Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) is back for Support at Home clients
If you receive Support at Home funding, you may remember losing access to an annual payment that helped cover the cost of continence products. The good news is that this payment has now been restored.
Posted: 1 July 2026
The Continence Aids Payment Scheme, known as CAPS, is an annual government payment that helps older Australians cover the cost of continence products such as pads and other aids.
When the new Aged Care Act began on 1 November last year, the Government stopped approving CAPS for people receiving Support at Home and the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (an earlier form of home care funding, known as CHSP). By February this year, everyone who had previously received CAPS through Support at Home had lost access to it altogether.
Following strong feedback from clients, carers, and health professionals, and pressure from the peak body Continence Health Australia, the Government has reversed this decision. From 1 July 2026, older Australians receiving Support at Home or CHSP can once again access CAPS.
The payment rate from 1 July 2026 is $739.40 per year, a welcome contribution towards the cost of continence care and an important part of maintaining your comfort, dignity, and independence at home. Please note that the CAPS program is a different funding source to Support at Home. Clients need to apply for it if deemed eligible as the funding is from a different government program. More information about the CAPS program can be found here.
Why this matters
Continence Health Australia has said the original policy created confusion, extra paperwork, and unexpected out-of-pocket costs for many older Australians, and left gaps in essential continence care. The organisation has welcomed the reversal as a practical change that puts dignity and quality of life back at the centre of continence care.
This is the second time the Government has reversed a decision affecting continence support this year. In April, it also announced it would remove co-contribution costs for essential personal care, including continence support, with that change taking effect from 1 October 2026.
While it is reassuring to see the Government listening to the sector and responding to feedback, we understand these back-and-forth changes can be confusing when you are simply trying to manage your day-to-day care. You should not have to keep track of every policy shift on your own.
What you should do next
If you previously received CAPS and lost access to it, you do not need to navigate this alone. Your Co-Care Partner can help you understand whether you are eligible to access CAPS again and can guide you through anything you need to do to reconnect with the scheme.
If you have any questions about this change or how it affects your Support at Home funding, please reach out to your Co-Care Partner or call us on 1800 024 000.
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