How much does attendant care cost, and who pays
How the TAC pays for attendant care, how rates are set, and when a gap can arise.
For funded attendant care, the short answer is that the TAC pays, not you. When your claim is accepted and the support has been recommended and approved, the TAC pays the provider for the reasonable cost of the care. What matters for you is understanding how that reasonable cost is worked out, because that is where the occasional gap comes from.
How the rate is set
The TAC pays in line with its published fee schedule. For services such as allied health assistance it pays according to the provider's grading, which reflects the type of worker delivering the support. A registered provider bills the TAC at those rates rather than charging you up front.
The number of hours funded is not a flat figure. It follows what your doctor or treating team recommends and what a Review of Capabilities assessment supports, so two people with different needs can be funded very differently.
When a gap can happen
A gap can arise if a provider charges above the TAC rate, or if you ask for support beyond what has been approved. Neither is common with registered providers who bill the TAC directly, but it is worth confirming a provider's fees and what is approved before care starts, so there are no surprises. If you are unsure, your TAC contact can tell you what has been approved for you.
Sources
Transport Accident Commission, "Allied Health Assistance policy", "Attendant care" and fee schedule guidance, tac.vic.gov.au. Checked July 2026.
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Related guides
- A quick glossary of TAC treatment terms Plain-English definitions of the TAC words you will run into: AHTRP, Clinical Framework, post acute support and more.
- How TAC funding for treatment works What the TAC pays for after a transport accident, the first 90 days rule, and how payment is set.
- Attendant care explained What attendant care and post acute support cover, who qualifies, and how it is arranged.