Support at Home will start on 1 November 2025

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Support at Home

Information about Australia’s new home care program

From 1 November 2025, the Government's Support at Home program will bring together and replace some existing in-home programs including Home Care Packages.  This resource collection will help you understand the changes and how they may apply to you. 

What is Support at Home?

Support at Home is the new government framework that details how all home care providers must deliver services. It is a completely new system, purpose-built by the Australian Government to align with the new Aged Care Act 2024 and Strengthened Quality Standards.  

The program will feature a new funding and fee structure and start on 1 November 2025. It will replace Home Care Packages and the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme will transition across but not before 1 July 2027.

support-at-home-program-booklet-for-older-people-families-and-carers

Support at Home program – overview for older people

This short video from the Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing provides a helpful overview of Support at Home.

Key features of Support at Home

The Government has designed Support at Home as a simpler and more equitable aged care system for older people living at home.
  • 8 main funding levels, with up to $78,000 for high care needs
  • Annual budgets managed in quarterly amounts
  • New funding pathways for short-term supports
  • Defined list of services, split into 3 categories
  • New fee structure, with management fees capped at 10%

What services are available under Support at Home?

Support at Home services will be divided into 3 categories, as listed below. You can read the full service list on the Government website.

Clinical Supports

Clinical Care

Clinical Supports

Specialised services to help you maintain or regain functional and/or cognitive capabilities.

  • Nursing care
  • Allied health and other therapeutic services
  • Nutrition
  • Care management
  • Restorative care management

 

independence

Independence Supports

Support to help you manage the loss of skills required to live independently, and help with activities of daily living.

  • Personal care
  • Social support and community engagement
  • Therapeutic care services
  • Respite care
  • Transport
  • Assistance technology and home modifications

Everyday living 3

Everyday Living

Support to help you keep your home in a liveable state so you can stay living independently for as long as possible. 

  • House cleaning
  • Laundry
  • Assistance with shopping
  • Gardening
  • Minor repairs
  • Meal preparation

Clinical Supports

Specialised services to help you maintain or regain functional and/or cognitive capabilities.

  • Nursing care
  • Allied health and other therapeutic services
  • Nutrition
  • Care management
  • Restorative care management

 

Clinical Care

Independence Supports

Support to help you manage the loss of skills required to live independently, and help with activities of daily living.

  • Personal care
  • Social support and community engagement
  • Therapeutic care services
  • Respite care
  • Transport
  • Assistance technology and home modifications
independence

Everyday Living

Support to help you keep your home in a liveable state so you can stay living independently for as long as possible. 

  • House cleaning
  • Laundry
  • Assistance with shopping
  • Gardening
  • Minor repairs
  • Meal preparation
Everyday living 3

Additional short-term supports

The Support at Home program introduces three new funding pathways for specific, short-term needs: the Restorative Care Pathway, the End-of-Life Care Pathway, and the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme.

Restorative Care Pathway

The Restorative Care Pathway can help you stay independent, reduce the need for more services and support you in doing the activities you enjoy. It provides access to up to 12 weeks of restorative care support services. This funding pathway can be accessed over and above your base level Support at Home budget.

Restorative Care Pathway

End-of-Life Pathway

The End-of-Life Pathway supports individuals to remain at home in their last 3 months of life by urgently providing extra funding for a higher-level of in-home care and services. This funding pathway can be accessed instead of your base level Support at Home budget.

Portfolios-Health-Palliative-Care_Icon

Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme

The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme is designed to pay for products and services that support your safety, accessibility and independence.

Assistive technology includes things like walking frames, shower chairs, and toileting supports. Home modifications provide changes to your home such as hand rails, ramps, and non-slip floor mats.

If you are eligible for this funding, it will sit separate to your Support at Home budget, so you don't need to save up to access the support you need.

Learn more
At-Hm

Support at Home levels and budgets

Replacing the 4 Home Care Package levels, Support at Home will have 8 main levels and corresponding budgets for ongoing services.

If you are already receiving a Home Care Package on 1 November 2025, or if you are approved for a Home Care Package before 1 November but your funding is assigned after this date, you will receive a transitional level of funding equivalent to your approved Home Care Package level.

*Figures are indicative, based on the Government website

Level

Quarterly budget*

Annual amount*
Support at Home 1 $2,750 $11,000
Support at Home 2 $4,000 $16,000
Support at Home 3 $5,500 $22,000
Support at Home 4 $7,500 $30,000
Support at Home 5 $10,000 $40,000
Support at Home 6 $12,000 $48,000
Support at Home 7 $14,500 $58,000
Support at Home 8 $19,500 $78,000

Support at Home contributions

Support at Home has been designed as a "pay for what you use" system. That means you'll contribute to the cost of certain services, if you're assessed as having the means to do so. A lifetime cap applies, so the amount you contribute is limited. If you move into residential care, this cap travels with you.

Are you a full pensioner?

