Support at Home Transition Dates & Where You Fit
Support at Home Transition
Grandfathered Participants
& Before
Transitional Participants
New Participants
If You’re Transitioning from a Home Care Package
No worse off’ Principle
If you were assessed or approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024, you will be covered by the ‘no worse off’ principle. Your contribution costs will stay the same or be lower:
- If you don’t pay fees for your Home Care Package,
you will never pay fees for Support at Home, even
if you are re-assessed to a higher classification. - If you do pay fees for your Home Care Package, you
will pay the same or lower under Support at Home. - The $82,018 lifetime cap (indexed) remains in place.
National Priority System
If you are on the National Priority System awaiting a Home Care Package, you will move to the Support at Home Priority System. Your budget will be allocated once a place becomes available, and it will match your assessed HCP funding. A new assessment is only required if your care needs change.
Service Prices May Differ
Service prices may differ under Support at Home, but government protections ensure costs are fair and transparent. Providers will communicate any changes to your in-home care arrangements ahead of time. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is working closely with providers to make the transition as smooth as possible and minimise any impact on your care.
From 1 November 2025, Home Care Packages will transition to the Support at Home program expanding from four funding levels with annual budgets ranging from $10,931 to $63,440, to eight classifications with an annual budget of up to $78,106 per year. This change represents increased funding flexibility and higher maximum support for eligible participants.
Grandfathered Participants
If you were assessed or approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024, you will be grandfathered into the new Support at Home program on 1 November 2025. You will be covered by the ‘no worse off’ principle, meaning your contribution costs will stay the same or be lower.
You will automatically transition to the new program without needing to reapply or undergo reassessment. You will retain your existing package level and any unspent Home Care Package funds, which can continue to be used for services available under Support at Home, including assistive technology and home modifications where appropriate.
There are transitional classifications for HCP recipients: for example, an HCP Level 1 becomes “Transitioned HCP Level 1” under Support at Home, with a defined quarterly and annual budget.
Transitioned Home Care Packages Classifications
Existing Home Care Package (HCP) participants before 1 November 2025 will maintain their current funding when they move to the Support at Home program. Each person will be assigned a corresponding Transitioned HCP Level 1, 2, 3 or 4, with the same annual funding provided on a quarterly basis. From 1 November 2025, new participants in Support at Home will be assessed under the new eight classification
Transitioned Home Care Package Classifications
| Home Care Packages Classifications | Support at Home Classifications | Quarterly Budget | Annual Budget | Care Overview |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCP Level 1 | Transitioned HCP Level 1 | $2,732 | $10,931 |
Basic Needs
Daily tasks such as personal care, light housekeeping, meal preparation, and transportation.
|
| HCP Level 2 | Transitioned HCP Level 2 | $4,806 | $19,224 |
Low-Level Care
Assistance with dressing, showering, medications, and social activities.
|
| HCP Level 3 | Transitioned HCP Level 3 | $10,461 | $41,847 |
Intermediate Care
Regular personal care, mobility aid support, meal prep, household cleaning.
|
| HCP Level 4 | Transitioned HCP Level 4 | $15,860 | $63,440 |
High-level Care
Regular personal care, mobility aid support, meal prep, household cleaning.
|
Home Care Packages vs Support at Home: What’s Changed?
The Support at Home Program is designed to bring together multiple home support programs into one streamlined system. Its goal is to reduce confusion, cut red tape, and give older Australians more choice and control over the services they receive.Support At Home (SAH)
Designed to deliver flexible funding and high-quality care, this program will replace the existing Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs from November 1, 2025. It introduces eight classifications of tailored support, allowing for a more individualised approach to care.
Home Care Packages (HCP)
Home Care Packages (HCP) cater to older Australians who need long-term support to live independently at home. They offer four levels of care, providing services such as personal care, domestic assistance, nursing, and allied health, based on each person’s specific needs.
Current Home Care Package Recipients vs Support at Home
End of Life up to $25,000 over 16 weeks
The 3 New Support at Home Categories
Support at Home provides funding for services that help seniors stay safe, healthy, and independent in their own homes. The program covers medical care, everyday living assistance, and social support, ensuring older Australians can maintain their quality of life while staying connected to their communities. - ✓ Nursing
- ✓ Occupational Therapy
- ✓ Restorative Care
- ✓ Continence Support
- ✓ Nutrition
- ✓ Personal Care
- ✓ Respite Services
- ✓ Social Support
- ✓ Transport Services
- ✓ Home Safety Modifications
- ✓ Domestic Assistance
- ✓ Meal Preparation
- ✓ Gardening
- ✓ Home Maintenance
- ✓ Shopping
The Support at Home Categories Explained
Clinical Care
This category is fully funded by the government and covers essential medical and health services. It includes nursing (like wound care, medication management, and chronic disease support), allied health services (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychology, and more), continence support, and nutritional management.
Clinical care ensures seniors receive the professional medical support they need to stay healthy at home.
