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Who is eligible for Support at Home?

Eligibility based on care needs and independence

Understanding Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility for Support at Home is determined through an assessment of an individual’s care needs, health, and personal circumstances. The program supports older people to live safely and independently at home, with services tailored to their goals and daily living requirements. Support may include a range of in-home care services available, such as personal care, domestic assistance, nursing, and allied health.

Care plans are regularly reviewed to ensure services continue to meet changing needs, maintain safety, and support independence. This allows adjustments over time, providing personalised support that responds to evolving health and lifestyle needs.

Who can access Support at Home?

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Older people

Support at Home is designed for older people who need help with daily living to continue living safely, independently, and comfortably in their own homes.

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Assessed care needs

Access is based on individual care needs and circumstances, ensuring support is tailored to what a person actually requires rather than a fixed level of service.

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My Aged Care assessment

Eligibility is determined through an assessment coordinated by My Aged Care, the Australian Government’s official entry point for aged care services.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility for Support at Home is based on age and assessed care needs, ensuring older people receive appropriate support to continue living safely, independently, and comfortably in their own homes.

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Age requirements

Support at Home is available to older people who meet age eligibility under Australia’s aged care system.

  • 65+ years eligible
  • 50+ years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • Must meet aged care eligibility criteria
  • Individual assessment required
  • Support designed for independent living at home
  • Eligibility based on care needs and safety
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Care needs and support requirements

Eligibility depends on the level of help a person needs to live safely at home.

  • Assistance with personal care
  • Help with mobility
  • Support for managing health conditions
  • Help with everyday tasks
  • Services are customised to individual needs and circumstances

Assessment through My Aged Care

Access to Support at Home requires an assessment arranged through My Aged Care. During this process, factors such as physical health, cognitive ability, daily functioning, and available social support are carefully considered to understand an individual’s overall care needs.

The outcome of the assessment helps determine whether Support at Home is appropriate and what level of support may be provided. It also forms the basis for a personalised care plan, ensuring that services are tailored to meet individual needs and can be adjusted over time as circumstances change.

Assessment through My Aged Care
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Can existing Home Care Package recipients access Support at Home?

People who are currently receiving a Home Care Package will be able to transition to Support at Home when the new program commences. This ensures they can continue receiving the care and support they need without interruption.

Transitional arrangements are in place to maintain continuity of care while moving to the new system. Providers work closely with individuals to coordinate the handover, adjust care plans if needed, and ensure a smooth transition to Support at Home services.

Who is Support at Home suitable for?

Support at Home is suitable for older people who want to continue living at home but need varying levels of support to do so safely and comfortably. This includes people whose care needs may change over time and who benefit from flexible, needs-based support rather than fixed care arrangements. Suitability is determined through assessment and focuses on supporting independence, safety, and quality of life at home.

Can couples or families access Support at Home?

Support at Home is assessed and delivered on an individual basis, even when people live together as a couple or family. In some situations, more than one person in the same household may be eligible for Support at Home, depending on individual care needs and assessment outcomes. Care arrangements are designed to reflect personal circumstances while ensuring each person’s support needs are assessed separately.

Is Support at Home suitable for people with complex needs?

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Personalised Care Assessment
Support at Home helps people with complex or changing needs through individual assessments that identify risks, preferences, health conditions, and required support levels.
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Flexible & Adaptable Services
Care services remain flexible, allowing support plans to be reviewed, adjusted, increased, or reduced as a person’s health, lifestyle, or circumstances change.
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Experienced, Responsive Care
Eligibility considers mobility, medical, and cognitive needs to maintain safety and independence, delivered by teams supporting 10,000 families with 600 trained professionals.
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Does location Affect Eligibility?

Eligibility for Support at Home is consistent across Australia and is not affected by location. However, service availability may vary depending on local factors such as provider numbers, workforce capacity, and regional demand. These factors can influence how and when services are delivered, but they do not change eligibility.

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Key points about eligibility

Determining eligibility for Support at Home ensures older people receive appropriate care, supporting independence, safety, wellbeing, and flexibility as needs change.

  • Eligibility is based on assessed care needs, not diagnosis alone
  • An assessment through My Aged Care is required
  • Support is intended for older people who need help to remain living at home
  • Existing Home Care Package recipients can transition to Support at Home
  • Support levels can change as needs change

Next steps

Understanding eligibility is an important step in planning care under Support at Home. It helps individuals and families make informed decisions about the type and level of support needed to continue living safely and independently at home.

Further information is available about how funding works, the services included, and the process for transitioning from existing aged care programs. Accessing this information ensures a smoother experience and helps older people receive the right support at the right time.

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