How Support at Home funding works

“Who actually pays for my care?”

The short answer

The Australian Government funds most of your approved Support at Home services. You may be asked to contribute towards some services depending on your financial circumstances and the type of support you receive. 

Unlike the former Home Care Packages program, there are no longer four package levels with fixed annual budgets. Instead, Support at Home provides funding that’s designed to better match your individual care needs – with eight levels, paid quarterly.

How your funding is determined

Before funding can be approved, you’ll need to complete an aged care assessment.

During the assessment, a qualified assessor will discuss your health, mobility, daily activities, home environment and support network. They use this information to determine the level of assistance you need to continue living safely and independently at home.

Get your funding classification

Based on the assessment, you’ll be assigned a Support at Home funding classification. Each classification has an annual support budget that reflects the complexity of your care needs.

Generally speaking, people with lower support needs receive a smaller annual budget. And people with more complex care needs receive a larger budget.

If your health or circumstances change

Your funding can, and should, be reviewed if your circumstances change over time.

If your health or care needs increase while you’re receiving (or waiting for) Support at Home, you can request another assessment to determine whether a more urgent or higher funding classification is appropriate.

Who pays for what?

Government funding is paid directly to your approved Support at Home provider. You don’t receive the funding yourself.

Your chosen provider works with you to use your allocated budget to deliver the approved services in your care plan.

You may need to contribute

Depending on your circumstances, you may also be asked to contribute towards some services.

The amount you contribute depends on factors including the type of service you receive; whether the service is considered clinical care, independence support, or everyday living assistance – and your financial circumstances, where applicable.

Clinical care services are generally fully government funded, while some independence and everyday living services may require a participant contribution under the Support at Home rules.

If you’re required to contribute, your provider must explain any costs before services begin so you know exactly what you’ll be paying.

What can your funding be used for?

Your Support at Home budget is designed to help you remain safe, healthy and independent in your own home.

Depending on your care plan, funding may be used for services such as:

• personal care
• nursing and other clinical services
• allied health services
• domestic assistance and household tasks
• meal preparation
• transport to appointments and community activities
• social support
• respite for carers
• assistive technology and home modifications where approved.

Services must be related to your assessed care needs and included in your care plan.

What if your needs change?

Many people’s care needs change over time.

If you develop a new health condition, have a fall, leave hospital or simply need more support than you did previously, you don’t have to remain on the same level of assistance.

Speak with your provider or contact My Aged Care about arranging a reassessment. If you’re found to need a higher level of support, your funding classification may be increased.

How this differs from the old Home Care Packages system

Before November 2025, home care funding was provided through the Home Care Packages (HCP) program.

Under that system:

• funding was allocated across four package levels (Levels 1-4)
• each level had a fixed annual subsidy
• people often waited for a package at their approved level before receiving the funding they needed.

Support at Home replaced this approach with a funding model based on individual support classifications, making funding more closely aligned to each person’s assessed care needs.

If you’re reading information online about Home Care Package Levels 1-4 or package subsidy amounts, be aware that it relates to the former funding system and no longer reflects how new Support at Home funding is allocated.

* Details and amounts correct at time of publication. August 2026