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If you are searching for a Home Care Packages fact sheet, it is important to know that Australia’s in-home aged care system changed on 1 November 2025. The former Home Care Packages Program was replaced by the Support at Home program.
Under the current system, people receiving ongoing Support at Home services are generally assigned one of eight funding classifications, based on their assessed care needs. People transitioning from the former Home Care Packages system may retain an equivalent transitional classification.
This fact sheet explains the current system, including funding levels, eligibility, costs, services and how to apply.
Home Care Packages at a Glance
| Question | Current answer |
| What replaced Home Care Packages? | Support at Home |
| When did it start? | 1 November 2025 |
| How many ongoing classifications are there? | 8 |
| Are old HCP Levels 1–4 still relevant? | Yes, for people transitioning from the former program |
| How is funding allocated? | Based on assessed care needs |
| How often is ongoing funding allocated? | Quarterly |
| Who determines eligibility? | My Aged Care assessment process |
| Can participants contribute to costs? | Yes, depending on service type and financial circumstances |
| Are clinical supports fully government funded? | Yes |
| Is personal care changing? | From 1 October 2026, approved personal care services will be fully government funded |
Support at Home budgets are allocated quarterly, and participants may carry forward unspent funds subject to the program’s carryover rules.
What Happened to Home Care Packages?
The Home Care Packages Program was replaced by Support at Home on 1 November 2025 as part of Australia’s aged care reforms.
This means that older articles and fact sheets referring only to HCP Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 may no longer describe the system used for new ongoing assessments.
Support at Home now has eight ongoing funding classifications, allowing care to be matched more closely to assessed needs.
However, the old HCP terminology remains relevant because people who transitioned from the previous program retain equivalent transitional classifications.
For example:
- HCP Level 1 → Transitional HCP Level 1
- HCP Level 2 → Transitional HCP Level 2
- HCP Level 3 → Transitional HCP Level 3
- HCP Level 4 → Transitional HCP Level 4
These transitional classifications remain part of the current system for eligible people moving from the former HCP program.
Support at Home Funding Classifications
For new ongoing Support at Home participants, there are currently eight classifications.
The classification is determined through the aged care assessment process and reflects the person’s assessed care needs.
Support at Home funding from 1 July 2026
| Classification | Quarterly budget | Annual amount |
| 1 | $2,752.50 | $11,010.01 |
| 2 | $4,112.84 | $16,451.35 |
| 3 | $5,634.20 | $22,536.81 |
| 4 | $7,617.13 | $30,468.51 |
| 5 | $10,182.38 | $40,729.53 |
| 6 | $12,341.32 | $49,365.27 |
| 7 | $14,915.00 | $59,660.00 |
| 8 | $20,034.28 | $80,137.12 |
Figures current from 1 July 2026. Funding amounts are indexed annually.
These amounts represent the government-funded budget associated with each classification and include funding for care management.
Importantly, the funding amount is not simply cash that a participant receives. The budget is used to fund approved services and supports according to the person’s support plan.
What Happened to HCP Levels 1–4?
If you are researching Home Care Packages Level 1 to 4, it is important to understand that these are now primarily relevant to people transitioning from the former Home Care Packages Program. New ongoing assessments are generally made under the eight Support at Home classifications.
The current transitional amounts from 1 July 2026 are:
| Previous HCP level | Transitional Support at Home classification | Annual amount |
| HCP Level 1 | Transitional HCP Level 1 | $11,272.15 |
| HCP Level 2 | Transitional HCP Level 2 | $19,821.76 |
| HCP Level 3 | Transitional HCP Level 3 | $43,148.74 |
| HCP Level 4 | Transitional HCP Level 4 | $65,415.91 |
These figures are separate from the eight standard Support at Home classifications and apply to eligible people transitioning from the former system.
What Can Support at Home Funding Pay For?
Support at Home can help older Australians receive services that allow them to remain independent and safely living at home.
Services generally fall into different categories, including:
Clinical supports
Clinical services can include:
- Nursing
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational therapy
- Other approved clinical support
The Australian Government funds the full cost of clinical support services under the current contribution arrangements.
Independence services
These can include support such as:
- Personal care
- Assistance with daily activities
- Transport
- Respite
- Other approved independence supports
Everyday living services
These can include:
- Domestic assistance
- Cleaning
- Gardening
- Home maintenance
- Other approved everyday household support
The exact services available depend on the person’s assessment, support plan and available funding.
