1300 655 688
Mon to Fri, 9am-5pm (AEST/AEDT)
Get the answers to some frequently asked questions about the change from Home Care Packages to Support at Home.
HomeMade has provided general information regarding key questions below, but we advise that you contact the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing for any specific questions.
The Support at Home program is the new Australian Government program that launched on 1 November 2025 to replace the Home Care Packages program and Short-Term Restorative Care program. It’s all about creating a flexible, personalised and more supportive system for in-home aged care so older people can live independently at home for longer.
If you currently have a Home Care Package, you do not need to reapply for a package under the new Support at Home scheme.
If you received or were assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package before 12 September 2024, your new budget under Support at Home will be ‘no worse off’ than the budget you receive under your current Home Care Package. This is commonly referred to as a ‘grandfathering arrangement’. Any unspent funds you have will also move across.
If you had to pay an Income Tested Care Fee (ITCF) prior to 12 September 2024, you will likely need to pay a contribution fee under Support at Home. If you did not pay an ITCF, you will not be required to pay the contribution under Support at Home.
If you are already receiving care, no action is needed. If you are new to aged care, apply through My Aged Care.
Website: myagedcare.gov.au
Phone: 1800 200 422
No, if you are currently receiving home care through a Home Care Package, your services will continue under Support at Home. However, if your needs have changed, you or your provider (with your consent) can request a Care Plan Review through My Aged Care.
Support at Home funding is prioritised using information collected during the assessment process.
Assessments for Support at Home funding are managed by the government. Applicants will be allocated one of the following priority categories:
A higher priority applicant will receive their funding sooner.
Once a Support at Home classification has been determined, My Aged Care estimates a medium priority individual may expect to wait up to 8 to 9 months for funding. The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care aims to reduce this to 3 months by July 2027.
The Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) has now been merged with the other assessment teams into a Single Assessment System. Aged care assessments continue under Support at Home, but the assessment is completed by the Single Assessment System workforce. Learn more about the Single Assessment System workforce.
If you are approved for Support at Home funding, the assessment organisation will send you a Notice of Decision letter. This letter will include:
Once you apply for an assessment, an assessor will come to your house to check your eligibility. If you’re eligible for the CHSP, the assessor will tell you right away. If they think Support at Home funding is more suited to your needs, they’ll review your situation and My Aged Care estimate that the assessor will send you a letter within 2 to 6 weeks to let you know what Support at Home classification you’re eligible for.
The Support at Home program is all about creating a flexible, personalised and more supportive system for in-home aged care. It comes with improvements such as:
As Australia’s best-value home care provider, we make quality care affordable.
Choose our Fully Managed option to access cheaper set rates for the services you need, allowing you to get more out of your funding with no surprise costs. Or choose to self-manage with HomeMade and pick the providers that best suit your budget. Learn more about HomeMade’s pricing.
Yes, you can if it forms part of your Care Plan. These services are included under the Support at Home categories, Independence, and Everyday Living. You will need to check if your Support at Home funding includes a budget for these categories.
An example of the social and domestic tasks covered by Support at Home are:
Review the full list of Support at Home services.
Generally not, however there are some limited circumstances where a Support at Home participant can access additional services through the CHSP.
For more information, refer to the Commonwealth Home Support Program manual.
Currently, we are unable to help with the short-term Restorative and End-of-Life pathways.
We do, however, plan to be able to help with these pathways in the future.
The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme refers to separate supports under Support at Home, with separate funding tiers and rules.
‘Assistive technologyʼ refers to equipment or items that can help you perform tasks more easily or that you cannot do independently, such as a walking stick or frame.
‘Home modifications’ refer to changes to a home environment that make it safer and more accessible, such as grab rails in the shower.
If you have a Home Care Package and:
If you have Support at Home funding:
Your eligibility for the AT-HM scheme will be determined in your aged care assessment or during a care plan review. If assessed as eligible, you will be assigned a funding tier. For more information on AT-HM funding, refer to section 12.1 of the Support at Home manual.
Yes, you can continue with your current provider. However, you will need one provider to manage all services under the new Single Provider Model.
‘To be grandfathered’ means that your arrangement under the current Home Care Package program will be ‘carried over’ to the Support at Home Program, and your current services and funding will stay the same. If you received, or were assessed as eligible, for a Home Care package before 12 September 2024, you will be ‘grandfathered’ into Support at Home.
As part of the Government’s “no worse off” principle, your access to care won’t be reduced, and you won’t have additional fees with this change.
If you received your Home Care Package after 12 September 2024, you may have to contribute to the services you receive if you’re able to. This contribution will be assessed by Services Australia. If you are on a low income, you may qualify for a Fee Reduction Supplement.
Contact your aged care provider for more information.
You have the right to:
Please contact My Aged Care directly to arrange this. Phone: 1800 200 422
You can switch providers at any time and your funding will follow you. However, when you switch, you will need to enter a new service agreement.
You have the right to make informed decisions about your care, even if they involve some risk, for example, choosing to live independently despite mobility issues. Your provider must support your choices.
Find official updates at:
Get direct support at:
Learn more about Support at Home with these documents from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Fact sheets answering some frequently asked questions about the Support at Home program design.
This booklet is aimed at older people and their families and carers. It contains information about the Support at Home program.