Support at Home classifications 1–8: funding amounts and services explained

From 1 November 2025, the Australian Government's Support at Home program replaced the old Home Care Packages system. In its place is a new framework built around eight classification levels, each one designed to fund the right level of support for your individual care needs.

Whether you're new to aged care or have recently transitioned from an existing package, understanding how these classifications work is a great starting point. This guide covers every classification; what it funds, how much you'll receive, and what care can look like day to day at each level.

What are the Support at Home classifications?

Support at Home uses eight classifications to determine your level of funding, based on your assessed care needs.

The previous Home Care Packages program had four levels, and while it served many people well, the gaps between levels could mean funding that was either more than someone needed or not quite enough. The new eight-tier structure was designed to address this, giving you funding that's more proportionate to your actual situation.

You're assessed once, and your classification can be reviewed if your needs change down the track.

How much funding does each classification provide?

Annual funding ranges from $10,731 at Classification 1 up to $78,106 at Classification 8. These are the baseline annual budgets effective from 1 November 2025, as published by the Department of Health and Aged Care. Funding amounts are indexed each year on 1 July, so we recommend confirming current figures with My Aged Care or your provider.

^{Quarterly figures are approximate. A care management fee of up to 10% is deducted from your quarterly budget. Always confirm current funding amounts with My Aged Care or your approved provider, as these figures are indexed annually.}

One important thing to be aware of is these budgets cover Independence and Everyday Living services. Clinical services like nursing, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy, are funded separately by the government and don't come out of your budget at all. That's one of the most significant changes from the old system, and one that can make a real difference to how far your funding goes.

If you were already receiving a Home Care Package on or before 31 October 2025, you transitioned to a corresponding funding level under Support at Home, known as a Transitioned HCP classification, with the same funding you were already receiving. New participants assessed from 1 November 2025 onwards are placed directly into one of the eight ongoing classifications above, based on their assessed care needs. If you're unsure which applies to you, your provider can help.

What does the assessment involve?

Getting assessed is the first step to accessing Support at Home funding. Under the Single Assessment System a trained aged care assessor visits your home to have a conversation about how you're going. You're welcome to have a family member or carer with you.

Here's what the assessor will be looking at:

• Physical function — how you move around your home, and whether you need support with bathing, dressing, or eating

• Cognitive function — any memory or decision-making changes that affect your daily life

• Daily living tasks — how you're managing with cooking, cleaning, laundry, and shopping

• Chronic health conditions that need ongoing clinical support

• Social and emotional wellbeing — your connection to others and the support network around you

• Home safety — whether your home is suitable, or if modifications might help

The most useful thing you can do is be open and honest about what you find difficult. If you have good days and harder days, it helps to describe both. There's no right or wrong way to respond, the goal is simply to understand your needs and get you the right level of support.

What services can each classification fund?

Every classification can access the same types of services. The difference is simply how often or for how long you can access them, no service type is restricted by classification level.

Services fall into three categories:

Clinical services (fully government funded — no budget impact):

• Nursing care

• Physiotherapy

• Occupational therapy

• Podiatry

• Speech pathology

• Dietetics

Independence services (moderate participant contribution):

• Personal care (showering, dressing, grooming)

• Assistive technology and equipment

• Home modifications

• Continence aids

• Restorative care programs

Everyday Living services (highest participant contribution):

• Domestic assistance (cleaning, laundry)

• Gardening and home maintenance

• Meal preparation and delivery

• Transport to appointments

• Social support and community access

What does care actually look like at each level?

Numbers on a page can only tell you so much. To give you a feel for what each classification looks like in practice, here are some illustrative examples based on typical metro pricing. Every person's situation is different, but these examples show the kinds of support that each level of funding can provide.

Classification 1 ($10,731/year) Maria, 78, lives independently but finds heavy housework a stretch and values regular social connection. Her funding covers fortnightly cleaning, weekly transport to a social group, and a monthly garden tidy. She manages her own cooking and personal care. After care management, her quarterly budget is roughly $2,415 — enough for around 5–6 hours of services per week.

Classification 2 ($16,034/year) Peter, 80, has mild arthritis and lives alone. He receives weekly cleaning, fortnightly gardening, a weekly social outing with transport, and one personal care session a week for support with showering on days his joints are painful. Quarterly budget after care management: around $3,608.

