Support at Home Transition
Home Care Package to Support at Home: Complete Transition Guide
What actually happened on 1 November 2025?
- Transitioning to Support at Home
Every person receiving an active Home Care Package on that date was transferred automatically. There was no application process, no eligibility reassessment and no gap in services.
Your funding level was maintained at the equivalent of your Home Care Package. If you were on HCP Level 2, you were placed on a Transitioned HCP Level 2 under Support at Home with the same annual budget. If you had been approved for a package but were still waiting for funding, your place in the priority system also transferred.
The most significant structural changes were:
- Quarterly budgets replaced annual package balances. Instead of managing a rolling balance, your funding is now released four times per year in July, October, January and April. This gives you a clear, predictable budget each quarter.
- Care management is now capped at 10% by law. Providers can no longer charge the high administration fees that were common under the old system. At least 90 cents in every dollar of your funding goes to your direct care services.
- Clinical care became fully government-funded at no cost to you. Nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other allied health services are no longer drawn from your quarterly budget. They are funded separately by the government.
- The service list became standardised. All services must be delivered from a government-approved list, making it easier to compare providers and understand what your budget covers.
For a full overview of the Support at Home program, see our Support at Home program overview.
Are you grandfathered, transitional, or new? Why it matters
Not everyone who transitioned to Support at Home has the same protections.
| Grandfathered participant | Transitional participant | New participant |
|---|---|---|
| Approved for or receiving HCP on or before 12 September 2024 | Approved for HCP between 13 September 2024 and 31 October 2025 | Approved under Support at Home from 1 November 2025 onwards |
|
✓ No-worse-off principle applies ✓ Contributions stay the same or decrease ✓ Protection holds even after reassessment ✓ Lower lifetime cap: ~$86,185 ✓ Unspent HCP funds carry over in full |
⚠ Standard SaH contribution rates apply
⚠ Not covered by no-worse-off principle ✓ Unspent HCP funds carry over in full ✓ Automatic transition on 1 Nov 2025 ⚠ Higher lifetime cap: ~$137,917 |
✓ Full Support at Home from day one ✓ 8 new classifications (1–8) ⚠ Standard contribution rates apply ⚠ Higher lifetime cap: ~$137,917 ✓ Rollover: $1,000 or 10% quarterly |
If you are a grandfathered participant
You were receiving, approved for, or on the waiting list for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024. The government’s no-worse-off principle fully applies to you. Your financial contributions cannot increase under Support at Home. You also have the lower lifetime contribution cap. All of your unspent Home Care Package funds carried over in full.
If you are a transitional participant
You were approved for a Home Care Package between 13 September 2024 and 31 October 2025. Your transition on 1 November 2025 was automatic and your funding level was maintained. However, the no-worse-off principle does not apply to transitional participants. Your contributions are calculated under the standard Support at Home framework based on your income and assets. Your unspent HCP funds did carry over in full.
If you are a new participant
You applied for and were approved under Support at Home from 1 November 2025 onwards. You were not on a Home Care Package. You are assessed under the 8-classification system and standard contribution rates apply. Your quarterly budget rollover is capped at $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget, whichever is greater. For more on the application process, see our guide on how to check your eligibility.
No worse off principle
This means your participant contribution rates under Support at Home will not be higher than what you were paying under your Home Care Package. This protection is guaranteed by the Aged Care Rules 2025 and has been in place since 1 November 2025.
What the no worse off principle covers:
- If you were paying nothing — you were a full pensioner whose income-tested fee was $0, you continue to pay nothing under Support at Home. Your costs remain at $0.
- If you were paying an income-tested fee, your contribution rate under Support at Home will be the same or lower. It will not increase.
- Reassessment does not cancel your protection. If your care needs increase and you are reassessed into a higher Support at Home classification, your grandfathered contribution rate protection still applies. You can access more funding without paying more than you would have under your old HCP.
What the no-worse-off principle does NOT cover
The no-worse-off principle protects your financial contribution rates only. It does not guarantee the same number of service hours or the same mix of services if provider prices have changed since 1 November 2025. The government introduced a 10% care management cap and will introduce regulated service price caps from 1 July 2026. Both of which work to protect how far your funding stretches but the no-worse-off guarantee itself covers contributions, not hours.
If you believe your services have changed in a way that does not reflect your assessed needs, you have the right to raise a concern with your provider, request a reassessment through My Aged Care, or contact the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) on 1800 700 600 for free, independent advocacy support.
What happened to your Home Care Package funding?
Your Home Care Package funding was maintained at an equivalent level under Support at Home. The table below shows the four transitioned HCP classification levels and their annual and quarterly funding amounts, effective from 1 November 2025.
| HCP classification | Support at Home classification | Support at Home quarterly budget | Support at Home annual amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCP Level 1 | Transitioned HCP Level 1 | $2,746.63 | $10,986.50 |
| HCP Level 2 | Transitioned HCP Level 2 | $4,829.86 | $19,319.45 |
| HCP Level 3 | Transitioned HCP Level 3 | $10,513.83 | $42,055.30 |
| HCP Level 4 | Transitioned HCP Level 4 | $15,939.55 | $63,758.20 |
These four transitioned levels are separate from the eight new ongoing classifications used for people assessed under Support at Home from 1 November 2025 onwards. If you are on a transitioned level and your care needs have increased, a reassessment can move you into one of the eight new classifications, potentially with higher funding. For a full breakdown of all 8 classification amounts, see our Support at Home funding amounts guide.
