Support at Home: what help you actually get (Levels 1 to 8)
On 1 November 2025, Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages as the main way older Australians get help to stay living at home. Instead of four package levels, there are now eight funding classifications. This guide skips the jargon and tells you what help you can actually get.
Support at Home Funding Levels for My Aged Care
Support at Home covers a wide range of services, grouped into a few simple types.
Clinical care (and here's the good news, it's free)
This is health and nursing care, such as nursing visits, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry (foot care), speech therapy and dietitian support.
The big change under Support at Home is that clinical care is fully funded by the government and sits in a separate pot. It doesn't come out of your budget and it doesn't cost you anything, so if you have a clinical need, use it. Under the old system these services competed with everything else for the same money.
Help to stay independent
This includes personal care (help with showering, dressing and grooming), help getting around and staying mobile, transport to appointments and shopping, and social support so you stay connected to your community.
Everyday living
The practical help around the house: cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, gardening and home maintenance.
Equipment and home modifications
Through a separate Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme, you can get things like walking frames, shower chairs, grab rails, ramps or bathroom changes, up to around $15,000 depending on what you need. This is funded separately, so it doesn't eat into your regular budget.
Short-term help when something changes
- Restorative Care Pathway: a short, intensive course of therapy (around 16 weeks) to help you bounce back after an illness, fall or hospital stay.
- End-of-Life Pathway: extra funding over a short period to help someone with a terminal illness stay comfortable at home.
What are the 8 funding levels for Support at Home under My Aged Care
After your My Aged Care assessment, you're placed in one of eight classifications based on your needs.
The higher the level, the more funding you get. These are the approximate annual amounts that applied from 1 November 2025. They're indexed (increased) every 1 July, so treat them as a guide and confirm the current figure with My Aged Care or your provider.
| Level | Approx. funding a year | Who it's generally for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ~$10,700 | Mostly independent, occasional light help |
| 2 | ~$16,000 | Regular light help with personal care and home tasks |
| 3 | ~$22,200 | Moderate, structured help several times a week |
| 4 | ~$31,000 | Near-daily help with personal care and the home |
| 5 | ~$39,700 | Intensive daily care: personal care, mobility, medication |
| 6 | ~$52,900 | High needs with complex daily support |
| 7 | ~$65,300 | Very high, complex needs, near-continuous support |
| 8 | ~$78,100 | Highest level: complex, intensive, multi-service care |
Remember, this is on top of clinical care, which is funded separately and free.
How the money works
- Paid quarterly. Your annual budget is split into four and released at the start of each quarter (July, October, January and April). If you start partway through a quarter, your first budget is worked out from your start date.
- Care management is capped at 10%. Up to 10% of your budget goes to your provider for coordinating and reviewing your care. The other 90% goes to your actual services. This is a big improvement on the old system, where some providers charged much more.
- You can roll over a little. If you don't spend everything in a quarter, you can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of the quarter's budget, whichever is greater. Anything above that goes back to the government, so it's worth using what you're entitled to.
- You may contribute to some costs. Clinical care is free, but you may be asked to contribute towards independence and everyday-living services, based on your income and assets. (See "Fees and contributions, explained.")
- There's a lifetime cap. There's a cap on how much you can be asked to contribute toward your care over your lifetime, so your costs can't keep climbing forever.
Already on a My Aged Care Home Care Package?
If you had a My Aged Care Home Care Package before 1 November 2025, you keep your existing funding (it's now called a "transitioned" package), and any unspent funds carry over.
You only move onto one of the eight new levels if you're reassessed later. (See "Already have a Home Care Package? What changes for you")
If your needs change
Your level isn't fixed forever. If you need more help over time, you can ask My Aged Care or your provider for a reassessment, which may move you to a higher classification with a bigger budget. If you regularly have money left over, that's a sign to review your care plan, you may be entitled to more than you're using.
Two changes coming up
- From 1 July 2026: price caps will apply to many services, so providers can't charge above a set amount. This makes comparing providers easier and stretches your budget further.
- From 1 October 2026: the government will fully fund personal care (such as help with showering and dressing), so it won't cost you anything.
Home Care Packages Levels - Summary
- Support at Home has eight levels, from about $10,700 to $78,100 a year.
- Clinical care is free and separate, so always use what you need.
- Your budget covers personal care, everyday living and staying independent, with separate funding for equipment and home modifications.
- Money is paid quarterly, care management is capped at 10%, and you can ask for a reassessment if your needs grow.
This guide is general information, not personal advice. Funding amounts are indexed each year and rules are still changing, so confirm current figures with the My Aged Care website or by calling 1800 200 422, or with your provider.
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