The Support at Home program explained: your complete 2026 guide

Australia's home care system underwent a significant change on 1 November 2025, with the introduction of the Support at Home program, replacing the Home Care Packages program. For the first time, every older Australian accessing funded care at home is covered by a single, unified program. 

Whether you are exploring your own options, transitioning from a Home Care Package, or helping a parent navigate what comes next, this guide gives you a clear, honest overview of how Support at Home works, what it covers, how funding is structured, what you might contribute, and how to get the most from it. 

What is the Support at Home program? 

Support at Home is the Australian Government's new home care program for older Australians. Launched on 1 November 2025, it replaced both the Home Care Packages (HCP) program and the Short-Term Restorative Care program.  

The program is built on a straightforward principle: your care should be personalised to your goals, your household, and your life. It provides government-funded support to help you remain living safely and independently at home for as long as possible, with the right people around you. 

Support at Home is administered through My Aged Care and delivered by registered providers. You choose your provider, you direct your care, and with the right provider, you stay in control of how your funding is used. 

How does Support at Home differ from Home Care Packages? 

If you or a family member received a Home Care Package, the transition to Support at Home brought real changes. It was not just a name change.  

The funding model shifted from daily subsidies to quarterly budgets. The four HCP levels were replaced by eight Support at Home classifications. The service categories were restructured and contribution rules changed depending on when you entered the system. 

For many people who were already receiving a Home Care Package, these changes are mostly administrative. Your care continues, and the 'No Worse Off' principle means you should not be paying more out of pocket as a direct result of the transition. 

For people new to the system, Support at Home offers a cleaner, more transparent framework than the old program. It comes with higher maximum funding, clearer pricing rules, and a dedicated pathway for equipment and home modifications. 

Who is eligible for Support at Home? 

Support at Home is available to older Australians who have been assessed as needing help to remain living safely and independently at home. To be eligible, you generally need to: 

• Be aged 65 or over (50 or over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) 

• Have an assessed need for in-home support 

• Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or hold an eligible visa 

• Not be receiving equivalent support through another government-funded program 

Eligibility is assessed through My Aged Care. The assessment process has changed under the new program. A single Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) now covers the full range of aged care needs, replacing the separate Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) and Regional Assessment Service (RAS) assessments previously used.

To get started, call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au. A staff member will complete an initial screening over the phone and arrange a home assessment if appropriate. 

How to access Support at Home: step by step 

The process of accessing Support at Home follows a simple sequence. 

Step 1: Contact My Aged Care 

Call 1800 200 422 or use the online eligibility checker at myagedcare.gov.au. A staff member will ask about your current circumstances and either arrange an assessment or refer you to the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) if your needs are lower level. 

Step 2: Have a home assessment 

A trained assessor will visit you at home to understand your health, your daily routine, and the goals you want to achieve with support. This assessment determines your Support at Home classification and informs your Notice of Decision. 

Step 3: Receive your Notice of Decision 

My Aged Care will send you a Notice of Decision confirming your approved classification and any short-term pathway supports you have been approved for. This document is your formal approval to access Support at Home funding. 

Step 4: Choose a registered provider 

You choose a registered Support at Home provider to organise and manage your care. Your provider works with you to build a support plan and begin coordinating services. You can change providers at any time; there are no exit fees. 

Step 5: Begin your care 

Once your provider is in place, your quarterly budget becomes available and your services begin. You will receive a monthly statement showing what you have received, what you have spent, and what remains in your quarterly balance. 

The eight Support at Home classifications 

Under the old Home Care Packages program, there were four funding levels. Support at Home replaced these with eight classifications, ranging from light assistance for people who are mostly independent through to comprehensive clinical and personal care for those with complex ongoing needs. 

Your classification is determined by your aged care assessment. It reflects the type and intensity of support you need to live safely at home. It also directly determines your quarterly funding amount, and therefore how many hours of services you can access each quarter. 