Independence Support
These services help seniors maintain daily independence and social connections, though some costs may apply depending on income and pension status. Services include personal care (showering, dressing, toileting, and eating), social support (companionship, group outings, and technology assistance), therapeutic services (massage, acupuncture, art therapy, etc.), short-term respite care, and transport options.
Independence support helps seniors live safely and actively while remaining connected to their communities.
Everyday Living
This category covers practical help to keep a home safe and functional. Services include domestic assistance (cleaning, laundry, errands), meal preparation, minor home maintenance, and gardening. It also includes funding for assistive technology (wheelchairs, walking aids, smart home devices) and home modifications (ramps, handrails, accessible bathrooms).
Special programs, like restorative care and end-of-life care, provide extra support for recovery or staying at home in later stages of life.
Support At Home Classifications
The 8 Classifications & Budgets
The shift from four Home Care Package levels to eight Support at Home Classifications reflects the government’s commitment to tailoring services more precisely to individual care needs. By offering more detailed tiers, the program better aligns funding and services with a person’s evolving health, mobility, and daily living challenges.
These eight classifications bridge the gap between basic assistance and complex in-home care, ensuring that Australians receive the right type of support at the right time, reducing risks of hospitalisation and premature entry into residential care.
Each classification comes with a defined budget, allocated quarterly and annually, allowing recipients to access approved services tailored to their care needs.
Below is an overview of the types of care typically provided at each Support at Home Classification, alongside the indicative annual funding amounts.
Support at Home Classifications
| Quarterly Budget | Annual Budget | Care Overview | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,683 | $10,732 | Minimal support — Light housework, meal delivery, welfare check-ins. For largely independent individuals. |
| 2 | $4,008 | $16,035 | Light personal care — Assistance with dressing, showering, medications, and social activities. |
| 3 | $5,491 | $21,966 | Moderate support — Regular personal care, mobility aid support, meal prep, household cleaning. |
| 4 | $7,424 | $29,696 | High-frequency support — Daily routines assistance, home modifications, toileting, continence care. |
| 5 | $9,924 | $39,697 | Daily support & health coordination — Hoists, transfers, transport to medical appointments, in-home safety monitoring. |
| 6 | $12,028 | $48,113 | Comprehensive care — Nursing support (wound care, medication), continence management, allied health therapies. |
| 7 | $14,536 | $58,147 | Intensive daily care — Assistance with all daily living activities, complex health conditions, dementia support. |
| 8 | $19,526 | $78,106 | Highest level of care — Palliative support, 24/7 availability, specialised equipment, nursing interventions. |
Support at Home Standard Fees & Contributions
Approved or Assessed for a Home Care Package AFTER 12 September 2024
From 1 November 2025, participants that were Approved or Assessed a Home Care Package after 12 September 2024 will receive services through the new Support at Home program under the standard fees and contributions model. These participants will not be covered by the grandfathering arrangements and will instead enter the program under the new fee structure for Support at Home.
Under the new arrangements, clinical care services will be fully funded by the government for all participants. Contributions toward independence and everyday living supports will be income-based. Self-funded retirees pay the highest contributions; those eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) pay lower rates, similar to part pensioners. There is a lifetime contributions cap of $130,000 for non-clinical services under Support at Home.
Full Pensioners
Clinical care is fully covered – pay 0%
Independence supports – pay up to 5%
Everyday living services – pay up to 17.5%
Part Pensioners
Clinical care is fully covered – pay 0%
Independence supports – pay 5-50%
Everyday living services – pay 17.5-80%
Self-Funded Retirees
Clinical care is fully covered – pay 0%
Independence supports – pay up to 50%
Everyday living services – pay up to 80%
Support at Home Contributions
Support at Home Grandfathered Fees & Contributions
Approved or Assessed for a Home Care Package on or
BEFORE 12 September 2024
If you are transitioning from the Home Care Packages Program, anyone who was receiving a package or assessed for a home care package on or before 12 September 2024 will be no worse off under Support at Home. You will pay the same contributions, or lower, than you were assessed to pay under HCP.
If you were assessed as not required to pay fees before that date, you will never be asked to pay fees under Support at Home. The HCP lifetime cap of $82,018 (indexed) will continue to apply. Contributions may still change over time if your assessed care needs or financial circumstances change, when indexation applies to fees and thresholds, or once you reach your lifetime cap. Routine indexation occurs on 20 March and 20 September each year.
*No worse off principle- If you were assessed as not having to pay fees for your Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024, you will never pay fees on Support at Home.
Grandfathered
Full Pensioners
Clinical care is fully covered – pay 0%
Independence supports – pay 0%
Everyday living services – pay 0%
Grandfathered
Part Pensioners
Clinical care is fully covered – pay 0%
Independence supports – pay between 0-25%
Everyday living services – pay between 0-25%
Grandfathered
Self-Funded Retirees
Clinical care is fully covered – pay 0%
Independence supports – pay up to 25%
Everyday living services – pay up to 25%