Support at Home: Understanding the new Home Priority System

Last updated: November 2025

From 1 November 2025, a new way of accessing aged care support at home begins. The Support at Home program replaces Home Care Packages with a simpler, fairer system. This guide explains how you’ll be prioritised and how funding works.

What is changing?

The Support at Home program replaced the Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme from 1 November 2025. The Commonwealth Home Support Program will join Support at Home no earlier than 1 July 2027.

This change puts you at the centre of aged care. It creates a safer and fairer system and ensures everyone has the quality of life they deserve.

How the new priority system works

Getting assessed

Your needs will be assessed in person, usually at your home. This assessment helps determine your priority level and the funding you’ll receive. People with higher or more complex needs will get support sooner.

If you’re already in the system

If you are currently receiving a Home Care Package or have been approved and are waiting for a Home Care Package to be allocated, you will automatically transition to the Support at Home program on 1 November 2025. You won’t need a new assessment unless your needs change.

What if there’s a wait?

When wait times for services exceed expectations, participants will be assigned an interim allocation of their Support at Home classification budget while they wait to receive their full funding. This means you’ll get 60% of your budget straight away, with the remaining 40% when full funding becomes available.

Understanding your funding

Eight new classification levels

Support at Home has 8 classifications for ongoing services and 4 classifications for transitioned Home Care Package recipients. Each level has a specific budget matched to your care needs.

The eight ongoing classifications offer more options than the previous four Home Care Package levels. This means your support can be better matched to what you actually need.

How budgets work

Your funding will work differently:

• Annual to quarterly: Annual ongoing Support at Home budgets will be broken into quarterly (3-monthly) budgets. This means you’ll have a fresh budget every three months.
• Saving unspent funds: Participants can carry over unspent funds of up to $1,000 or 10% of the quarterly budget, whichever is greater. This gives you flexibility to save for larger purchases.
• Care management: 10% of your quarterly budget will be set aside for care management services. This ensures your provider can properly plan and coordinate your care.

If you’re transitioning from Home Care Packages

Home Care Package care recipients will retain their unspent funds when they transition to Support at Home, for use in their Support at Home quarterly budget. Your existing funds come with you.

What services can you access?

You’ll have access to a clear, defined list of approved services. These fall into three main categories:

• Clinical support – nursing, therapy, health services
• Independence – personal care, equipment, home modifications
• Everyday living – cleaning, gardening, meal preparation, shopping

The Support at Home service list outlines the services that participants can access under Support at Home.

How will services be delivered?

Each participant will have a single service provider who will be responsible for delivering direct care services or arranging a third party to do so. Your provider will also handle care management to ensure you receive care that matches your preferences and needs.

You may have the option to self-manage some aspects of your care if you prefer more control.

Paying for services

Provider pricing

Initially, Support at Home providers will set their own prices for services. From 1 July 2026, government-set price caps will apply. Price caps will include the full cost of delivering a service, including administration and travel costs.

Your contributions

Your contribution depends on the type of service and your financial situation:

• Clinical care: Fully funded by the government
• Independence services: You may contribute up to 50%
• Everyday living services: You may contribute up to 80%

Important protection: A ‘no worse-off’ principle for contribution arrangements will prevent the 2025 aged care reforms from negatively impacting current home care recipients. If you were in the system before 12 September 2024, you’ll pay the same or less than you would have under the old system.

There is also a lifetime cap on contributions, which will be indexed annually.

Two special pathways

Restorative Care Pathway

This short-term pathway gives you up to 16 weeks of intensive support from allied health professionals and nurses. It’s designed to help you regain or maintain your independence after illness or injury.

End-of-Life Pathway

This pathway provides additional support for people who wish to spend their final months at home. It ensures you can receive the care you need with dignity and comfort.

If you’re new to aged care support:

• Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
• Complete your assessment
• Receive your priority rating and classification
• Choose your provider
• Start receiving support

Need more information?

Contact us for a free aged care consultation on 1300 882 962