How is my My Aged Care Home Care Package affected?

When the My Aged Care Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages, a lot of people worried they'd lose their care or have to start again.

You won't. The change was designed to be smooth, and your existing package was carried across automatically. Here's exactly what stays the same and what's different.

What you DON'T need to do

• You don't need to reapply. Your package was automatically converted on 1 November 2025.
• You don't need a new assessment, unless your care needs change and you want more funding.
• You won't lose your services. The care you receive continues, as long as it's on the new Support at Home service list.

What stays the same

• Your funding level. You were moved to a Support at Home classification that matches your old package level, with an equivalent amount of funding.
• Your supplements. Extras like the oxygen, enteral feeding, veterans' or dementia and cognition supplements carry across.
• Your unspent funds. Any money saved up in your old package transfers over in full, with no cap, and can be used for services or for equipment and home modifications. (Note: any new unspent funds you build up under My Aged Care Support at Home are subject to the normal rollover cap of $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget.)
• Self-management. If you currently self-manage your package, you can keep doing so.

For reference, the transitioned package amounts are roughly:

What's changed

• Annual to quarterly budgets. Instead of one yearly budget, your funding now comes as four quarterly budgets (July, October, January and April). Many people find this easier to track.
• No separate package management fee. Providers can no longer charge a separate package management fee. Care management is capped at 10% of your budget, and there are no separate entry or exit fees.
• New service categories and contribution model. Services are now grouped as clinical (free), independence, and everyday living, and contributions work differently (see below).
• A new service agreement. At some point you'll be asked to sign a new service agreement that lines up with the Aged Care Act 2024.

Will I pay more?

This depends on when you came into the system, so check which group you're in:

• If you were receiving a package, on the waiting list, or assessed as eligible on or before 12 September 2024: the "no worse off" principle protects you. Your contribution won't be higher than what you paid before.
• If you were approved between 12 September 2024 and 31 October 2025: the new contribution rules apply to you from 1 November 2025. The upside is you no longer pay the old basic daily fee or income-tested fee.

Either way, two things are true for everyone: clinical care is free, and there's a lifetime cap on what you can be asked to contribute toward non-clinical care. (See "Fees and contributions, explained")

What to do now

1. Check with your provider that you've been transitioned to Support at Home.
2. Review your services, both what you need now and what you might need soon, like extra domestic help, allied health or home modifications.
3. Ask for a clear quarterly budget breakdown, including your contribution (if any) and how your unspent funds will be used.
4. Make good use of unspent funds, for example on equipment or home modifications, rather than letting them sit idle.
5. If your needs have grown, ask about a reassessment for a higher classification. (See "Support at Home: what help you actually get")

Quick contacts

Your Home Care Package

• Your package moved across automatically, with nothing for you to do.
• Your services, funding level and unspent funds are protected.
• The main changes are quarterly budgets and no separate management fee.
• Whether you pay more depends on your start date, but clinical care is free and a lifetime cap protects you.

This guide is general information, not personal advice. Confirm your situation with your provider or the My Aged Care website or by calling 1800 200 422.