1 November 2025: Support at Home replaces Home Care Packages
Last updated 21 August 2026
On 1 November 2025, Support at Home began under the new Aged Care Act 2024, replacing both the Home Care Packages program and Short-Term Restorative Care. It was the biggest change to in-home aged care in a decade - and the first few months were bumpy.
What changed at launch
The new program restructured how funding and fees work:
- Eight classifications with quarterly budgets replaced the four Home Care Package levels and their annual budgets.
- Care management was capped at 10% of the quarterly budget - under Home Care Packages it could run up to 20%.
- The basic daily fee disappeared. Instead, you pay a means-tested percentage per service: clinical care is free for everyone, while independence and everyday living services carry contributions that depend on your pension status.
- Exit fees were banned. Providers can no longer keep an “exit amount” when you leave.
Existing package holders were moved across automatically on 1 November - no reapplication - with budgets equivalent to their old package level, and any unspent Home Care Package funds transferred in full, exempt from the new quarterly rollover cap. The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) stayed separate - and on 20 August 2026 the government confirmed it stays that way, continuing as a standalone program until at least 30 June 2029. For a full side-by-side comparison, see Support at Home vs Home Care Packages.
The bumpy start: billing and pricing confusion
The first summer brought two complaints more than any others. First, meal fees: Support at Home funds only the service component of meal preparation and delivery, not the groceries or ingredients - a distinction that landed on statements as an unexpected out-of-pocket cost. Second, personal care contributions: many full pensioners who had paid no income-tested care fee under their old package were surprised to see a contribution on showering and dressing help, because personal care sat in the “independence” category rather than free clinical care.
That second problem was later addressed directly - the government announced in May 2026 that personal care becomes free for everyone from 1 October 2026. And people covered by the “no worse off” grandfathering rules kept their old fee arrangements throughout - see how grandfathering works.
If a charge on a statement from late 2025 or early 2026 still looks wrong, it’s not too late to query it. Providers must issue monthly statements, and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission can order refunds for overcharging.
What to do
- If you transitioned from a Home Care Package, confirm in writing that your unspent funds came across in full - they’re exempt from the rollover cap.
- Check old statements for meal-related or personal care charges you don’t understand, and ask your provider to explain each line. Our guide to statements and budgets shows what to look for.
- If a dispute stalls, escalate through complaints and refunds.
Still untangling the transition?
We’ll talk you through what changed for your package - free, no obligation.
Sources
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, health.gov.au - Support at Home program commencement, 1 November 2025.
- Support at Home Program Manual - classifications, contributions, unspent funds and provider obligations.
- My Aged Care, myagedcare.gov.au - transition arrangements for Home Care Package holders, accessed 20 August 2026.
- Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission - monthly statements and refund powers, 2026.