Technical update: Updates to HELP debts, Medicare Levy, Aged Care

Release date 17 June 2025

Update to HELP debt thresholds

The HELP debt thresholds have been updated for 2025/26, with lowest repayment threshold of 1% starting from an income of $56,156 (up from $54,435 in 2024/25). For more details, see https://www.ato.gov.au/tax-rates-and-codes/study-and-training-support-loans-rates-and-repayment-thresholds (updated 11 June 2025).

Please note that the Australian Government has proposed changes to the repayment system, Optimo Financial is keeping track of this, and will implement the changes if/when it is given Royal Assent.

Update to Age Care Rates

Age Care thresholds, fees and caps have been updated for 2024/25.

For more see: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-03/schedule-of-fees-and-charges-for-residential-and-home-care_0.pdf

The new values have been taken from the 20 March 2025 reports, and have been updated in Pathfinder for 2025/26.

Update Medicare levy thresholds

All Medicare Levy thresholds (for families and low income earners) have been increased by 4.7%.

See:

• https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/medicare-and-private-health-insurance/medicare-levy/medicare-levy-reduction/medicare-levy-reduction-family-income

• https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/medicare-and-private-health-insurance/medicare-levy/medicare-levy-reduction/medicare-levy-reduction-for-low-income-earners

Notes for existing users - Refresh your results!

For consistency, if you are in the middle of working on a case, refresh your results by clicking the Start solve button for scenarios with existing results created on or before the release date of 17 April 2025. If you are unsure when your results were created, see How to check when your results were created. Note that some numbers in your results may change when these new assumptions are applied.