Support at Home vs CHSP: two programs, one goal
Last updated 21 August 2026
The short version
- The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is the entry-level program - a service or two, arranged directly with local providers, without a personal budget.
- Support at Home is for higher or more complex needs - a classification, a quarterly budget, and a provider coordinating a package of services.
- CHSP is still running - and staying: on 20 August 2026 the government confirmed it continues as a standalone program until at least 30 June 2029. The planned merger into Support at Home has been abandoned.
- You generally can’t hold both at once - though CHSP can provide interim services while you wait for Support at Home funding to be released.
What CHSP is, and how it differs
CHSP is the “light touch” end of aged care at home. Rather than a personal budget, the government funds providers directly to deliver blocks of entry-level services - a weekly clean, community transport, delivered meals, social groups, basic home maintenance. You pay a modest fee set by each provider, there’s no means assessment of the Support at Home kind, and getting started is usually much faster: the same My Aged Care registration and assessment process applies, but CHSP services don’t sit behind the National Priority System queue.
Support at Home is the deeper program. A Single Assessment places you in one of 8 classifications with a quarterly budget - currently from $2,752.50 to $20,034.28 - that funds a coordinated mix from the defined service list, including clinical care, which is free. The trade-off is the wait: funding is released through the National Priority System, and medium-priority waits are currently running at 8-11 months.
CHSP isn’t closing. When Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025, CHSP stayed separate - and on 20 August 2026 the government announced it will stay that way, abandoning the planned merger into Support at Home. CHSP continues as a standalone program until at least 30 June 2029. If you’re receiving CHSP services now, nothing changes for you - there’s no need to act. Read our summary of the announcement.
Which one fits - and when to move
CHSP is often enough when you need one or two straightforward services and are otherwise managing: help with the vacuuming, a lift to appointments, meals a few days a week, or a hand in the garden after a hip replacement heals. It’s quick to arrange and low-fuss, and many people stay happily at this level for years.
Support at Home is the right move when needs stack up: you need personal care most days, nursing or allied health alongside domestic help, your carer needs regular respite, or the CHSP hours available locally simply can’t cover what’s required. A budget-based program with care management is built for exactly that coordination.
Moving from CHSP to Support at Home starts with contacting My Aged Care (1800 200 422) and asking for a new assessment - being a CHSP client doesn’t transfer you automatically. After the Single Assessment you’ll receive a classification and join the National Priority System. Two things to know about the gap: your CHSP services can continue as interim support while you wait, and approval doesn’t expire, so there’s no risk in applying early. Once your Support at Home services begin, your ongoing needs are met from your budget rather than through CHSP - you generally can’t run both programs side by side.
Not sure which side of the line you’re on?
Describe what help is needed in a typical week and we’ll give you an honest read on whether CHSP covers it or it’s time to apply for Support at Home - and what the wait might look like.
Common questions
Can I keep my CHSP services while I wait for Support at Home?
Yes - this is the main exception to the “not both” rule. CHSP commonly provides interim services for people approved for Support at Home who are still in the National Priority System queue. Our guide to managing the wait covers this and other options.
Will I be forced off CHSP in 2027?
No. The long-planned move of CHSP into Support at Home was abandoned on 20 August 2026 - CHSP continues as a standalone program until at least 30 June 2029, and CHSP clients keep receiving services as usual. If you read something citing a “1 July 2027” transition, it predates that announcement. More on what was announced.
Is CHSP cheaper for me than Support at Home?
Often, though it depends on your means. CHSP providers charge modest set fees. Under Support at Home you pay a means-tested percentage per service - nothing on clinical care, 5-50% on independence services, 17.5-80% on everyday living. For a full pensioner the difference is usually small; for self-funded retirees CHSP fees can be noticeably lower. Check your own numbers against our contributions guide, and confirm your position with Services Australia.
Do I need a new assessment to move from CHSP to Support at Home?
Yes. Contact My Aged Care and request an assessment for ongoing services - the Single Assessment at your home decides your classification. It’s free, and asking for it doesn’t affect your current CHSP services while you wait.
What if my needs are urgent and CHSP can’t cover them?
Tell the assessor everything - priority on the National Priority System reflects urgency, and urgent cases typically wait around a month rather than many. Short-term options can also bypass the queue: the Restorative Care Pathway after a setback, or the End-of-Life Pathway where time is short.
Sources
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, health.gov.au - Commonwealth Home Support Programme, including the 20 August 2026 announcement that CHSP continues standalone until at least 30 June 2029, accessed 21 August 2026.
- Support at Home Program Manual - eligibility, assessment and interim service arrangements.
- My Aged Care, myagedcare.gov.au - CHSP and Support at Home program guidance, accessed 20 August 2026.