According to the Government's participant contribution framework, you will contribute*:

  • Clinical supports: 0% 
  • Independence services: 5%
  • Everyday living services: 17.5%


What you contribute will depend on your assessed income and assets as determined by Services Australia in the lead up to 1 November.

*Do you currently have a home care package, or approval for funding?
Grandfathering or transitional conditions may apply to you - see below for details.

More about Support at Home contributions

Are you a part pensioner?

According to the Government's participant contribution framework, you will contribute*:

  • Clinical supports: 0% 
  • Independence services: between 5% and 50%
  • Everyday living services: between 17.5% and 80%


What you contribute will depend on your assessed income and assets as determined by Services Australia in the lead up to 1 November.

*Do you currently have a home care package, or approval for funding?
Grandfathering or transitional conditions may apply to you - see below for details.

More about Support at Home contributions

Are you a self-funded retiree?

According to the Government's participant contribution framework, you will contribute*:

  • Clinical supports: 0% 
  • Independence services: 50%
  • Everyday living services: 80%


What you contribute will depend on your assessed income and assets as determined by Services Australia in the lead up to 1 November.

*Do you currently have a home care package, or approval for funding?
Grandfathering or transitional conditions may apply to you - see below for details.

More about Support at Home contributions

Do you already have a home care package?

If you are a current home care client, or have home care package approval prior to 1 November 2025, certain provisions will apply to you under Support at Home.

Approved on or before
12 Sep 2024
When were you approved for a Home Care Package?

On or before 12 Sep 2024

Grandfathering and transitional arrangements apply to you.

  • You can access all ongoing service types on the new Support at Home service list.

  • You will transition to Support at Home with a transitional package and will receive an equivalent amount of funding to your current approved Home Care Package.

  • You can be reassessed for more funding under Support at Home if your needs change.

  • Your lifetime contribution cap will remain at $82,018.

  • You are eligible for the Government's no worse off principle which guarantees that your financial contribution will be the same or less than what you currently pay.

  • If you are not currently required to pay an income tested care fee, then your contribution rate for all services will be 0%.
Approved between
12 Sep 2024 - 30 Jun 2025
When were you approved for a Home Care Package?

After 12 Sep 2024

Transitional arrangements apply to you.

  • You can access all ongoing service types on the new Support at Home service list.

  • You will transition to Support at Home with a transitional package and will receive an equivalent amount of funding to your current approved Home Care Package.

  • You can be reassessed for more funding under Support at Home if your needs change.

  • Your lifetime contribution cap will be set at $130,000.

  • You are not eligible for the Government's no worse off principle, which means the new Support at Home contribution rates (as assigned by Services Australia) will apply to you.

  • Even if you are not currently required to pay an income tested care fee, you will be required to contribute for Independence and Everyday Living services.
Got unspent funds?
When were you approved for a Home Care Package?

Using your unspent funds

If you are an existing home care package client, any unspent funds will transition with you to Support at Home.

There's no time limit on using the unspent funds you've accrued as part of your home care package.

But you will need to use your unspent funds before using any funds approved under the new Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme.

Going forward, your Support at Home budget will be managed quarterly and any new unspent funds accrued after 1 November 2025 will be capped.

If you don't spend your entire quarterly budget, you will be able to roll over 10% or $1000 of your quarterly budget (whichever is greater) to the following quarter.

 

What else do I need to know about Support at Home?

Under the new Support at Home program, older people will have better access to services, products, equipment, and home modifications that support their health, independence, and social connection within the community.

Support at Home will have a defined service list across three categories: clinical care, independence support, and everyday living assistance. There will also be dedicated support for short-term needs, and higher funding options for people who need it most.

The program will have a new fee and funding structure.

The Home Care Packages Program will come to an end on 31 October 2025. If you currently have a Home Care Package, the Government will automatically transition you to equivalent funding under the Support at Home Program on 1 November. We will work in partnership with you to put in place a new Support at Home Service Agreement. We are waiting for further details to be confirmed by the Government to determine how Support at Home will apply to each person, including their financial arrangements.

HammondCare has appointed a dedicated team of people to manage all aspects of the transition to Support at Home. A key priority is ensuring updates are provided about any changes, including clarifying what those changes mean for each person, as soon as the details are made available.

The Government sent letters to home care clients about Support at Home.
 
If you have questions, HammondCare can support you by responding with the details that are currently available or guiding you to the relevant Government resources that have been provided.
 
The linked documents on this page provide the most up to date information about Support at Home.

Government resources for Support at Home

We recommend reading the resources provided by the Department of Health and Aged Care.

For more help, you can also contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.

Government information for clients

Under this new program, we’ll have the same mission of care

The Government continues to release transition details for the new Support at Home program, and the home care sector including HammondCare is monitoring for updates in the lead up to 1 November.

Throughout this process, we will continue to help you understand what the changes mean for you, while remaining committed to providing the best possible care.

SaH