Aged Care
Support at Home Programme: What It Is, How It Works and What Every Family Needs to Know in 2026
Quick Answer
The Support at Home programme is Australia's current government-funded in-home aged care system, which replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025. It has 8 classification levels with annual funding from $11,795 (Level 1) to $78,106 (Level 8). Clinical care is fully government-funded, and funding is delivered in quarterly budgets rather than annual lump sums.
The Support at Home programme is Australia’s current government-funded in-home aged care system. It replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025 and is now fully operational. It has 8 classification levels with annual funding from $11,795 (Level 1) to $78,106 (Level 8). Clinical care is fully government-funded — you pay nothing toward nursing or allied health. Funding is delivered in quarterly budgets, not annual lump sums.
What Is the Support at Home Program?
The Support at Home program is the Australian Government’s home-based aged care system — the program that funds and deli vers support for older Australians who want to remain living independently at home. It is the successor to the old home care packages system and commenced on 1 November 2025 under the new Aged Care Act 2024.
The Support at Home programme covers a wide range of services — personal care, domestic assistance, transport, meals, nursing, allied health, assistive technology, and home modifications — delivered through approved providers chosen by the person receiving care. It is built around a fundamental principle: older Australians should be able to choose how and where they age, and the government’s role is to fund the support that makes that possible.
Replacing the old four-level Home Care Package system with eight classification levels, the Support at Home program offers more precise funding matched to individual need — from $11,795 per year for people with low-level needs to $78,106 per year for those requiring intensive, complex care.
1 Nov 2025
Programme commenced
— now fully live
8
Classification levels
(was 4 under HCP)
$78,106
Maximum annual funding
(Level 8)
Quarterly
Funding delivered
every 3 months
Why the Support at Home Program Replaced Home Care Packages
The old Home Care Package system worked — but it had serious problems that the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety exposed in detail. Tens of thousands of older Australians were on waiting lists for months or years. Fees were inconsistent across providers. The four funding levels were too rigid to meet people’s actual needs. Package management fees were eating 30–40 percent of people’s funding before a single service was delivered.
The Support at Home programme was designed to fix all of this — and from 1 November 2025, it does. Eight classification levels replace four. Quarterly budgets replace annual lump sums that could be eroded by management fees. Clinical care is fully government-funded for the first time. Price caps on all services come into effect on 1 July 2026. And from 1 October 2026, personal care services become fully government-funded with zero co-contribution.
This is not a minor administrative update. It is the most significant structural change to in-home aged care in Australia since the system was created.
Support at Home Funding Levels — All 8 Classifications Explained
The Support at Home programme has eight classification levels based on assessed care needs. Your level is determined through an aged care assessment arranged through My Aged Care – the higher your care needs, the higher the funding level and annual budget you receive.
| Level | Annual Funding | Quarterly Budget | Care Needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $11,795 | ~$2,949 | Low — occasional help at home |
| Level 2 | $16,147 | ~$4,037 | Mild — some regular support |
| Level 3 | $22,068 | ~$5,517 | Moderate needs |
| Level 4 | $31,010 | ~$7,753 | Moderate to high needs |
| Level 5 | $40,514 | ~$10,129 | High care needs |
| Level 6 | $52,500 | ~$13,125 | High care needs |
| Level 7 | $65,583 | ~$16,396 | Very high care needs |
| Level 8 | $78,106 | ~$19,527 | Highest — complex, intensive care |
How quarterly budgets work
Funding is released in four equal quarterly budgets — July, October, January, and April. If you enter mid-quarter, your first budget is prorated from your start date. 10% of each quarterly budget is automatically deducted for care management — this covers your provider’s work in setting up and reviewing your care plan. The remaining 90% goes toward actual services.
Unspent funds: Up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget (whichever is greater) rolls over to the next quarter. Amounts above this are returned to government — so using your funding each quarter matters.
The Three Service Categories — What You Pay and What the Government Covers
One of the most important changes in the Support at Home programme is how services are categorised — and what this means for what you pay. Under the old Home Care Package system, all services drew from the same income-tested pool. Under Support at Home, services are divided into three categories with very different funding rules.
1
Clinical Care — Fully Government-Funded (You Pay Nothing)
All clinical care services are fully funded by the Australian Government — regardless of your income, assets, or classification level. You pay nothing toward clinical care.
Includes: Nursing care, wound management, medication management, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, podiatry, dietetics, continence management, and other allied health services.
2
Independence Services — Means-Tested Co-Contribution
Services that support independence in daily living attract a means-tested co-contribution — you pay a percentage based on your income and assets, assessed by Services Australia.
Currently includes: Personal care — showering, dressing, grooming, continence support, mobility assistance.
From 1 October 2026: Personal care moves from Independence to Clinical — becoming fully government-funded with zero co-contribution. This is one of the most significant upcoming changes to the Support at Home programme.
3
Everyday Living Services — Higher Co-Contribution
Everyday living services attract a higher co-contribution — reflecting that these services replace tasks a person would otherwise pay for themselves.
Includes: Domestic assistance, cleaning, meal preparation, transport, social support, home maintenance, and garden maintenance.
Who Is Eligible for Support at Home?
Support at Home programme eligibility is determined through My Aged Care — the same gateway used for all government-funded aged care services. The eligibility criteria are similar to the old Home Care Package system but the assessment process has been streamlined.
You are eligible for Support at Home if:
- You are aged 65 years or older (or 50 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)
- You need support to continue living safely and independently at home
- You live in Australia as a citizen, permanent resident, or eligible visa holder
- You have been assessed as needing home care support through My Aged Care
- Your care needs go beyond what the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) can provide
Note on means testing: Means testing does NOT determine whether you are eligible — it determines how much you may contribute toward services. Everyone who meets the eligibility criteria can access Support at Home; your income and assets only affect your co-contribution rate, not your access to the programme.
