If you are looking into aged care at home for yourself or a loved one, you have probably heard that the system has recently changed. As of 1 November 2025, the Australian Government replaced the old Home Care Packages program with a new system called Support at Home.

If that sounds confusing, you are not alone. The change has been significant, and many families are still getting their heads around what it means in practice. This guide explains the new system in plain language, without the government jargon.

What is Support at Home?

Support at Home is the Australian Government's main program for funding aged care services delivered in a person's own home. It replaced the previous Home Care Packages program and the Short-Term Restorative Care program from 1 November 2025.

The program was developed in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which found that the old system was not working well enough for older Australians. The aim is to create a simpler, fairer, and more transparent way for people to access the help they need to live independently at home for as long as possible.

What changed from the old system?

The most significant changes are worth understanding because they directly affect how much care your loved one can access and how it is paid for.

The old system had four fixed package levels. Support at Home has eight funding classifications, which means funding can be matched more precisely to a person's actual care needs. Rather than being stuck between a level that is too little and one that provides more than needed, the eight tiers offer a closer fit.

Budgets are now allocated quarterly instead of annually. Your loved one receives their funding in four instalments across the year, in July, October, January, and April. If they do not spend their entire quarterly budget, they can carry over up to $1,000 or 10 per cent of the quarterly amount, whichever is greater, to the next quarter.

Care management fees are now capped at 10 per cent of the quarterly budget. Under the old system, some providers charged upwards of 40 per cent in combined administration and management fees. This cap means at least 90 per cent of your loved one's funding goes directly to care and services.

Services are now grouped into three clear categories: clinical care, independence support, and everyday living. Clinical care, which includes nursing and allied health services, is fully funded by the government with no participant contribution required. Independence and everyday living services may require a contribution from the participant, depending on their financial situation.

The eight classifications

When someone is assessed for Support at Home, they are assigned one of eight classification levels based on their care needs. Generally, the more complex the needs, the higher the classification. Annual funding ranges from approximately $10,731 at Classification 1 through to $78,106 at Classification 8. These figures are indexed each year on 1 July, so it is worth checking the current amounts with My Aged Care or your provider.

At the lower classifications, a person might receive a few hours of support each week to help with housework, meal preparation, or transport to appointments. At the higher classifications, funding covers more intensive support including daily personal care, regular nursing visits, and specialist allied health services.

If your loved one was already receiving a Home Care Package before 1 November 2025, they were transitioned automatically into a corresponding level under the new system. Their funding stayed the same, and a "no worse off" principle applies to protect them from paying more as a result of the change. If their needs have changed, they can request a reassessment to move into a different classification.

The three service categories

Under Support at Home, every service falls into one of three categories, and the category determines how much the government pays and how much your loved one may need to contribute.

Clinical care covers services like nursing visits, wound care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, podiatry, and dietetics. These services are fully government-funded for everyone, regardless of income.

Independence support covers personal care such as help with showering and dressing, transport, mobility assistance, and community participation. Participants may need to contribute to the cost of these services based on an income and assets assessment conducted by Services Australia.

Everyday living covers domestic assistance, gardening, shopping, and meal preparation. These services attract the highest participant contributions, as the government considers them less care-related and more lifestyle-related.

Short-term pathways

In addition to the eight ongoing classifications, Support at Home includes three short-term pathways that can be accessed based on assessment.

The Restorative Care Pathway provides up to $6,000 in intensive allied health services over up to 16 weeks, designed to help someone recover function after an illness or injury. In some cases, this can be extended to $12,000.

The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme provides separate, needs-based funding for equipment like wheelchairs, shower chairs, and communication devices, as well as home modifications like ramps, grab rails, and bathroom renovations.

The End-of-Life Pathway provides up to $25,000 in funding to support people who wish to remain at home in their final three months of life. This is separate from the ongoing classification budget.

How to access Support at Home

The process starts the same way it always has: through My Aged Care. You can call them on 1800 200 422 or register online. A family member, carer, or GP can also make contact on your loved one's behalf.

My Aged Care will arrange an assessment, which is conducted in the person's home by a trained assessor. The assessment covers physical function, cognitive health, daily activities, social participation, and overall wellbeing. Based on this, the assessor will recommend a classification level.

Once approved and assigned a classification, your loved one can choose their preferred provider and begin receiving services. Funding is released at the start of each quarter.

What does it cost?

Everyone in Support at Home may be asked to contribute to the cost of their non-clinical services. The amount depends on their financial situation, which is assessed by Services Australia.

Full pensioners generally pay the least. Part pensioners and self-funded retirees may pay more, particularly for everyday living services. There are lifetime caps on income-tested fees to ensure no one pays more than a set total amount across their entire time in aged care. For people assessed on or after 12 September 2024, the current lifetime cap is approximately $135,319.

If your loved one is experiencing financial hardship, they can apply to Services Australia for a fee reduction.

From 1 July 2026, the government is introducing price caps on individual services. This means providers will not be able to charge more than a set amount for each type of service, making it easier for families to compare providers and ensure they are getting fair value.

Choosing a provider under Support at Home

Your loved one has the right to choose their own provider, and this decision matters more than ever under the new system. Because care management fees are now capped and service prices will soon be capped, the main differentiators between providers are the quality of their staff, their consistency, their communication, and their understanding of your loved one's needs.

When comparing providers, ask how they screen and train their staff, whether they can provide consistent support workers rather than a rotating roster, how they develop and review care plans, how they communicate with families, and whether they have experience with your loved one's specific care needs.

Getting help with the transition

We understand that navigating a new system on top of an already stressful situation can feel overwhelming. At Solutions Health Group, we have been supporting families across South West Sydney since 2002, and we are helping our clients understand and adjust to the Support at Home changes.

Whether you are new to aged care and unsure where to start, or you are already receiving services and want to understand what the changes mean for you, we are happy to have a no-obligation conversation.

Call our team on (02) 9601 0831 or visit our contact page. You do not need to be a client of ours to ask a question.

Solutions Health Group provides home care, nursing, and NDIS services across South West Sydney. We are family-owned, clinically led, and have been operating since 2002.