Support at Home (formerly Home Care Packages)

The Australian Government is introducing the Support at Home program to replace Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care from 1 July 2025. 

The Support at Home program provides higher level services and support to people with more complex care needs aged 65 years and over* to live to safely and independently in their homes. *Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people over 50 years of age.

Eligibility

To be eligible for these funded services you must meet some needs and age requirements:

• how much assistance you need with some everyday tasks
• that you are 65 years or older (or 50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people)

Note: If you are on a low income, homeless or at risk of being homeless, and aged 50 years or older (45 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), please call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to discuss your situation.

My Aged Care is the starting point for all funded aged care. You can check your eligibility for assessment by contacting My Aged Care;

• Phone: 1800 200 422
• Online at  My Aged Care | Eligibility Checker

Classification and Budgets for ongoing services

Support at Home has 8 classifications for ongoing services.

• You will be assigned a classification and budget based on your need’s assessment.
• Your Annual Support at Home budget will be broken into quarterly (3-monthly) budgets.
• You can carry over unspent funds of up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget (whichever is greater). 

The indicative budget amounts for each ongoing classification are:

Note: Additional short term supports which may include a budget for assistive technology, home modifications, restorative care, and end of life are available for those assessed as requiring these services. 

What services can I receive? 

Support at Home has a defined service list, which outlines the services that you can access under Support at Home. Depending on your My Aged Care support plan and the Support at Home classification you have been assigned, you can access the following services;

Funding and Contribution to Costs

The government will continue funding in-home care, but it will apply some cost-sharing changes. Contributions will depend on the type of service received and your personal financial situation, rather than set fees.

How do I access Support at Home services?