Support at Home vs Home Care Packages: what actually changed
Last updated 20 August 2026
Support at Home figures current as at the 1 July 2026 indexation; HCP figures are final values at 1 November 2025
The short version
- Home Care Packages ended on 1 November 2025. Everyone with a package moved to Support at Home automatically — nobody had to reapply.
- 4 annual package levels became 8 quarterly classifications, with the top level ($80,137.12 a year) well above the old Level 4.
- Big wins: exit fees banned, care management capped at 10% (was up to 20%), no basic daily fee, and clinical care free for everyone.
- The trade-off: a defined service list replaced HCP flexibility, and means-tested contributions now apply per service.
- If you were in the system at 12 September 2024, “no worse off” grandfathering protects your old fee arrangements — see how grandfathering works.
Old levels vs new classifications: the money
A direct comparison is slightly apples-and-oranges — packages were annual, classifications are quarterly — but converting everything to annual terms shows where the old levels roughly land on the new scale.
| Old HCP level | Final annual value | Nearest new classifications | New annual budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $10,986.50 | Classification 1 | $11,010.01 |
| Level 2 | $19,319.45 | Classification 2 – 3 | $16,451.35 – $22,536.81 |
| Level 3 | $42,055.30 | Classification 5 – 6 | $40,729.53 – $49,365.27 |
| Level 4 | $63,758.20 | Classification 7 – 8 | $59,660.00 – $80,137.12 |
The 8-level scale fills the old gaps — the jump from Level 2 to Level 3 was enormous — and Classification 8 goes well beyond the old Level 4. Transitioned clients kept HCP-equivalent budgets and only move to the new scale on reassessment, with upgrade-only protection. Full table of new budgets: the 8 classifications.
The rule changes that matter day to day
- Quarterly budgets, not annual. Funding now arrives quarter by quarter, and only limited unspent budget rolls over — the greater of $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget. Funds transferred from an old package on 1 November 2025 are exempt from that cap. See unspent funds.
- A defined service list, not provider discretion. HCPs let providers approve a broad range of supports; Support at Home funds only what’s on the national service list. Some familiar items — cosmetic gardening, various household extras — disappeared.
- Care management capped at 10%. Under HCP, care and package management could consume up to 20% of a package. The cap is now 10% of the quarterly budget, and care management is free to you as clinical care. See the 10% fee.
- Exit fees banned. Providers could keep an “exit amount” under HCP rules; under Support at Home they cannot, and switching providers needs no new assessment — your funding and unspent funds follow you.
- A different contribution model. HCP had a basic daily fee plus an income-tested care fee across the whole package. Support at Home has no daily fee; instead you pay a means-tested percentage per service by category — clinical care free, independence 5–50%, everyday living 17.5–80%. From 1 October 2026 personal care becomes free for everyone. Full detail in contributions.
Transitioned clients keep an HCP-equivalent budget, unspent funds moved across in full, and reassessment can only move funding up, never down. Separately, anyone who at 12 September 2024 had a package, was on the National Priority System, or was assessed or approved keeps HCP-era fee arrangements for life under the “no worse off” rules — full pensioners who paid no income-tested care fee keep paying nothing on those services. Details: grandfathering explained.
Working out where you stand under the new rules?
Tell us your old package level and situation, and we’ll walk you through what your budget, fees and protections look like under Support at Home — no jargon, no obligation.
Common questions
Did I lose money in the transition?
No — transitioned clients kept a budget equivalent to their old package level, converted to quarterly instalments, and unspent HCP funds transferred in full (exempt from the rollover cap). It’s worth confirming your transferred balance in writing with your provider if you haven’t already.
Is Support at Home more generous than Home Care Packages?
At the top end, yes: Classification 8 provides $80,137.12 a year against the old Level 4’s $63,758.20, and the 10% care management cap leaves more of every budget for actual services. Against that, the defined service list is stricter, and self-funded retirees generally contribute more per service than under the old income-tested fee. Whether you’re better off depends on your level, means and grandfathering status.
What happened to unspent funds I’d built up over years?
They transferred with you on 1 November 2025 and are exempt from the quarterly rollover cap — they don’t expire. Keep an eye on your monthly statements to make sure the balance is carried correctly, especially if you change providers.
I had the dementia and cognition supplement. Does it continue?
It carried across with your transitioned budget, but it isn’t re-granted after a reassessment moves you onto the new scale. If the supplement is a meaningful part of your funding, weigh that up before requesting reassessment — and ask the assessor how your overall funding would land.
Will my old provider agreement still apply?
You need a service agreement under the new program, and most providers issued updated agreements around the transition. Check yours reflects Support at Home rules — no exit fees, monthly statements, the new contribution categories — and see our guide to service agreements for what to look for.
Sources
- Support at Home Program Manual — transition arrangements, service list, care management cap and unspent funds.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, health.gov.au — Support at Home classifications and budgets (July 2026) and former Home Care Package subsidy rates.
- My Aged Care, myagedcare.gov.au — transition guidance for Home Care Package holders, accessed 20 August 2026.
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission — provider obligations under the Aged Care Act 2024.