Questions and answers

Support at Home is the Australian Government's in-home aged-care programme. Since 1 November 2025 it replaced Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care with a single, unified system focused on choice, flexibility and independence. (The Commonwealth Home Support Programme transitions across later — no earlier than 1 July 2027.)

It uses one assessment instead of several, tailors services to your goals rather than fixed package levels, and organises support into three clear categories with transparent, means-tested contributions.

If you were receiving a Home Care Package, you transitioned to Support at Home automatically when it commenced on 1 November 2025, keeping your existing support.

Generally people aged 65+ (50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) who live in their own home or a retirement village, need help to stay independent, and are Australian citizens, permanent residents, or hold an eligible visa.

Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. They'll do a short phone screening and, if needed, arrange a comprehensive in-home assessment, then help develop your support plan.

No. The My Aged Care assessment to determine your eligibility and needs is free.

Yes. A family member, friend or advocate can help you contact My Aged Care, be present at your assessment, and support you through the process. Interpreter services are available.

Your contribution is means-tested and depends on the service category. Clinical supports are fully government-funded (0%) for everyone. Independence services range from 5% (full pensioners) to 50% (self-funded retirees). Everyday living services range from 17.5% to 80%. Part-pensioners sit on a sliding scale between, based on an income-and-assets assessment.

By the service category (clinical / independence / everyday living) and your means, as assessed by Services Australia. Full pensioners pay the lowest rates; self-funded retirees the highest.

Ongoing-service budgets are allocated quarterly. Unspent funds carry over to the next quarter up to a cap — the greater of $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget. Amounts above that return to the government.

Services sit in three categories: Clinical supports (nursing, wound care, allied health), Independence services (personal care, mobility, transport, respite, social support), and Everyday living services (cleaning, home maintenance, gardening, meals).

Yes — through the separate Assistive Technology & Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme, which provides tiered upfront funding that doesn't draw down your quarterly service budget. Items still attract a participant contribution at the Independence rate (5–50%, means-tested); prescription and related clinical services are fully funded.

Yes. Support at Home gives you greater choice and control over which providers deliver your services and how your care is delivered.