Support at Home: What the New Budget Levels Mean

Written By Anna Dang

If you or someone you care for is currently receiving aged care support through a Home Care Package, you might have heard about some upcoming changes to the system.

Starting from 1 July 2025, the current Home Care Packages program will be replaced by the Support at Home program.

This new program is designed to make in-home aged care more flexible and better matched to people’s individual needs.

One of the biggest changes is the broader range of budget levels, with the new program introducing eight funding levels with annual and quarterly budgets.

Care Management fees will be capped at 10% of the quarterly budget, ensuring 90% remains for care and services.

If you're already on a Home Care Package, you’ll move across at the same funding level and keep access to your existing supports and any unspent funds under the new program.

Why the Change?

The change increases the budgets from the current 4 home care package levels to 8 new budget levels. Everyone’s needs are different, and having more budget classifications means aged care funding can better match the level of help someone needs and gives more flexibility. Whether it's support around the house or more complex ongoing care, the idea is to make sure older Australians are getting the right amount of help at the right time.

In this blog post, we’ll explain what these new budget levels are, how they’ll work, and what they mean for you or your loved ones.

Join Us for an Important Info Session on the New Support at Home Program

Come along to our online information session to find out what the new Support at Home program means for you.

Register your interest by contacting the BCD Aged Care team on 1800 275 223 or email info@bcdcci.org.au.

In this blog post, you can skip to a section by clicking on the links below:

Key Features Of The New Support At Home Program

What is the Support at Home Program?

The new Support at Home Program provides funding to help older Australians live independently at home for longer, simplifying access to aged care services through a single, streamlined system.

From 1 July 2025, Home Care Packages and the Short-Term Restorative Care program will now fall under the Support At Home Program. At a later date, the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) will also move under the Support at Home Program (no earlier than 1 July 2027).

No Worse Off Principle For Older People Receiving Aged Care  

If you were receiving a Home Care Package, on the National Priority System or you have been assessed as eligible for a package as at 12 September 2024, you will be no worse off under Support at Home.

You will make the same financial contributions, or lower, than you would under the Home Care Packages Program.

How Will the New Budget Classifications Work? 

 Under Support at Home, each person will be assigned to one of eight classifications. 

Each classification comes with its own budget, which is used to pay for in-home services such as personal care, cleaning, transport, meal preparation, nursing, and allied health. 

Here’s what you need to know: 

  • Your classification will be based on your individual care needs, which are assessed by My Aged Care. 

  • The funding is given in quarterly amounts (every 3 months), rather than all at once for the year. 

  • If you don’t spend all your funding in one quarter, you can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget, whichever is the higher amount. 

  • You won’t need to worry about price surprises. The government is planning to introduce price caps from 1 July 2026 to help prevent overcharging for services. 

 

Eight New Budget Levels (Replacing 4 Home Care Package Levels)

The new program introduces eight funding levels, offering more tailored support to replace the current 4 Home Care Package levels. 

Older Australians receiving Home Care Packages will be assigned a budget that aligns with their current care package level. 

New applicants to the Support At Home program will be assessed and given a classification and budget suited to their specific needs. 

The indicative budget amounts below are correct as at 3 February 2025. The final budget amounts for all participants will be confirmed before the start of the Support At Home program.

The indicative budget amounts for each ongoing classification are:

Classification Quarterly Budget Annual Amount
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

Already on a Home Care Package? You’ll be mapped to the equivalent new budget level. If your needs change, there’s flexibility to reassess.

The indicative budget amounts for home care recipients transitioned to Support at Home are:

Transitioned home care recipients Quarterly budget Annual amount
1 $2,708 $10,833
2 $4,762 $19,049
3 $10,365 $41,460
4 $15,713 $62,853

The indicative budget amounts are correct as at 3 February 2025. The final budget amounts for all participants will be confirmed before the start of the Support At Home program. 

Reassessments for Changing Needs: If a person's care needs change over time, they may be reassessed into a new classification level with a higher budget to meet their increased needs.

If I have a Home Care Package, will I need to be reassessed for Support at Home? How will the new funding level be decided? 

No, you won’t need a new assessment. If you’re already on a Home Care package or on the waiting list, you’ll move across to Support at Home automatically. You’ll get funding that matches your current package or the level you’ve been approved for.  

If you are reassessed after 1 July 2025, you will be assigned a Support at Home budget classification that is the same or higher than your current Home Care package.  
 
The amount you might need to contribute and pay for after a reassessment can change, depending on how much care you need and what types of services you receive. 

If a person's care needs change over time, they may be reassessed into a new classification level with a higher budget to meet their increased needs. 

How will I know which classification I’m in? 

 After your assessment (or reassessment), My Aged Care will notify you, and your care partner provider will also be informed.  

What Will I Need to Pay? 

 You may be asked to contribute to the cost of some services, depending on your pension status and the type of care you receive. 

If you are a full rate pensioner paying no fees under your Home Care Package, as at 12 September 2024, you won’t be asked to pay fees under the new Support at Home program. 

If you were required to pay fees under your Home Care Package as at 12 September 2024, the contribution rates may change but you will pay the same or less under Support at Home. 

