Support at Home explained: common questions answered
17 Dec 2025
Support at Home explained by Trilogy Care, for those who needs answers to common questions about the new aged care program.
From 1 November 2025, the Australian Government’s Home Care Package (HCP) program was replaced by a new in-home aged care program called Support at Home.
If you already receive a Home Care Package, or you support an older family member, you might be wondering what has changed, how your funding works now, and what terms like Grandfathered and Hybrid actually mean. This guide explains the key points in plain language so you can understand how Support at Home affects your care at home.
What is the Support at Home program?
Support at Home is the new national aged care program that helps older Australians live independently at home for longer.
It replaces the previous Home Care Package program and is designed to provide:
More flexibility in how services are arranged
Clearer, more transparent pricing
Better access to short-term, restorative and end-of-life support when needs change
Instead of focusing only on four package levels, Support at Home uses eight funding levels and dedicated short-term pathways so support can be better matched to your needs over time.
What happens if you were already on a Home Care Package?
If you were receiving a Home Care Package, you did not lose your support.
On 1 November 2025, you automatically moved to the Support at Home program at the same funding level. Your services can continue with your chosen provider, but they are now delivered under Support at Home rules and funding arrangements.
If you were already approved for a Home Care Package and waiting for one, you are also brought into the new system under the updated funding and assessment framework.
Key benefits of Support at Home
Support at Home brings several important changes compared with the old Home Care Package system.
More funding at higher care needs
For people with higher care needs, the maximum annual funding increases from $63,440 to $78,106. This means more care and support can be funded when your needs are more complex.
Care partners to help manage your care
Under Support at Home, a registered provider acts as your care partner. They help you:
Understand how much funding you have
Plan and coordinate your services
Review and adjust your care as your needs change
Clearer pricing and fewer fees
One of the biggest changes is how fees work. Under Support at Home:
There are no separate administration or package management fees like under HCP
You pay only for the services you receive
It is easier to see where your funding is going
Faster access over time
The aim is to reduce wait times for funding to around three months by 2027, so people can access help at home sooner.
More help with equipment and home changes
Support at Home makes it easier to get the right equipment and home modifications in place. Eligible people can access up to $15,000 upfront for:
Assistive technology, such as walking aids or wheelchairs
Home modifications, such as grab rails, ramps or bathroom changes
Some items may need to be prescribed or recommended by a health professional to make sure they are safe and suitable.
Short-term and end-of-life options
In addition to ongoing funding, Support at Home includes targeted programs to help during specific periods:
The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme
The Short Term Restorative Care Pathway
The End-of-Life Pathway
These options are designed to help people stay safely at home after a setback, during recovery, or in their final months of life.
How Support at Home funding works
Support at Home changes how your funding is structured, but keeps the focus on transparency and control.
Key points:
Your annual government funding is divided into four quarterly budgets (every three months)
If you do not use all your funding in a quarter, you can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% (whichever is higher) into the next quarter
Services Australia manages your funding and pays your provider for the services you receive
You only pay your own client contributions (if applicable) directly to your provider. There are no upfront fees for the government funding itself.
Funding levels and short-term pathways
Support at Home introduces eight ongoing funding levels, rather than the four levels under the Home Care Package program. Your level is based on:
Your assessed care needs
The outcome of your aged care assessment
A priority rating of high, medium or standard
Alongside these levels, there are three main short-term pathways:
Restorative Care Pathway – Temporary, intensive support to help you improve or maintain independence after illness, a fall or a hospital stay
End-of-Life Pathway – For people with less than three months to live, with up to $25,000 over three months to support end-of-life care at home
The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme – For people who need funding for equipment or home modifications
These options sit alongside your ongoing funding and are used when your situation changes and you need a different type of support for a period of time.
Assistive technology and home modifications
Support at Home recognises that small changes at home can make a big difference to safety and independence.
If you are eligible, you can access up to $15,000 upfront for:
Assistive technology, such as wheelchairs, walking frames, shower chairs and other mobility aids
Home modifications, such as grab rails, ramps, wider doorways or bathroom alterations
A health professional may need to prescribe or recommend some items, to make sure they are clinically appropriate and fit your needs.
Grandfathered and Hybrid clients explained
Support at Home also introduces specific rules for people who were already in, or entering, the Home Care Package system before the changeover.
Grandfathered clients
You are considered a Grandfathered client if, on 12 September 2024, you were:
Receiving a Home Care Package, or
On the National Priority System (NPS) waiting list for a Home Care Package, or
Assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package
Grandfathered clients are protected by a no worse off principle. This means:
You will pay the same or less than you would have under the Home Care Package system
If you are a full-rate pensioner who currently pays no fees, you will not pay fees under Support at Home
If you currently pay fees, your contribution may change, but you will not pay more than you do now
If you are reassessed after 1 July 2025, your contribution may be adjusted based on your services, but only where it results in a fair outcome
Hybrid clients
You are a Hybrid client if you were approved for a Home Care Package between 13 September 2024 and 30 June 2025 (inclusive).
For Hybrid clients:
You move to the standard Support at Home arrangements on 1 November 2025
Your care, pricing and client contributions follow the new Support at Home fees framework from that date
What this means for you
Support at Home is designed to keep older Australians living independently at home, with clearer funding, more flexible support and stronger protections for people who were already in the Home Care Package system.
In practical terms, this means:
Your existing support does not suddenly stop
You have more visibility over how your funding is used
There are clearer options if your needs increase, you need equipment or you are approaching end of life
If you are unsure whether you are a Grandfathered or Hybrid client, what funding level you are on, or how your quarterly budget will work, speak with your provider or an aged care assessor. Getting clarity now will help you plan your support with confidence and make the most of the new Support at Home program.
If you want to know more about Support at Home, call the team on 1300 459 190 or view our Support at Home guides.