Classification 3 ($21,966/year) Robert, 83, has arthritis and mild cognitive changes. His support includes three hours of personal care a week, weekly domestic assistance, fortnightly gardening, and transport to medical appointments. His physiotherapy is covered separately as a clinical service — it doesn't touch his budget. Approximately $4,943 per quarter.

Classification 4 ($29,696/year) Wendy, 85, has osteoporosis, mild heart failure, and early-stage dementia. She receives daily morning personal care, weekly cleaning, fortnightly gardening, two home-delivered meals a week, and regular transport to specialists. Nursing visits for heart monitoring are covered as a clinical service. Quarterly service budget: approximately $6,682.

Classification 5 ($39,697/year) Jean, 86, has diabetes and reduced mobility following a hip replacement. She receives daily personal care, three home-delivered meals a week, weekly domestic assistance, and assistive equipment including a shower chair and grab rails. Podiatry and nursing visits are funded outside her budget. Quarterly budget after care management: around $8,932.

Classification 6 ($48,114/year) Arthur, 88, has COPD and reduced mobility. His support includes twice-daily personal care, daily meal preparation, weekly cleaning and laundry support, continence aids, and a personal alarm. His chest physiotherapy and respiratory nursing are covered as clinical services. Quarterly budget: roughly $10,826.

Classification 7 ($58,148/year) Betty, 90, has advanced arthritis, incontinence, and cognitive changes. She receives twice-daily personal care, daily meal preparation and supervision, regular home maintenance, a full suite of assistive equipment — including a hospital bed, pressure mattress, and hoist — and weekly social support visits. Allied health appointments are covered clinically. Approximately $13,083 per quarter.

Classification 8 ($78,106/year) Harold, 91, lives with advanced Parkinson's disease and dementia. His funding supports twice-daily personal care, daily meal preparation, regular home maintenance, continence supplies, a personal alarm, and respite care for his wife. Complex nursing and allied health are all covered as clinical services. His quarterly budget of roughly $17,574 supports near full-time in-home assistance.

These are illustrative examples, but they show something important: even at Classification 1, you're receiving real, practical support. And at the higher levels, the program can genuinely help people with complex needs to stay at home — which is what it's there to do.

Can your classification change over time?

Yes, and it's worth knowing that a review is always available if your needs change.

Your classification can be reassessed if:

• Your health or functional ability changes noticeably

• You, your family, or your provider requests a review

• A scheduled reassessment takes place (typically every 12–24 months)

You won't be moved to a lower classification without a proper reassessment, and you can appeal any classification decision through the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. If your needs increase suddenly (say, following a hospital stay) your provider can request an urgent reassessment.

If your health improves and your needs genuinely reduce, a lower classification still means funding that's matched to your current situation. And if things change again later, you can always request another reassessment.

How do you get started?

Getting started is a three-step process, and it's worth knowing what's involved before you need it. Whether you're planning ahead or things have recently changed, reaching out sooner means more time to get the right support in place.

Step 1: Contact My Aged Care Call 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au. They'll have an initial conversation with you to understand your situation and confirm the right next step.

Step 2: Assessment A trained aged care assessor will visit your home (or conduct a telehealth assessment in some cases) to understand your care needs.

Step 3: Classification and service commencement You'll receive your classification decision, choose an approved provider, and begin receiving services. Your quarterly budget starts from the date services commence.

At Trilogy Care, we're here to help you make sense of every step, from understanding your classification to making the most of your funding. Get in touch and we'll help you move forward with confidence, on your terms.

Frequently asked questions

What if I disagree with my classification level? You can request a reassessment if you feel your classification doesn't reflect your care needs. Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to start the review process. You can also lodge a formal complaint with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission if you feel the assessment wasn't conducted fairly.

Do I have to spend my full budget every quarter? No. You can roll over up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget (whichever is greater) to the next quarter.

Can I use my funding for services not listed above? The program guidelines set out approved service types, but there's genuine flexibility within those categories. Talk with your provider about your specific needs, they can help you work out what's covered and how to make the most of your funding within your approved care plan.

Are there any costs I need to pay myself? Yes. Participant contributions apply to Independence and Everyday Living services, calculated based on your income and assets. Clinical services are fully government funded. Full pensioners generally pay the least.

This article was reviewed for accuracy on 30 March 2026. Funding amounts are effective from 1 November 2025 and are indexed each year on 1 July. Always confirm current figures with My Aged Care or your approved provider.