Support at Home Transition

Any money you’ve already saved will still be available and carry over each month. However, starting 1 November 2025, you won’t be able to keep building up extra savings. Instead, you’ll be expected to use your funding regularly.
You can roll over a maximum of $1,000 or 10% of your ongoing budget (whichever is greater) each quarter.

If you are a grandfathered Home Care Package recipient and are currently paying an Income Tested Fee (ITF), you will still be required to pay a contribution towards the cost of your services and goods under Support At Home. However, you cannot be asked to pay more than the total ITF you currently pay under HCP.

Services Australia will notify you and your Provider of your payment arrangements.

If you are a transitional Home Care Package recipient you will be expected to pay the contribution rates above. Services Australia will tell you and your Provider your individualised contribution rate.

Yes. Grandfathering arrangements for participant contributions continue to apply even if a participant who transitions to Support at Home from the Home Care Packages Program is reassessed and reclassified at any time in the future.

No reassessment is required to transition to Support at Home. Your current HCP funding amount will remain the same under Support at Home. However, if your care needs change, you can request a reassessment at any time to determine if a higher level of support is appropriate.

You may also be assessed for the short-term funding pathways under Support at Home which provide additional funding for Assistive Technology and Home Modifications, Restorative Care and Palliative Care.

Support at Home introduces eight new levels of funding for ongoing care. For existing Home Care Package recipients, your funding will remain the same. If your needs stay the same, your funding will continue at this level.

If your needs change at any point, you can be reassessed and may be moved onto one of the new eight Support at Home levels.

Self-management under Support at Home does not replace Care Management. 10% of your quarterly budget will still be allocated to your Registered Provider who must continue to provide Care Management.

You may be able to self-manage some or all of your services, depending on whether your Registered Provider offers this option.

A 10% overhead is also applied to the cost of your self-managed services to cover the provider’s administrative responsibilities.

Absolute does not enable self-management for carer or nursing supports as these services are managed directly by us in order to ensure robust quality, safety and governance oversight.

No. The Support at Home program does not have a “Package Management Fee” like the current HCP system.

The government has mandated that provider’s administration costs must now be included in the price of services.

All Support at Home participants will have a 10% Care Management contribution deducted from their funding each quarter, which covers the cost of managing your care plan and services. This will be built into your budget and clearly outlined in your agreement.

This amount has been set by the government and will be the same for all Providers.

Yes. If your current carers are employed by your Registered Provider, and you continue with the same provider, there should be no change. If you decide to change providers, your new provider will discuss available care
staff with you.

The Government has told Registered Providers that their administrative costs for managing and delivering Support at Home must now be included in the price of their services. Under Home Care Package, this was covered by the Package Management Fee which will no longer exist under Support at Home.

Administrative costs are the behind-the-scenes things that keep your care safe and reliable. They cover:

• wages and training for aged care workers
• planning and coordinating your care
• rostering and scheduling workers
• insurance, record keeping, and meeting government standards

You can change providers under Support at Home just as you can now under HCP. Your funding will follow you to the new provider.

A notice period may apply, and your Care Manager can help you understand the steps involved in making the switch.