Understanding Home Care Packages and Funding Options in 2026

If you're exploring home-care support for yourself or a loved one, you may have heard about Support at Home, Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) and the older Home Care Packages (HCP). The landscape is changing, so here’s a clear guide to what’s current, what’s new, and what funding options now look like under the 2025 reforms.

What’s changed? Home Care Packages are now replaced by Support at Home

On 1 November 2025, the Australian Government formally replaced Home Care Packages (and the Short-Term Restorative Care program) with the new Support at Home program.

As a result, Home Care Packages as a program no longer exists for new entrants after that date. Instead, any new requests for in-home funded care will be managed under Support at Home.

If you were already receiving a Home Care Package before the change, the switch to Support at Home is automatic. Your funding and services continue, though now under a new structure.

So when we talk about funding options now, we mean Support at Home, but many of the options people previously accessed via HCP remain, though under new classifications.

Why the change?

Simpler, fairer, more flexible support

The move to Support at Home aims to:

• streamline home-care funding and reduce confusion for older people and their families
• offer a broader and more flexible range of services depending on a person’s needs, from occasional domestic help to ongoing clinical care and support
• make it easier to adjust the level of support over time if needs increase or decrease, without having to reapply for a different package level.

For many families, this should mean a more responsive, tailored approach to home care, and less red tape.

Home care package levels explained: How the old system maps to Support at Home

Under Support at Home, you can access a variety of supports depending on your assessed needs.

Services covered under Support at Home

These include (but aren’t limited to):

• Domestic help (cleaning, laundry, meal prep, shopping)
• Personal care (bathing, showering, help with mobility, dressing)
• Nursing or clinical care (if required)
• Allied health and therapy (physio, occupational therapy, etc.)
• Home maintenance, gardening, modifications or assistive equipment
• Transport and social support / community connection
• Short-term recovery or restorative care after illness or hospital stay
• End-of-life care pathway, if required.

Support at Home is designed to cover the full spectrum, from lighter everyday living support to more intensive, complex care.

How home care package funding works: Budget, classification and contributions

Instead of the old 4-level HCP system, Support at Home uses eight classifications (plus short-term pathways) to help match funding and supports to each person’s needs.

• Once you’re assessed via My Aged Care, you’ll be assigned to a classification that defines the scope and budget of your support.
• Your funding is managed on a quarterly budget basis, which gives flexibility and helps manage changing needs more responsively.
• For many people, the shift to quarterly funding should make it easier to track supports and budgets.

Home care packages costs: What you pay under Support at Home

• Under Support at Home, your contribution towards services depends on your income and assets.

• You only pay for the services you receive, there’s no fixed package management fee as with the older HCP model.

• If you were already receiving a Home Care Package before the change: your contributions and entitlements remain protected. The government has committed to a no worse off principle for existing recipients.

What this means if you already had a Home Care Package

You don’t need to reapply. Your package was automatically converted to a matching Support at Home classification on 1 November 2025.

• The services you currently receive can continue, provided they are within the new Support at Home service list.

• Any unspent funds from your old HCP will be carried over under the new system.
• A reassessment is only needed if your care needs change.

In short: transition was designed to be smooth and to maintain continuity of care.

Who is eligible for funded home care under Support at Home?

To be considered for Support at Home, either as someone new to home care or someone transitioning from HCP, you generally need to meet criteria like:

• Be aged 65 or over (or 50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)
• Have assessed care needs that require more than just light, occasional help, this could be ongoing support, clinical care, allied-health needs, home modifications, or a combination of supports
• Be assessed through My Aged Care (or an approved assessment service) to determine the level of support needed.

Importantly, your eligibility is based on need, not on income or assets (though contributions may vary by means).

Key things to watch when considering home care funding options

Because the reform is recent, service lists, provider pricing and classification budgets are still being finalised. It’s wise to ask providers what services they offer now under Support at Home, and whether they expect any changes.

If you choose to self-manage your care, the rules have changed under Support at Home. There are clearer guidelines about what you can claim, reporting requirements and approved providers.

If your needs change, you may be reassessed and moved to a different classification level, which can increase or change the supports you receive.

Accessing home care packages through My Aged Care: Five steps to get started

1. Contact My Aged Care to request an assessment  (if you haven’t already).
2. If you’re already receiving a Home Care Package, check with your provider that they’ve transitioned you to Support at Home.
3. Review the services you need now (and might need soon), e.g. domestic help, clinical support, allied health, home modifications.
4. When reviewing providers, ask for a clear quote under Support at Home, and ask what’s included, your contribution (if any), and how the budget works quarterly.
5. If needed, explore self-managed care, but only with approved Support at Home providers and with full understanding of reporting and compliance requirements.

Why this matters: More clarity and control for older Australians

The shift to Support at Home offers old and new clients a more flexible, needs-based approach to home care funding. Instead of fixed levels that may not match reality, the new classification and budget approach aims for personalised support, transparency, and easier adjustments over time.

For many older Australians and families, this should translate to:

• fewer delays and confusion when applying for care
• more control over which services are delivered and when
• easier budgeting and understanding of costs and contributions
• ability to adapt care as needs change.

If you're exploring home care, now is a good time to think about whether Support at Home can meet your needs, and to talk to providers about how they’re operating under the new system.

Need support navigating the system?

MyCareSpace helps older Australians, carers and families understand the aged-care system and connect with trusted support workers. Whether you’re new to My Aged Care or transitioning into Support at Home, our team can guide you through each step.

Frequently Asked Questions