Navigating aged care in Australia has never been simple — and with the recent overhaul of the system, many older Australians and their families are asking the same question: what does the new Support at Home program actually mean for me?
If you or a loved one previously held a Home Care Package (HCP), or you're just starting to explore your options through My Aged Care, this guide breaks down everything you need to know about the Support at Home program — funding levels, out-of-pocket costs, eligibility, and how to get started.
DOWNLOADWhat Is the Support at Home Program?
Launched on 1 November 2025, Support at Home is the Australian Government's new in-home aged care program. It replaced the Home Care Packages program and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC), consolidating them into one simpler, more flexible system designed to help older Australians live independently at home for longer.
Funding is delivered as a quarterly budget, matched to your individual care needs and assessed through the government's Single Assessment System. Importantly, you retain choice — you decide which services and providers work best for you.
Note: The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) remains a separate, entry-level program for people with lighter care needs. CHSP is not affected by this change and isn't expected to move into Support at Home before 1 July 2027.
What Support Can You Receive?
Your quarterly Support at Home budget covers three categories of care:
- Clinical Care — nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy, nutrition and Dietetics
- Independence — Personal Care, medication support, transport, social support, respite
- Everyday Living — domestic assistance, cleaning and gardening, home maintenance, meal preparation, transport
Services can be mixed and adjusted every quarter as your needs change.
Additional Short-Term Support Pathways
Beyond your quarterly budget, three additional funding pathways are available:
- Restorative Care — up to $6,000 per episode, up to two episodes per 12 months. An episode of restorative care is a targeted, 12-week block of intensive therapy (allied health and nursing support) designed to help you regain strength and independence after a setback like illness or injury.
- End-of-Life Care — up to $25,000 for up to 12 weeks of enhanced in-home support, with high-priority assessment available even if you're not yet a Support at Home participant
- Assistive Technology & Home Modification Scheme — up to $15,000 (tiered by assessed need), a one-off payment for equipment and home modifications, funded separately from your quarterly budget
How Much Will You Pay?
The government fully funds clinical supports like nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. For independence and everyday living services, your contribution depends on an income and assets assessment through Services Australia:
- Full pensioners generally pay 5% to 17.5% of the service cost
- Part pensioners generally pay 5% to 80% of the service cost
- Self-funded retirees may pay up to 80% of the service cost (reduced with a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card)
No one pays more than a lifetime cap of $130,000 in contributions across Support at Home and residential aged care combined.
The 8 Classification Levels
Support at Home uses eight funding classification levels, from light support (Level 1, around $2,753 per quarter) through to comprehensive, end-of-life level care (Level 8, around $20,034 per quarter). Your exact budget is confirmed through your aged care assessment and approval letter, and is indexed roughly twice a year.
Where Do You Fit In?
Your transition pathway depends on when you were approved for a Home Care Package:
- Grandfathered — approved before 12 September 2024; automatically transitioned with the same funding, same services, and a "no worse off" guarantee
- Transitional — approved between 12 September 2024 and 31 October 2025; moved to quarterly Support at Home budgets with new pricing arrangements
- New Participants — approved from 1 November 2025; start directly under Support at Home with the full Single Assessment System and 8 classification levels from day one
How to Access Support at Home
Getting started is a four-step process:
- Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au
- Assessment at home — a trained assessor visits and sets your budget and classification level
- Receive your plan — your confirmed quarterly budget and approved services
- Find a provider — get matched to providers with real availability
Want the Full Picture?
This overview only scratches the surface. For a complete, easy-to-follow breakdown of the Support at Home program — including funding tables, cost examples, transition rules, and answers to common questions like "Is my Home Care Package still valid?" and "What if I can't afford my contributions?" — download our free guide.
📄 Download the Full Support at Home Guide (PDF)
Whether you're helping a parent navigate aged care for the first time, or you're already receiving a Home Care Package and want to understand what's changed, this guide is designed to give you clarity and confidence.
Need personalised help? Karista's Client Service Managers can match you with aged care providers based on your location, needs, and funding level — so you can spend less time searching and more time focused on care.
Call 1300 274 782 or visit www.karista.com.au for a free, no-obligation chat.
DOWNLOAD