Support at Home Program
What the new Australian Government aged care funding changes mean for you
What is Support at Home?
The Home Care Package program will be replaced by the Support at Home Program from 1 July 2025. As part of the aged care reforms, all Home Care Package recipients will be transitioned to this new system. The Support at Home Program has been developed to enable more funding, provide a higher quality of care, and improve the overall system as Australia’s population continues to age.
Support at Home program will include:
- Eight support levels with funding up to $78,000 yearly, plus two short-term pathways.
- Quarterly budgets will replace Annual budgets.
- Clear service list so you can know exactly what support is available to you.
- Price caps on services, starting approximately July 2026. Providers set their own prices until then.
- 10% capped care management fee ensuring you receive trusted, quality care that you deserve.
We’re dedicated to supporting you through these changes, ensuring you continue receiving the right assistance to thrive at home and in your community.
Care services under Support at Home
Support at Home Services
- Nursing
- Allied health and other therapeutic services
- Nutrition
- Care management
- Domestic assistance
- Essential home maintenance and repairs
- Meal preparation and delivery
- Personal care
- Social support and community engagement
- Therapeutic services for independent living
- Respite care
- Transport
Additional short-term care programs
As life changes, so can your care needs—gradually or unexpectedly. When more support is required, the Support at Home program includes additional short-term options designed to assist you during those pivotal moments.
Restorative Care
Focused on helping you regain strength and independence through allied health services. Support is available for up to 12 weeks, with a possible 4-week extension, based on assessment.
End-of-life Care
Provides additional in-home support for those with a prognosis of three months or less to live, aiming to help you remain at home for as long as possible. Funding of up to $25,000 is available, with services accessible for up to 16 weeks.
Funding & fees
New classifications
The new program introduces eight funding classifications, ranging from $11,000 to $78,000 per year. These will replace the existing four Home Care Package levels.
Indicative classification budgets*
| Support at Home classifications | Approx. quarterly budget | Approx. annual budget |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
.
If you’re already receiving a Home Care Package, you won’t need a reassessment. You’ll be moved into a classification that matches your current home care package.
Indicative classification budgets*
| Transitioned Home Care Package level | Support at Home quarterly budget | Support at Home annual budget |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ~$2,708 | ~$10,833 |
| 2 | ~$4,762 | ~$19,049 |
| 3 | ~$10,365 | ~$41,460 |
| 4 | ~$15,713 | ~$62,853 |
If your needs change, you may be reassessed into a new classification with a higher budget.
Participant contribution
The Support at Home program is designed to help you stay healthy and independent in the comfort of your own home—reducing the need for hospital visits through practical, tailored support.
As part of this approach, you may be asked to contribute to the everyday items and services you’ve traditionally managed on your own. The amount you contribute depends on your income and the types of services you receive.
If you were approved for a Home Care Package before 12 September 2024, the new contribution arrangements under Support at Home won’t result in you paying more – you’ll either pay the same or less, allowing you to embrace the next chapter with peace of mind.
To ensure fairness and peace of mind, there’s a lifetime cap of $130,000 on your contributions. This cap follows you if your care needs change—whether you continue receiving care at home or transition into residential aged care—ensuring all contributions count toward the same limit, no matter where your journey leads.
| Service type | Full pensioner | Part pensioner and self-funded Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) Holder | Self-funded non-CHSC holder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical support | ~0% | ~0% | ~0% |
| Independence | ~5% | ~Between 5% and 50% | ~50% |
| Everyday living | ~17.5% | ~Between 17.5% and 80% | ~80% |
Quarterly budgets and unspent funds
As part of Support at Home, you’ll receive a quarterly budget to use for the care and services that best meet your needs.
Each quarter, you’ll be able to carry over a small amount of unspent funds – up to 10% of your quarterly budget or $1,000 (whichever is greater). This gives you flexibility to plan ahead and manage your care without interruption. If you’re an existing Home Care Package customer, your current unspent funds will transition with you.
Capped care management
A capped care management fee of 10% to be taken out of your quarterly budget for Australian Unity to continue to deliver, maintain and manage the level of trusted care you deserve.
This funding will support:
- Planning and coordinating services
- Checking in regularly to ensure participants feel supported
- Providing clinical advice and practical help if needs or circumstances change
- Offering education and support when it’s needed
How will Support at Home changes affect you?