Here's a quick breakdown:  

Your age pension status will determine your individual co-contribution rate: 

  • Full pensioners will pay the lowest contributions 

  • Part pensioners will pay a moderate amount 

  • Self-funded retirees will pay the highest rate unless they hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, in which case their rate will be reduced 

The contribution rates are a percentage of the aged care service fees and are based on your status, income and assets as a pensioner and/or retiree. 
 
You will only pay contributions on the services received. A calculator, to be published shortly by the Department of Health and Aged Care will assist to estimate co-contributions amounts. 

The Age Pension means test will be used to determine the means tested percentage contribution, and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders will pay lower contributions than other self-funded retirees. 

Clinical support services are fully covered by the government's Support At Home program so there are no out of pocket costs for clinical supports such as nursing care, occupational therapy and continence care. 

You can find out more about the latest contribution rates here: health.gov.au/support-at-home-participant-contributions

  Clinical Care Independence Everyday Living
Full Pensioner 0% 5% 17.5%
Part Pensioner & Commonwealth Seniors Health Card Eligible 0% Between 5% and 50% dependant on income and asset Between 17.5% and 80% dependant on income and asset
Self-Refunded Retiree 0% 50% 80%

We're writing a separate blog post next that explains co-contributions in more detail, including clear examples based on your financial situation - so stay tuned for that one.

Will unspent Home Care Package funds be time limited or be lost with a reassessment? 

From 1 July 2025, if you have a Home Care package and have unspent funds, you will keep these funds to use under Support at Home.  

You can only use your leftover Home Care Package funds after you've used up your Support at Home budget for the quarter, including any money carried over from the previous quarter (up to $1,000 or 10% of your budget, whichever is the higher amount).

What can I spend my Home Care Package unspent funds on? 

You can use these funds for extra services if you’ve used up your new budget for the quarter, or for things like equipment and home modifications (if approved). 

How will existing Home Care Packages Program recipients register to be reassessed for a higher level? 

You can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or ask your care partner provider to help you arrange a Support Plan Review. An assessor will decide whether a new assessment or review is needed.

How will participants use their funding? 

You’ll get a care plan from an assessor, including your budget and services. You and your care partner provider will work together to decide how to use the money to suit your needs. 

 Can Support at Home funds be accrued between quarters? 

Yes. You can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your budget (whichever is more) into the next quarter for unexpected needs. 

How will the quarterly funding cycle run? 

Funding is given every 3 months (July-Sep, Oct-Dec, Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun). You’ll get the full quarterly amount at the start of each quarter. 

  

Will older people still be referred into CHSP? 

Yes. From July 2025, people with lower care needs will go into CHSP. People with higher needs will go into Support at Home. 

 

If I receive care services through the CHSP and I need increased supports, can I access Support at Home from July 2025? 

Yes. If your needs change, you can be reassessed for the Support at Home program. Your plan will include the support and budget you qualify for.

Will I be able to self-manage my budget? 

Yes, with support from a registered provider, you can take on tasks like managing your own services and budget.

 

Can I be reassessed if my health changes? 

Yes, if your needs increase or change over time, you can be reassessed and may move to a higher classification with a larger budget.

What services will the Support At Home program pay for? 

Support at Home introduces three categories of support to make it clearer what help you can get. The new service lists covers three main areas of support including: 

  • Clinical care - such as nursing care, occupational therapy and continence care 

  • Independence - such as help with showering, getting dressed, taking medications, transport or respite care 

  • Everyday Living - such as cleaning, gardening, shopping or meal preparation. 

The table below shows the new service list structure. 

Your approved list of support services will be based on your assessment and eligibility. You can choose a mix of services within your set budget.

  New Service List Structure Examples of Services
1 Clinical Care: Specialised services to maintain and restore functional and cognitive abilities Nursing, most allied health, nutrition, care management and restorative management
2 Independence: Support with daily activities and skill maintenance to support changes in ability to live independently Personal care, special support, community engagement, therapeutic services, respite, transport, assistive technology, home modifications
3 Everyday Living: Support to keep your home in a liveable state and your independence at home Domestic assistance, home maintenance, repairs, meals and meal prepping

Your approved list of support services will be based on your assessment and eligibility. You can choose a mix of services within your set budget. 

You can read more about the service categories on our Support At Home Overview guide. 

Want to Learn More?

  • Take a look at our Support At Home Overview guide, it’s a simple, step by step guide of what’s changing and what it means for you or your loved one. 

Need Support with the Transition?

If you or a loved one are currently on a Home Care Package and have questions about what the move to the new program means for you, our friendly Aged Care Team is here to help. Give us a call on 1800 275 223, we’ll guide you through the transition and make sure you feel supported every step of the way. 

Our local quality aged care services provide support, dignity, and enhance quality of life, empowering older people to age independently and live well at home for as long as possible.   

Sources:

My Aged Care Helpline: 1800 200 422 

Support At Home website: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home/features  

Support At Home Booklet For Older People, Families and Carers   

https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/support-at-home-program-booklet-for-older-people-families-and-carers?language=en 
 
health.gov.au/support-at-home-ongoing-services 

https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/support-at-home-program-frequently-asked-questions-february-2025?language=en  

Disclaimer

The information provided in this blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal, financial, or professional advice. While we strive to ensure the accuracy of the content, we encourage you to visit the relevant government websites for the most up-to-date and official information.

Anna Dang
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