The maximum annual funding under Support at Home is $78,106 (Classification 8). Under the old HCP Level 4, the equivalent annual amount was approximately $62,013. 

Your classification can be reviewed if your needs change. You can request a reassessment at any time through your provider or My Aged Care. 

How quarterly budgets work 

One of the most practical changes under Support at Home is how your funding is structured. Rather than a daily subsidy that accumulates over time, your annual funding is divided into four equal quarterly budgets. One budget is released at the start of each quarter. 

This means you know exactly what funding you have available from day one of each quarter, making it easier to plan services ahead of time. 

If you have unspent funds at the end of a quarter, you can carry over up to $1,000 or 10 per cent of your quarterly budget, whichever is the higher amount. Any unspent funds above this limit will not roll over automatically. Separate arrangements apply to unspent funds that transferred across from the old HCP program, which are held in a separate account and are not subject to the same carryover cap. 

What will you contribute? 

Support at Home is a government-subsidised program, which means the government funds a significant portion of your care. However, if you have the financial capacity to contribute, you are asked to do so. The amount you pay depends on the type of services you access and your financial circumstances. 

Clinical care (nursing, allied health, and other health services) is fully funded by the government for everyone, regardless of income or assets. For independence support and everyday living services, a means-tested contribution applies, with full Age Pension recipients paying the least and self-funded retirees contributing more. 

If you transitioned from a Home Care Package, the government's 'No Worse Off' principle means your out-of-pocket costs should not be higher than they were under the old system as a direct result of the transition. 

What services does Support at Home cover? 

Support at Home covers a broad range of services to help you remain living safely and comfortably at home. All approved services must be linked to your assessed needs and goals. They are organised into three categories. 

Clinical care includes nursing and wound management, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, dietetics, and continence support. 

Independence support covers personal care such as showering, dressing, and mobility assistance. 

Everyday living includes domestic assistance, meal preparation, social support, transport, and shopping. 

Not everything can be funded through Support at Home. The service list has clear inclusions and exclusions and understanding these helps you plan your care more effectively. 

Assistive Technology and Home Modifications 

One of the most welcome additions in the new program is the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme. This is a dedicated funding pathway, separate from your quarterly budget, that provides upfront funding for equipment, assistive technology, and home modifications to improve your safety and independence at home. 

AT-HM funding is available through three tiers (Low, Medium, and High) with separate budgets for assistive technology and home modifications. High-tier funding provides up to $15,000 for each category, with a lifetime cap applying to home modifications. For assistive technology, higher amounts may be approved in certain circumstances with a valid professional prescription. Funding must generally be used within 12 months of approval. 

You do not need to save from your quarterly budget to access AT-HM funding, it is approved and provided independently. 

Care management and what providers can charge 

Under Support at Home, 10 per cent of your quarterly budget is automatically allocated to care management. This covers the cost of your provider organising and overseeing your care, including developing your support plan, managing safety and compliance, and coordinating services on your behalf. This cap ensures that at least 90 per cent of your funding goes directly to your care. 

Care management is the work your provider does behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly, safely, and in line with your goals. Understanding exactly what you are paying for within that 10 per cent is important when comparing providers. 

Short-term support pathways 

In addition to your ongoing quarterly budget, Support at Home includes dedicated short-term pathways for people with specific circumstances. 

The Restorative Care Pathway provides up to $6,000 of intensive allied health services, for up to 16 weeks, to help you regain or maintain function if you are experiencing a functional decline that may be reversible. There is also the End-of-Life Pathway for people with a prognosis of three months or less who wish to remain at home, providing up to $25,000 over a 12-week period (which may be extended up to 16 weeks). There is also interim funding for those waiting for their classification funding to activate. 

These pathways are separate from your ongoing Support at Home classification and do not draw from your quarterly budget. 

What if your needs are lower level? The CHSP and the transition to Support at Home 

Not everyone who needs care will qualify for Support at Home. If your needs are lower level, for example occasional help with cleaning, transport, or meals, you may be referred to the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) instead. 