How to Access the Support at Home Programme — Step by Step
1
Contact My Aged Care — 1800 200 422
Register with My Aged Care online at myagedcare.gov.au or by phone. This is the mandatory first step — you cannot access Support at Home without registering through My Aged Care.
2
Aged care needs assessment
An independent aged care assessor will evaluate your care needs — either in-home or via telehealth. This assessment determines your Support at Home classification level (1–8) and the services you are approved to access. Be honest about what you find difficult — on your worst days, not just your good days.
3
Means assessment — Services Australia 1800 227 475
Complete a means assessment with Services Australia to determine your co-contribution rate for Independence and Everyday Living services. Without this assessment, you may be charged maximum contribution rates — so completing it is strongly recommended. Clinical services remain free regardless.
4
Choose your provider
Use the My Aged Care Find a Provider tool to select your Support at Home provider. From 1 July 2026, all providers must publish their full price schedules publicly — making comparison easier than ever. Choose a provider whose services, staff consistency, and communication style suit you.
5
Services begin — quarterly budgets activate
Once your provider is confirmed and a care plan developed, services begin and your quarterly budget activates. Your funding is held by Services Australia — not your provider — giving you control and transparency over how it is used.
What Services Does Support at Home Cover?
The Support at Home programme covers a comprehensive range of services designed to help older Australians live safely and independently at home. Services are organised into the three categories described above — Clinical, Independence, and Everyday Living.
| Service | Category | Who Pays? |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing, wound care, medication management | Clinical | Government (free) |
| Physiotherapy, OT, speech pathology, podiatry, dietetics | Clinical | Government (free) |
| Personal care — showering, dressing, grooming, continence | Independence* | Means-tested contribution |
| Domestic assistance, cleaning, laundry | Everyday Living | Higher co-contribution |
| Meal preparation and delivery | Everyday Living | Higher co-contribution |
| Transport to appointments, social activities | Everyday Living | Higher co-contribution |
| Social support, home maintenance, garden maintenance | Everyday Living | Higher co-contribution |
| Assistive technology and home modifications | Separate AT-HM budget | Separate funding pool |
* Personal care moves to Clinical (fully government-funded) from 1 October 2026.
Support at Home vs Old Home Care Packages — What Changed
| Feature | Old Home Care Packages | Support at Home Programme |
|---|---|---|
| Funding levels | 4 levels | 8 classification levels |
| Budget delivery | Annual lump sum | Quarterly budgets |
| Clinical care | Drew from same funded pool | Fully government-funded (free) |
| Management fees | 30–40% of package cost | 10% of quarterly budget only |
| Funding held by | Provider | Services Australia |
| Price transparency | Inconsistent | Price caps from July 2026 |
| Max annual funding | $60,875 (old Level 4) | $78,106 (Level 8) |
The No Worse Off Principle — Are You Protected?
A critical question for families already in the system: does transitioning to Support at Home mean paying more? The answer is protected by the ‘no worse off’ principle.
You ARE protected by No Worse Off if:
- You were receiving a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024
- You were approved for a Home Care Package and waitlisted on or before 12 September 2024
- You were a full pensioner who previously paid no fees — you continue to pay nothing
You are NOT covered if:
- You applied for a Home Care Package after 12 September 2024 — you entered the new system directly
- You are a new Support at Home recipient — the new contribution rules apply in full
What Is Coming Next for Support at Home — Key Dates
DONE
1 November 2025
Support at Home programme commenced — Home Care Packages replaced. Clinical care fully government-funded. Quarterly budgets activated. No Worse Off protections in place.
COMING
1 July 2026
Government price caps apply to all Support at Home services. All providers must publish full price schedules publicly — enabling transparent provider comparison for the first time.
COMING
1 October 2026
Personal care (showering, dressing, continence) moves to fully government-funded — zero co-contribution for all Support at Home recipients. Funding previously spent on personal care co-contributions can be redirected to other services.
FUTURE
No earlier than 1 July 2027
Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) transitions into Support at Home — completing the full merger. If you currently receive CHSP services, nothing changes until then.
When Home-Based Care Is No Longer Enough — What Comes Next
The Support at Home programme is genuinely excellent at what it does — keeping older Australians safely and comfortably at home with the right level of support. But it has a limit. There are situations where home-based care, however well-funded and well-delivered, is no longer sufficient to meet someone’s needs safely. Recognising that point — and acting on it before a crisis forces the decision — is one of the most important things a family can do.
When Support at Home is no longer meeting your loved one’s needs, the next step is typically ageing in place support or residential aged care — either through a short-term respite care stay to trial a facility before any permanent decision, or through transitioning to permanent residential care when the time is right.
At Superior Care Group, we support Queensland families at every stage of this journey — from navigating the Support at Home programme through to transitioning into residential care when the time comes. Our two Queensland residences — Wellington Park in Wellington Point, South East Brisbane, and Merrimac Park on the Gold Coast — offer emergency and planned respite care, full ageing-in-place support, and permanent residential aged care services.
We are always available to answer questions about the Support at Home programme, the transition from home care to residential care, or what residential aged care involves — with no obligation and no pressure. Call Wellington Park on (07) 3822 1876 or Merrimac Park on (07) 5618 1111, or visit our website to arrange a private tour.
Questions About Support at Home or Residential Aged Care in Queensland?
We can help you understand your options — no obligation.
Wellington Park — Wellington Point, Brisbane South East | (07) 3822 1876
Merrimac Park — Merrimac, Gold Coast | (07) 5618 1111