How Much Does Home Care Cost?
One of the most important changes under Support at Home is the way participant contributions are calculated.
Participants may need to contribute towards some services. The amount depends on both:
- The type of service being received, and
- The person’s financial circumstances.
Services Australia assesses income and assets to determine the applicable contribution arrangements.
Generally:
- Clinical supports are fully government funded.
- Independence services may require a participant contribution.
- Everyday living services may require a higher contribution.
- Financial hardship assistance may be available in appropriate circumstances.
The government also provides a no worse off principle for certain people who were already in the aged care system before the relevant transition dates.
Because contribution rates and thresholds can change, people should check the current My Aged Care information rather than relying on an older Home Care Package fee calculator or fact sheet.
Who Is Eligible for Support at Home?
Eligibility depends on both age and care needs.
Generally, people may be eligible for government funded aged care services if they:
- Are aged 65 or older, or
- Are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 or older, or
- Are aged 50 or older and homeless or at risk of homelessness, subject to the applicable eligibility requirements.
They also need assessed care needs that indicate support may be required.
Examples of circumstances that may indicate a need for an assessment include:
- Difficulty managing everyday activities
- Reduced mobility
- A medical condition affecting independence
- Changes in family or carer arrangements
- A recent fall
- A recent hospital admission
- Changes in physical or cognitive ability
Eligibility for government-funded aged care is not determined solely by income.
However, your financial circumstances can affect how much you may need to contribute towards eligible services.
How to Apply for Support at Home
The first step is to request an aged care assessment through My Aged Care. Before applying, it can also be helpful to review the current Home Care Package Guidelines and Support at Home information so you understand the assessment process, eligibility requirements and how government-funded support is structured.
Step 1: Apply for an assessment
You can apply online or contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. Applications can also be made in person through appropriate Services Australia support.
Step 2: Complete your assessment
An assessor will discuss your needs, circumstances, goals and the type of assistance you require.
Assessments are commonly completed in the person’s home, although other options may be available.
Step 3: Receive your assessment outcome
If you are approved for Support at Home, your assessment outcome will identify the appropriate classification and approved support arrangements.
Step 4: Choose an approved provider
You can then work with an approved Support at Home provider to arrange services according to your support plan and budget.
Step 5: Review your support as your needs change
Your care needs can change over time. Your support arrangements should be reviewed when your circumstances or care requirements change.
What Is Changing From October 2026?
There is an important upcoming change that people researching current Support at Home costs should understand.
From 1 October 2026, the Australian Government will fully fund approved personal care services under Support at Home.
This means eligible participants will not pay an out-of-pocket contribution for approved personal care services if the service is included in their support plan and they have available Support at Home funding.
Personal care can include assistance with:
- Showering
- Dressing
- Hygiene
- Eating
- Continence support
- Assistance with self-administration of medication
This is particularly important when comparing older Home Care Packages information with current 2026 Support at Home information.
Home Care Packages Fact Sheet: Quick Reference
Home Care Packages no longer operate as the current national program for new ongoing care. Support at Home replaced the former program on 1 November 2025.
The current system provides:
- 8 ongoing Support at Home classifications
- 4 transitional HCP classifications for eligible people moving from the former system
- Quarterly ongoing budgets
- Government funding based on assessed care needs
- Clinical supports fully funded by government
- Participant contributions for certain independence and everyday living services
- Income and assets assessments for determining contribution levels
- Short-term pathways including Restorative Care and End-of-Life pathways
- Assistive Technology and Home Modifications support
- New personal-care contribution arrangements from 1 October 2026
Choosing a Support at Home Provider
Once you have been approved for aged care support, choosing the right provider is an important decision.
Consider:
- Whether the provider offers the services you need
- Where services are available
- How the provider manages your individual support plan
- Pricing and participant contributions
- How flexible the provider is when your needs change
- Whether the provider publishes its prices clearly
- Whether the organisation understands your cultural and personal preferences
Support at Home providers must publish their prices and provide transparent information about the services they deliver.
For older people and families in the Burdekin and Townsville areas, Bur-Del provides Support at Home services designed to help eligible people maintain independence in their own homes. Its existing Support at Home information includes assistance such as domestic support, personal care, transport, nursing, allied health, meals, home modifications and respite.
