What is Support at Home?
Effective from 1 November 2025, the Australian Government’s Support at Home program is set to transform in-home aged care services. This initiative aims to provide older Australians with the necessary support to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible.
Support at Home replaces the former Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs. The goal is to simplify access to care, tailor services to individual needs, and ensure financial sustainability.
How does it work?
-
Single Assessment: You complete one comprehensive assessment through My Aged Care to determine your care needs.
-
Care Classifications: Based on your assessment, you are assigned to one of eight levels of ongoing support or one of three short-term care pathways, depending on your needs.
-
Quarterly Budgets: You receive a quarterly budget, allowing for more flexible and responsive care planning.
What Services Are Available?
Support at Home has a defined service list that outlines the types of support participants can access. Some of these services include:
Short-Term Care Pathways
Support at Home includes three specialized short-term care options:
-
Restorative Care: Participants can be assess to have access to the Restorative Care Pathway, which focuses on allied health to build participants’ strengths and capabilities.
-
Assistive Technology & Home Modifications (AT-HM): the AT-HM Scheme gives participants access to assistive technology and/or home modifications without needing to save up funds from their individual budgets.
-
End-of-Life Care: The End-of-Life Pathway provides participants who have three months or less to live with a higher level of in-home aged care services. This helps them remain at home for as long as possible. Older people can be referred for a high-priority assessment to access this pathway, even if they are not already participants in Support at Home.
Understanding Co-Contributions
While the government covers a portion of care costs, participants may be required to contribute based on their financial situation.
Contribution Rates by Service Category:
| Service Category | Examples | Contribution Range |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Supports | Nursing care, Allied Health services (e.g., Physiotherapy, Podiatry) | 0% (Fully funded) |
| Independence Services | Personal care, Medication monitoring, Social support | 5% – 50% |
| Everyday Living Services | Housekeeping, Meal preparation, Lawn maintenance | 17.5% – 80% |
Note: Full pensioners typically pay the minimum contribution rates, while self-funded retirees may pay higher rates based on income and assets assessment.
Transitioning from Current Programs
If you were previously receiving services through the Home Care Packages (HCP) program, you have now automatically transitioned to the Support at Home program. Your funding has moved with you, and your existing care arrangements continue without interruption
- No new assessment required — unless your care needs change
- Automatic transition: Everyone who was receiving HCP services on 31 October 2025 has now moved to Support at Home.
- Your funding stays the same: You keep the same funding level as your previous Home Care Package.
- Unspent funds transferred: Any unspent funds have been transferred with you into Support at Home.
Who Are “Grandfathered” Participants?
If you were approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024, you are considered a Grandfathered Participant. This means:
- No new or additional contributions: If you currently do not pay any fees, you will continue to pay nothing
- Same contribution amount: If you already pay a contribution, it remains the same under the Support at Home program. However, this payment is now treated as a co-contribution under the Independence and Everyday Living category listed below.
What if you were approved after 12 September 2024? Individuals approved after 12 September 2024 fall under the new Support at Home guidelines, including the updated co-contribution requirements.
Different levels for different needs
Support at Home has eight classifications for ongoing services, replacing the previous four Home Care Package levels. Each classification includes a budget that participants can use to access the services they need.
A participant’s classification and budget are determined during their assessment, based on their individual care needs.
| Support at Home classifications | Quarterly budget | Annual amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ~$2,750 | ~$11,000 |
| 2 | ~$4,000 | ~$16,000 |
| 3 | ~$5,500 | ~$22,000 |
| 4 | ~$7,500 | ~$30,000 |
| 5 | ~$10,000 | ~$40,000 |
| 6 | ~$12,000 | ~$48,000 |
| 7 | ~$14,500 | ~$58,000 |
| 8 | ~$19,500 | ~$78,000 |
How Your Budget Works
You now receive your budget quarterly.
If you don’t use all of your funds, you can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your budget (whichever is higher). Any amount above this limit does not roll over. This means it’s important to plan your care and services regularly. Our team works with you to review your package and make sure it continues to meet your needs.
You continue to receive monthly statements that show the services you received and how your budget was used.
Your total care management fee is now 10%, replacing the previous Care Management and Package Management fees.