The CHSP is a separately funded, entry-level program providing individual services to help older Australians with basic day-to-day tasks. It is not yet part of the Support at Home program, though the government has indicated the two programs will eventually be integrated. 

Grandfathered, hybrid, and new clients 

How Support at Home applies to you depends on when you entered the system. There are three groups and knowing which one you belong to matters because it directly affects what you pay and what protections apply to you. 

Grandfathered clients were already receiving a Home Care Package, on the national waiting list, or assessed as eligible for a package as of 12 September 2024. They retain the more favourable contribution rules from the old Home Care Package program, this is known as the 'no worse off' principle. 

Transitional clients (sometimes called Hybrid clients) were approved for a Home Care Package after 12 September 2024 and transitioned to Support at Home on 1 November 2025. They sit between the two frameworks, the 'no worse off' principle does not apply to them, and they are subject to the new Support at Home contribution arrangements. 

New clients entered the Support at Home system from 1 November 2025 onwards. They are fully subject to the new contribution rules, which are based on income and assets. 

If you are unsure which group you belong to, your provider can help you confirm your status. 

Self-managed vs fully coordinated care 

One of the most important decisions you will make under Support at Home is how your care is organised. 

Most providers offer either a fully coordinated model, where the provider manages everything, or a self-managed model, where you take an active role in choosing and directing your own workers. 

At Trilogy Care, we believe self-management is one of the most effective ways to stretch your Support at Home funding further. When you self-manage, you choose your own trusted workers at fair local rates, and we handle the safety, compliance, and claims administration behind the scenes.  

If you would prefer someone to take care of the coordination for you, our fully coordinated service includes a dedicated Care Coordinator to manage your services on your behalf. Speak with our team to find out the current rates for both options. 

How to choose the right Support at Home provider 

Your choice of provider has a direct impact on how much care you receive and how well your funding is managed. The key things to look for are transparent, competitive pricing with no hidden fees; genuine flexibility to choose your own workers and adjust your plan; responsive and relationship-based communication; and values that put your interests first. 

Getting started with Trilogy Care 

If you are ready to start or switch to Trilogy Care, the process is simple. We offer Same Day Sign On, which means there is no delay between your decision to join and your care beginning. 

Our team will explain your options clearly, walk you through your entitlements under your classification, help you build a support plan that reflects your goals, and make sure you understand your contribution obligations before your first monthly statement arrives. 

Call us on 1300 459 190 or visit trilogycare.com.au for a free, no-obligation chat. No commitments. Just a helpful, honest conversation about what is possible. 

Frequently asked questions 

Do I need a new assessment to move to Support at Home? 

No. If you were receiving a Home Care Package on 31 October 2025, you transitioned automatically to Support at Home at your equivalent funding level. You only need a reassessment if your care needs have changed and you want to be considered for a higher classification. 

Can I keep my current workers? 

Yes. You choose your own workers under Support at Home. If you self-manage with Trilogy Care, you can continue using the workers you already know and trust. 

What happens to my unspent Home Care Package funds? 

Your unspent HCP funds transfer with you to Support at Home and are held separately from your quarterly budget. There is no cap on how much you can carry across from the old system, these funds remain yours to use. 

Can I switch providers? 

Yes, at any time, with no exit fees. If you are thinking about switching to Trilogy Care, our team will make the transition seamless and ensure there is no gap in your services. 

Will I pay more under Support at Home than under Home Care Packages? 

If you are a grandfathered client, the 'No Worse Off' principle means your out-of-pocket costs should not increase as a direct result of the transition. If you are a new client, your contributions will be calculated under the new framework based on your income and assets. 

This article is intended as a general guide only. Support at Home program details, funding amounts, and contribution rules are set by the Australian Government and are subject to change. For personalised advice, speak with your provider or visit myagedcare.gov.au. Funding amounts are current as of 1 November 2025 and are subject to indexation revisions in March and September each year.