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Continence Aids Funding

Free or subsidised continence products through government schemes. Find out what you qualify for and how to apply through your GP.

📋 Sources: CAPS — Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. CAPS rate $739.40 is the 2026–27 rate — verify annually at health.gov.au each July. QLD MASS — Queensland Health MASS General Guidelines Version 6.04, February 2025. NDIS — ndis.gov.au. Continence Foundation of Australia — continence.org.au. This page provides general information only — not medical advice.
⚠️ Rates change annually. The CAPS payment shown ($739.40) is the 2026–27 rate. Verify the current rate each July at health.gov.au/caps before applying.
$739.40
CAPS annual payment — 2026–27 rate — verify at health.gov.au each July
Paid directly to you or your supplier toward the cost of pads, catheters, and other continence products.
Federal — all states

CAPS — Continence Aids Payment Scheme

CAPS is an Australian Government scheme that provides an annual payment toward the cost of continence products for eligible people with permanent and severe incontinence.

Who qualifies
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Australian resident with a Medicare card
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Permanent and severe bladder or bowel condition
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Condition assessed by a GP, specialist, or nurse practitioner
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Not in residential aged care (AN-ACC funded)
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Not receiving an NDIS package that already covers continence products
How to apply
1. Ask your GP to complete a CAPS assessment and application.
2. GP submits via Services Australia (HPOS online or paper form).
3. Once approved, the payment is made annually — directly to you or your preferred supplier.
4. Renewal is required each year — your GP or nurse can do this at your annual review.
📞 CAPS helpline: 1800 200 422 (Services Australia) — health.gov.au/caps
Queensland — MASS

QLD Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (MASS) — Continence

Queensland Health’s MASS provides subsidised continence products (pads, catheters, drainage bags) to eligible Queensland residents. MASS and CAPS can be used together.

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Permanent Queensland resident
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Holds a Centrelink concession card, Health Care Card, DVA pensioner card, or QLD Seniors Card
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Permanent and stable continence condition
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Not on NDIS, Home Care Level 3–4, or in residential aged care
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Children under 5 years not eligible for pads/nappies
How to apply: Your GP, nurse, or allied health professional submits an application online via MASS-eApply. Initial and 3-yearly reviews require a prescriber. 6-monthly re-orders can be done by the patient directly.
📞 MASS Continence: (07) 3136 3665 — MASS-Continence@health.qld.gov.au — health.qld.gov.au/mass
⚠️ MASS is currently under review by Queensland Health. Check health.qld.gov.au/mass for any changes to eligibility criteria.
NDIS

NDIS — Continence Products

If you have an NDIS plan, continence products may be funded under your Consumables support category. If NDIS covers your continence needs, you are generally not eligible for CAPS or MASS for the same products.

• Talk to your NDIS planner or support coordinator about including continence supports in your plan.
• A continence assessment from a continence nurse or physiotherapist strengthens your NDIS application.
• ndis.gov.au — 1800 800 110

CAPS covers a wide range of continence products including disposable pads, pull-up pads, all-in-one pads, reusable products, catheters, sheaths, drainage bags, and catheter valves. Products must be for continence management. The payment is not restricted to specific brands — you choose your preferred products from approved suppliers.

CAPS is a contribution, not full coverage. The $739.40 annual payment (2026–27 rate) is typically not enough to cover a full year of continence products for most people. Most people supplement CAPS with a state scheme (e.g. QLD MASS), NDIS funding, or out-of-pocket spending. Talk to your continence nurse about maximising your entitlements.

For CAPS, “permanent and severe” means the condition is unlikely to resolve and significantly impacts daily functioning. This includes conditions such as spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, advanced dementia, severe neurological conditions, or permanent bladder or bowel damage. Your GP assesses this as part of the application. Temporary incontinence (e.g. post-surgery) does not qualify.

No. Residents of AN-ACC funded aged care facilities are not eligible for CAPS — continence products are funded as part of the residential care package. CAPS rules for people receiving government-funded home care have changed twice recently. Services Australia currently says you cannot get CAPS if your home care plan already included continence aids support before 1 November 2025, but that you can receive CAPS and Support at Home at the same time if you otherwise meet the CAPS criteria; the Department of Health and Continence Health Australia report that Support at Home and CHSP participants regained CAPS access from 1 July 2026. Check with Services Australia for your situation. MASS (QLD) also excludes Home Care Level 3–4 recipients.

CAPS is available in all states and territories. State-based supplementary schemes vary: NSW has the Aids and Equipment Program (AEP), Victoria has SWEP, WA has CAEP, Tasmania and ACT have their own equipment programs. Contact the Continence Foundation of Australia on 1800 330 066 for guidance on what’s available in your state.

📞 National Continence Helpline: 1800 330 066
Free, confidential advice on continence products, funding, and finding a continence nurse near you. Available Monday–Friday.

You might also like

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Medicare FAQ
Understanding Medicare and government health schemes.
🔍
Find a Bulk Billing GP
Find a GP who can complete your CAPS application.

You might also like

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Prepare for Your MASS Application
Checklist, symptom guide, and reorder reminder for patients and carers.
📋
MASS Application Helper
For nurses — eligibility checker, product quantities, and copy-ready justification text.
🏥
CAPS & Continence — GP Guide
CAPS, MASS, and NDIS for clinicians.
🏅 If you have a DVA Gold or White Card, your out-of-pocket costs may be different. DVA Card Guide →
For aged-care services and support — including continence help arranged through aged care — answer a couple of questions on our sister site's Aged Care Navigator, or visit myagedcare.info → directly.