One important change to how your funding is delivered. Your annual package amount is now divided into four equal quarterly budgets, released at the start of each quarter (July, October, January and April). This is a structural change from the old system’s rolling annual balance. It is designed to encourage timely use of services and make your spending clearer to track.
Your unspent Home Care Package funds
Your unspent Home Care Package funds as of 31 October 2025 were carried over to Support at Home in full.
There is no cap on these retained funds, they do not expire, and they are held in a separate budget from your ongoing quarterly allocation. Your provider should have confirmed your retained balance in writing when you transitioned.
If you are unsure of your balance, ask your provider for a written statement.
Your unspent Home Care Package funds
Your unspent Home Care Package funds as of 31 October 2025 were carried over to Support at Home in full.
There is no cap on these retained funds, they do not expire, and they are held in a separate budget from your ongoing quarterly allocation. Your provider should have confirmed your retained balance in writing when you transitioned.
If you are unsure of your balance, ask your provider for a written statement.
How contributions changed under Support at Home
Under Support at Home, contributions apply only to services you actually receive. You are no longer paying a percentage of your total package value regardless of what you used. This change means your out-of-pocket costs are more directly tied to the care you’re receiving, and in many cases will be lower than what you paid under the old system.
The three service categories and their contribution rules:
- Clinical Care — nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry and all allied health. Fully government funded. You pay nothing, regardless of your income or assets. This care does not reduce your quarterly budget.
- Independence Support — personal care, transport, social outings and mobility aids. A moderate participant contribution applies based on your income and assets.
- Everyday Living — domestic cleaning, meal preparation, home maintenance and garden upkeep. The highest participant contribution applies for this category.
What about the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)?
If you receive CHSP services, nothing changed for you on 1 November 2025.
The Commonwealth Home Support Program, which covers entry-level supports such as Meals on Wheels, centre-based day activities and low-level domestic help is a separate program from the Home Care Packages Program. It was not part of the November 2025 transition.
The CHSP is expected to transition to Support at Home no earlier than 1 July 2027.
The Australian Government has committed to giving CHSP clients and providers significant advance notice before any changes occur.
If you currently receive CHSP services, your support continues under the same rules and funding arrangements as before. You do not need to do anything right now.
Thinking about switching Support at Home providers?
You are completely free to switch Support at Home providers at any time, and there are no exit fees.
Under both the old Home Care Package system and Support at Home, your right to choose and change your provider is protected. Your funding is yours. It does not belong to your provider and it does not disappear if you leave.
What happens to your funding when you switch
- Your quarterly classification budget transfers to your new provider. There is no financial penalty for switching and no reset of your budget timing.
- Your retained unspent HCP funds transfer automatically. The balance moves to your new provider with no loss. Your new provider is legally required to receive and manage these funds.
- Your grandfathering protections transfer with you. Your no-worse-off status and lifetime cap are attached to you, not to your provider. Switching providers does not affect your financial protections.
How to switch?
Give written notice to your current provider.
Your service agreement will specify the notice period, typically 2–4 weeks in writing. During the notice period, your current provider continues delivering services and submitting claims as normal.
Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
Let them know you are changing providers and ask them to update your referral. Your new provider will need this referral before services can begin.
Your new provider handles the rest
Once your new provider has your referral, they will arrange an introductory meeting, develop your new care plan, and confirm the transfer of any retained HCP funds. You should receive a written budget statement from your new provider before services begin.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Home Care Package to Support at Home transition
These are some of the most common questions, answered for you.
Did my Home Care Package automatically transition to Support at Home?
Yes. All active Home Care Package recipients were automatically transitioned to the Support at Home program on 1 November 2025. No reapplication or new assessment was required. Your funding level, services and provider relationship continued without interruption from that date and your unspent Home Care Package funds were carried over in full.
Do I need to reapply or be reassessed under Support at Home?
What is the no-worse-off principle under Support at Home?
Am I a grandfathered Support at Home participant?
What happened to my unspent Home Care Package funds?
Your unspent Home Care Package funds as of 31 October 2025 were carried over to Support at Home in full. There is no rollover cap on these retained funds and they do not expire. They are held in a separate budget from your ongoing quarterly allocation and also transfer to a new provider if you choose to switch.
How do I use my retained Home Care Package funds?
Will my contributions increase if I am reassessed for higher care needs?
Does the CHSP also transition to Support at Home in 2025?
Can I change my Support at Home provider after transitioning?
How is Support at Home different from my old Home Care Package?
Key differences: 8 funding classifications (up from 4 HCP levels); quarterly budgets replacing annual rolling balances; a 10% care management cap replacing variable provider admin fees; contributions based on services actually used (not total package value); and clinical care fully funded by the government at no cost to you. Your rights, protections and provider-choice freedoms remain the same.
What our clients say about us
“Fantastic service and they really do care about their clients health and well-being. Couldn’t be happier knowing my Grandmother is well taken care of with Absolute Care & Health.
The communication between my Grandmother’s Case Manager, herself and me is second to none! Whenever I need a question answered or my Grandmother requires anything to assist with her health and quality of life is promptly organised and delivered.
This makes her life less stressful and makes me feel confident she is taken care of and in good hands. A special Thank you to Nancy, her Case Manager for the Fantastic work she does managing all my Grandmother’s special needs.”
- Seth, Melbourne
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