What is the Support at Home Program?

The Support at Home program is Australia's reformed in-home aged care system, the largest overhaul of the sector in three decades. Introduced under the Aged Care Act 2024, the Support at Home program replaces the legacy Home Care Packages (HCP) program and the Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programme with a unified, transparent, and needs-based system.

For decades, Australian families struggled with long waiting queues, confusing unspent fund rules, and exorbitant provider administration fees that swallowed up to a third of government package subsidies. The Support at Home program addresses these issues directly by establishing 8 granular classification levels with published annual budgets, quarterly funding allocations, and statutory fee caps.

Key Benefit for Families
Under the Support at Home program, all clinical healthcare services, such as nursing, pain management, and allied health treatments are 100% government-funded. Care recipients pay zero out-of-pocket co-payments for medical and clinical care.

Support at Home Classification Budgets 2026

Each of the 8 Support at Home classifications comes with a set annual government budget. Your classification is determined by an aged care assessment. These are the published 2026 funding levels:

Classification Annual Budget Quarterly Budget Typical Care Needs
Class 1 $11,000 $2,750 Basic domestic help, social connection
Class 2 $16,500 $4,125 Light personal care, transport
Class 3 $23,000 $5,750 Regular personal care, mobility support
Class 4 $31,000 $7,750 Daily living assistance, nutritional support
Class 5 $41,000 $10,250 Frequent clinical visits, dementia support
Class 6 $52,000 $13,000 High care needs, structured personal care
Class 7 $64,000 $16,000 Complex care, daily nursing
Class 8 $78,000+ $19,500+ Intensive clinical and palliative care

For a detailed breakdown of what each classification covers, see our 8 classifications explained guide.

Support at Home vs Home Care Packages: Key Changes

The transition from the old Home Care Package framework to the Support at Home program introduces five structural improvements for older Australians living independently. For a full side-by-side analysis, read our Support at Home vs Home Care Packages comparison:

Feature Old System (Home Care Packages) New System (Support at Home 2026)
Care Levels 4 broad levels (Level 1 to 4) 8 targeted classifications + 2 short-term pathways
Funding Cycle Monthly subsidy payments with complex unspent accruals Quarterly tailored budgets tied directly to care plans
Clinical Care Costs Deducted from general package budget 100% Government funded (Zero co-payment)
Care Management Fee Uncapped (providers charged up to 35%) Statutory 10% maximum cap
Assistive Technology Drawn slowly from package accruals Separate upfront capital scheme for rapid delivery

The 3 Service Categories (Clinical, Independence, Living)

Every dollar allocated in a Support at Home quarterly budget falls into one of three distinct service tiers. See the complete Support at Home service list for every funded item:

  • 1. Clinical Supports: Includes registered nursing, wound care, medication management, speech pathology, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy. Fully covered by the Commonwealth.
  • 2. Independence Supports: Covers personal care (showering, dressing), mobility aids, assistive technology, respite care, and home modifications.
  • 3. Everyday Living Supports: Includes house cleaning, gardening, meal preparation, shopping assistance, and community transport. Subject to modest, means-tested client contributions.

The 10% Care Management Fee Cap

One of the major consumer protections in the reform is the introduction of a strict 10% ceiling on care management charges. Providers are legally prohibited from deducting more than 10% of the allocated budget for coordination, scheduling, and administrative oversight. Package management fees have been eliminated entirely.

Check Your Provider Agreement
If your current provider is attempting to invoice administration or onboarding charges above the 10% statutory limit, you are legally entitled to switch providers with zero exit penalties.

How to Apply and Assessment Process

To access the Support at Home program, Australian seniors or their authorised representatives must complete a Single Assessment through the ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) framework:

  1. Register with My Aged Care: Submit an application online or call the official contact centre on 1800 200 422. See our My Aged Care guide for step-by-step help.
  2. In-Home Clinical Assessment: An accredited assessor evaluates cognitive, mobility, domestic, and clinical care needs in the applicant's home.
  3. Classification Notice & Support Plan: Within 2 to 6 weeks, you receive an official approval letter detailing your assigned classification (Level 1 to 8) and approved quarterly budget.
  4. Select an Approved Provider: Partner with a registered Support at Home provider to tailor your service delivery schedule.

Support at Home Guides

Have Questions About the New Classifications?

Read our comprehensive FAQ guide covering 35 specific questions on budgets, transition rules, and fee caps.

Read the 35 Support at Home FAQs →