Classification 4: what your budget actually buys
Last updated 20 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.
Classification 4 fills a gap the old system never had. Home Care Packages jumped from about $19,000 straight to $42,000 a year; Classification 4 lands in between, for people whose needs have clearly outgrown a light package but don’t yet call for intensive daily care.
What $7,617.13 a quarter buys in real hours
Across a 13-week quarter, Classification 4 is roughly $586 a week — about $527 for services after the 10% care management cap. At national median prices, that’s roughly 4.5 hours of help a week. Two realistic patterns:
| Service | Median rate | Hours / week | Cost / week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal care (short visits, most weekdays) | $115/hr | 2.5 hrs | $287.50 |
| Cleaning | $110/hr | 1.5 hrs | $165.00 |
| Safety gardening | $118/hr | 0.5 hr | $59.00 |
| Care management (10%) | — | — | $58.59 |
| Total | 4.5 hrs | $570.09 of $585.93 weekly budget |
| Service | Median rate | Hours / week | Cost / week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal care | $115/hr | 2 hrs | $230.00 |
| Cleaning | $110/hr | 1 hr | $110.00 |
| Social support (appointments, outings) | $111/hr | 1.5 hrs | $166.50 |
| Care management (10%) | — | — | $58.59 |
| Total | 4.5 hrs | $565.09 of $585.93 weekly budget |
Indicative only — providers set their own prices, and transport to appointments is often billed with a per-kilometre component on top of worker time. Your contribution rate changes the out-of-pocket amount. Compare typical hourly rates.
Who typically gets Classification 4
This level suits people who need help on most days, across more than one part of life — not just the housework, and not just personal care, but both, with transport or social support threaded through. A typical Classification 4 story: mobility has declined enough that showering, the washing and the shopping all need support, a spouse or daughter is filling the gaps, and everyone can feel that arrangement fraying at the edges.
Because Classification 4 sits between the old HCP Levels 2 and 3, it’s also a common outcome for people reassessed upward from Classification 3 whose needs, while growing, don’t yet justify the substantial jump to Classification 5. Budgeted respite hours can also be built in here to give a family carer a regular break.
There’s no direct old-system equivalent: Classification 4 ($30,468.51 a year) sits between HCP Level 2 ($19,319.45 at the November 2025 transition) and Level 3 ($42,055.30). Former Level 2 recipients map to Classification 3 and former Level 3 recipients to Classification 5 — so landing at 4 after reassessment usually means your needs have grown past your old level. Compare the two systems.
What you’ll contribute at this level
Nursing, allied health and care management are free for everyone. Personal care currently carries a modest independence-category contribution — 5% for full pensioners, sliding upward with means — but from 1 October 2026 it becomes free for everyone, automatically. With 2 to 2.5 personal care hours a week in a typical Classification 4 plan, that change puts real money back in your pocket. Cleaning and gardening keep their everyday living contribution. How contributions are calculated.
Four services, one roster — get it coordinated well
At Classification 4 you’re juggling several service types. A provider with good scheduling saves you hours and frustration. We’ll show you who covers your area and what they charge.
Common questions
Can my budget pay for respite so my carer gets a break?
Yes. Community respite is on the service list (around $130 an hour at the national median) and sits in the independence category. Many Classification 4 plans include a regular respite block so a family carer can rest or keep working.
Is transport to medical appointments covered?
Transport is a covered service in the independence category — either a worker driving you or accompanying you. What’s not covered is anything Medicare already funds, and providers price transport differently, so ask how they bill it. See the full service list.
We were hoping for Classification 5. Should we appeal or wait?
If your Notice of Decision doesn’t reflect what the assessor saw — or your needs change after the assessment — you can seek a review or request a free reassessment through My Aged Care (1800 200 422). It’s worth checking your own situation with My Aged Care before deciding. How reassessment works.
How much of an unused budget carries over each quarter?
Up to the greater of $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget — at Classification 4, that’s up to about $762 by the percentage rule, so the $1,000 floor applies. Funds transferred from an old Home Care Package are exempt from the cap entirely. Unspent funds explained.
Sources
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing — Support at Home program classifications and budgets, 1 July 2026 indexation.
- Support at Home Program Manual — classifications, defined service list and respite.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing — National Summary of Support at Home Prices (median service prices), 2026.
- My Aged Care, myagedcare.gov.au — Support at Home program guidance, accessed 20 August 2026.