How many hours a week does Classification 1 buy?
Last updated 21 August 2026
Budget figures current as at the 1 July 2026 indexation (2026-27); median hourly prices from the mid-2026 National Summary of Support at Home Prices.
The short version
- Classification 1 buys about one and a half hours of help a week at national median prices, once care management is paid for.
- The quarterly budget of $2,752.50 works out to about $211.73 a week - roughly $190.56 for services after the 10% care management cap.
- At this level, every choice shows. An occupational therapy hour ($222 median) costs two hours of social support ($111 median).
- A lower-priced provider, or one that charges less than the full 10% for care management, can add a genuine extra half hour to your week.
Classification 1 is the smallest of the eight ongoing budgets - designed for one or two entry-level supports, not daily care. Here’s exactly how the dollars turn into hours, and where the budget stretches or shrinks.
The maths, step by step
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Quarterly budget (2026-27) | $2,752.50 |
| ÷ 13 weeks in a quarter | ≈ $211.73 a week |
| − care management (capped at 10%) | − $21.17 |
| = left for services each week | ≈ $190.56 |
| ÷ $115 - the median personal care hour | ≈ 1.7 hours a week |
Care management is capped at 10% of your quarterly budget, and it’s the first thing that comes out. Some providers charge the full cap; others charge less, which leaves more for services. The $115 divisor is just a benchmark - the median personal care hour from the government’s quarterly price summary. Your actual hours depend on what you book and what your provider charges.
Three ways the same small budget can look
Because the budget is modest, the mix matters more at Classification 1 than at any other level. Two realistic weeks, then a look at what provider pricing does:
| Service | Rate | Hours / week | Cost / week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning & laundry | $110/hr | 1 hr | $110.00 |
| Social support (shopping trip, outing) | $111/hr | 0.5 hr | $55.50 |
| Care management (10%) | - | - | $21.17 |
| Total | 1.5 hrs | $186.67 of $211.73 weekly budget |
| Service | Rate | Hours / week | Cost / week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupational therapy (home safety, daily tasks) | $222/hr | 0.5 hr | $111.00 |
| Cleaning | $110/hr | 0.5 hr | $55.00 |
| Care management (10%) | - | - | $21.17 |
| Total | 1 hr | $187.17 of $211.73 weekly budget |
Neither week is wrong. An OT can change how safely you manage for months; a cleaner changes how this week feels. Many people at this level alternate - allied health one fortnight, an extra domestic hour the next.
| Service | Rate | Hours / week | Cost / week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower-priced provider - cleaning at $93.50/hr (15% under median) | $93.50/hr | 2 hrs | $187.00 |
| Higher-priced provider - cleaning at $126.50/hr (15% over median) | $126.50/hr | 1.5 hrs | $189.75 |
| Care management (10%) | - | - | $21.17 |
| Total | 2 hrs vs 1.5 hrs | $208.17 / $210.92 of $211.73 weekly budget |
All figures are indicative. Providers set their own prices - the low and high rates above are illustrations either side of the published median, and evening or weekend visits usually cost more again. See typical hourly rates.
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme - the older program for entry-level help like cleaning and community transport - continues as a separate program until at least 30 June 2029, under an extension announced on 20 August 2026. If your needs are light, your assessment may point you there instead of (or before) Support at Home. How the two compare.
How to get more hours from the same budget
- Compare hourly prices before you sign. On a $2,752.50 quarter, a provider charging 15% under the median for cleaning buys you roughly 26 extra hours a year. Compare typical rates.
- Ask what care management actually costs. The 10% is a cap, not a fixed price. A provider charging less than the cap frees up budget for services. How the fee works.
- Consider self-management. Taking on more of the coordination yourself usually means lower fees and more say over who comes - self-management explained.
- Lean on the cheaper end of the service list. Social support ($111) and cleaning ($110) stretch further than home maintenance ($150) or allied health ($194-$222) - and equipment like grab rails comes from the separate AT-HM scheme, not these hours.
Make a small budget work harder
At Classification 1, the difference between an average provider and a well-priced one is measured in whole hours. Tell us your postcode and we’ll show you who services your area and what they charge.
Common questions
Is one and a half hours a week really all I get?
For ongoing paid services at median prices, yes - that’s the honest arithmetic. Many people book fortnightly instead: three hours every second week often suits a cleaning-and-shopping routine better. And equipment, rails and minor home modifications don’t come out of these hours - they’re funded through the separate AT-HM scheme (tiers of $500, $2,000 and $15,000 over 12 months). How AT-HM works.
Does care management have to cost the full 10%?
No - 10% is the maximum a provider can take, about $275 a quarter at this level. It’s free to you (clinical care carries no contribution) but it consumes budget, so a provider charging under the cap effectively gives you time back. Ask for the figure before you sign. The fee explained.
What happens to budget I don’t use in a quarter?
Unspent funds roll over up to the greater of $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget - at Classification 1, that means up to $1,000 can carry forward. Anything above the cap doesn’t accumulate, so a steady routine beats saving up. Unspent funds explained.
What if an hour and a half a week isn’t enough any more?
Ask for a free reassessment through My Aged Care (1800 200 422) rather than going without. Classification 2 is around $4,113 a quarter - see how Classifications 1 and 2 compare - and there’s no charge or penalty for being reassessed. How reassessment works.
Sources
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing - Support at Home program classifications and budgets, 1 July 2026 indexation.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing - National Summary of Support at Home Prices (median service prices), 2026.
- Support at Home Program Manual - quarterly budgets, care management cap and the defined service list.
- My Aged Care, myagedcare.gov.au - Support at Home program guidance, accessed 21 August 2026.