The changes to the way you will receive your Support at Home has different implications depending on when your services were approved by the government. Understanding where you stand on this timeline is essential for maintaining continuity in your care and embracing these changes with confidence. Your approval date serves as a marker to determine how these changes will impact your home support services. We encourage you to carefully review the table below that outlines how these changes specifically affect your situation based on the date you were approved for aged care support.
| Changes | If approved BEFORE 12 September 2024 | If approved AFTER 12 September 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Funding | You’ll be transitioned to a Support at Home classification level that aligns with your current Home Care Package level – no reassessment needed. | You’ll be assessed and assigned a classification under the new Support at Home funding model. |
| Contribution | Your contribution under Support at Home will be the same, or less, than what you currently pay. | If you receive your Home Care package before 1 July 2025, you’ll move to the Support at Home contribution model from July. If your funding starts after 1 July 2025, you’ll begin on the standard Support at Home contribution arrangements from day one. |
| Budget | Your annual budget will shift to a quarterly budget from 1 July 2025. | If your funding begins after 1 July 2025, you’ll receive a quarterly budget from the outset. |
| Unspent funds | Any unspent Home Care Package funds you’ve accrued before 1 July 2025 will carry over to Support at Home in full. From 1 July 2025, any new unspent funds will be capped at $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget – whichever is greater. | From 1 July 2025, you’ll be able to carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly Support at Home budget – whichever is greater. If you start your package before 1 July 2025 and accrue any unspent funds beforehand, those will transition with you. |
Our commitment to honoring your independence and supporting your wellbeing remains unwavering. Together, we can navigate these changes as partners in your continuing care journey.
Already have a Home Care Package or waiting for your package?
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Support at Home is designed to be responsive to the diverse and evolving needs of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
This includes:
- Offering culturally safe care services, such as support to participate in cultural activities and access to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners and health workers
- Providing a care management supplement to service providers that support older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants, allowing for additional hours of tailored care
At Happy Living, we’re proud to deliver culturally safe care for First Nations people. Our goal is to provide services that honour culture and create meaningful opportunities for Mob.
FAQs.
The Australian Government is introducing the Support at Home program in response to the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. This new approach aims to give older Australians simpler, more flexible access to the care they need to remain at home for longer.
You may be eligible if you:
Are aged 65 or older (or 50+ for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, or if you’re homeless or at risk of homelessness).
Need assistance with daily living activities like personal care, household tasks, or accessing healthcare.
Special transition arrangements are in place for those already receiving a Home Care Package.
To access Support at Home, you’ll need to go through an assessment process:
Start with a referral through My Aged Care or call 1800 200 422.
Assessment: A trained assessor will evaluate your needs via home visit, phone, or online.
Determine your support level: You’ll be matched with one of 8 funding levels or a short-term care pathway.
Choose a Provider: Once you’re assigned a Support at Home classification you can choose a Provider, such as Happy Living to help manage your care.
Quarterly budgets: Instead of annual budgets. With a rollover limit of up to 10% or $1,000 per quarter.
More tailored support: 8 ongoing support levels + 2 short-term care pathways.
Upfront funding for assistive technology and home modifications if you are eligible for this type of support.
Capped care management fees to ensure transparency.
Pay-per-service contributions: You only pay for services you receive, and rates vary by service type and your means.
Lifetime contribution cap of $130,000 across in-home and residential aged care.
Support at Home introduces:
8 ongoing funding levels
2 short-term care options (Restorative Care & End-of-Life Care)
3 funding tiers for Assistive Technology and Home Modifications
If your current Home Care Package meets your needs, you won’t need to be reassessed. But if your needs have changed, you can be referred for a new classification to ensure you receive the right level of support.
Your care needs come first — not your funding.
At Happy Living, we believe your care plan should be guided by what you need to keep living life on your terms. While government subsidies can support your journey, they shouldn’t limit it. By focusing on your goals and needs first, we can help you find the right balance between funding and services — empowering you to maintain your independence and continue moving forward with confidence.
With Happy living, you’re supported by a quality care team committed to your wellbeing. We offer a wide range of services, from everyday support to specialised care such as acute care, falls prevention and management, and out-of-hospital care. As one of the few providers who can support you across all stages of your care journey, we’re here to help you live well, every step of the way.
*DISCLAIMER: This page is current as at 5 May 2025. It is summary only and based on publicly available information regarding the new Support at Home Program. The government is continuing to develop the Support at Home Program, and therefore the information in this document is subject to change.
