need to review this
- Support at Home and residential aged care providers
- Finance, billing, and contribution-review teams
- Care managers and client communication owners
- Older people and their representatives
Impact areas
- Future deeming rates from 20 September 2026
- Aged care income and means-assessment inputs
- Support at Home contribution schedule monitoring
- Residential aged care fee schedule monitoring
- Participant and representative communication
Team review question
Ask whether teams need a source-conflict, schedule-version, assessment-notice, and client-communication review tracker.
Usage boundary
The registered determination and the Department's 20 September Support at Home schedule currently display different deeming rates. CaresLink cannot resolve that official-source conflict or calculate an individual's income assessment, contribution, residential care fee, pension, refund, or payment. Use Services Australia's authorised individual notice and appropriate financial, legal, regulatory, accounting, or professional advice.