Support at Home Program Available.
Support at Home Program Available.
The home care package transition to Support at Home took effect on 1 November 2025, replacing the former Home Care Packages Program. If you were already receiving a Home Care Package, you moved across automatically with an equivalent transitioned funding level rather than starting again under the new eight-level classification system.
Your care may still feel familiar, but the way funding, services and contributions are managed has changed. Budgets now work quarterly, services must fit within the Support at Home framework, and some people have different contribution arrangements.
If you were receiving a Home Care Package before the change, it is worth knowing which parts of your old arrangement were protected and which rules now apply.
The Home Care Packages Program ended on 31 October 2025. Support at Home replaced it from 1 November 2025.
People who were already receiving a Home Care Package did not lose their approved level of support. Instead, they moved to a transitioned HCP level with funding equivalent to their former package.
Support at Home also introduced a different structure for aged care at home, including:
If you are reviewing the type of care available under the new system, Elka’s Home Care Services for the Aged provide an overview of in-home support options.
No. Existing Home Care Package recipients were automatically approved for Support at Home when the program began.
You did not have to submit a new application simply because the program changed.
A reassessment may still be needed if your circumstances or care needs have changed. This could apply if:
If a reassessment finds that you need a higher level of ongoing funding, you may move from your transitioned HCP level into one of the new Support at Home classifications.
A transitioned HCP level is the funding arrangement used for former Home Care Package recipients who moved into Support at Home.
The old four package levels became:
These are separate from the new Support at Home Classifications 1 to 8.
For example, a person who had a Level 4 Home Care Package did not automatically become Support at Home Classification 4. They moved to Transitioned HCP Level 4, preserving the equivalent funding amount.
That distinction matters when you compare your budget with the newer classification system.
The old Home Care Package levels do not map directly to Support at Home Classifications 1 to 4.
Instead, each old package level has its own transitioned equivalent.
As of 1 July 2026:
Former HCP Level | Current Transitioned Level | Quarterly Budget | Annual Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
Level 1 | Transitioned HCP Level 1 | $2,818.04 | $11,272.15 |
Level 2 | Transitioned HCP Level 2 | $4,955.44 | $19,821.76 |
Level 3 | Transitioned HCP Level 3 | $10,787.18 | $43,148.74 |
Level 4 | Transitioned HCP Level 4 | $16,353.98 | $65,415.91 |
These amounts are current as of 1 July 2026 and are indexed each year.
If your needs remain the same, you can stay on your transitioned level. If your care needs increase and you are reassessed, a new Support at Home classification may apply instead.
“Grandfathered” is a term people often use when talking about aged care changes, but it is not the main terminology used by the Australian Government.
There are two separate ideas to understand:
People entering aged care under the newer Support at Home system generally receive one of the eight ongoing classifications after assessment.
Your transitioned funding level and your fee protections are separate parts of the system. Being on a transitioned HCP level does not automatically tell you which contribution rules apply.
If you are still trying to understand where you sit within the aged care system, Elka’s guide to Home Care Services and Aged Care Support can help explain the broader eligibility process.
The no worse off principle protects eligible older people from paying higher aged care contributions solely because of the move to Support at Home.
It applies to people who were receiving or approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024. Government transition material also included people who were on the National Priority System or assessed as eligible for a package at that time.
For eligible people:
The protection applies to your contribution arrangements. It does not mean every part of the old Home Care Packages Program stays the same.
Service categories, budgets, pricing and administration now follow Support at Home rules.
Eligible unspent Home Care Package funds carried into Support at Home rather than disappearing when the old program ended.
These funds are held separately from your normal ongoing quarterly budget and can be used for:
There is no standard quarterly carry-over limit on transitioned HCP funds.
That makes them different from unused ongoing Support at Home funding, which has its own rollover rules.
Your provider should be able to show you whether you still have an unspent HCP balance and explain how it can be used under your current care arrangements.
Your equivalent funding level was preserved, but several parts of the system now work differently.
Your annual transitioned funding is split into four quarterly budgets. The full amount for each quarter becomes available at the start of that funding period.
Approved services sit within the Support at Home service list and your individual support plan.
For ongoing Support at Home services, 10% of the quarterly budget is deducted to fund care management activities.
Some participants pay contributions based on the type of service they receive and their financial circumstances. People protected by the no worse off principle have different arrangements.
Assistive technology and home modifications have their own needs-based funding scheme rather than relying only on your ongoing quarterly budget.
Your funding may be similar to what you had before, but your budget, service categories and statements can look quite different.
A few quick checks can help you understand whether your transition looks right.
Check that the funding level shown on your account matches the Home Care Package level you held before Support at Home began.
If you were on Level 4 and have not since been reassessed, you would generally expect to see Transitioned HCP Level 4 rather than Support at Home Classification 4.
Ask your provider whether any old Home Care Package funds remain and where that balance appears on your statement.
These funds are separate from your current quarterly allocation.
Look at the services on your statement and compare them with your current service agreement.
Check the service price, how often the service was delivered and whether the amount matches what you expected.
If you believe the no worse off principle applies to you, ask your provider or Services Australia to confirm that your contribution settings reflect the correct protection.
A change in the program does not automatically mean your personal contribution should increase.
Yes. You can change Support at Home providers for any reason.
Common reasons include:
Your funding moves with you, including unspent ongoing funds. For transitioned HCP participants, the government-held portion of unspent Home Care Package funds is also available to the new provider.
If the outgoing provider holds a participant portion of unspent HCP funds, it must transfer that amount to the new provider within the required timeframe. Providers also cannot charge an exit amount simply because you leave their care.
If you are comparing providers, visit Elka Home Care to learn more about its approach to personalised in-home support.
Another Support at Home change takes effect on 1 October 2026.
From that date, personal care will move from the Independence contribution category to Clinical Supports for participant contribution purposes. This means people will no longer pay an out-of-pocket contribution for approved personal care services.
You must still:
Personal care will continue to use your available Support at Home budget. The definition of personal care, eligibility rules and the way the service is delivered are not changing.
Services delivered before 1 October 2026 will still attract the contribution that applied at the time, even if the provider claims them later.
Moving into Support at Home can mean learning a new set of terms while still trying to organise the care you need each week.
Elka Home Care offers in-home services including:
The support you receive will depend on your approved needs, your budget and what is included in your care plan.
If you already have a transitioned HCP level, reviewing your current services can help you see whether your funding is still being used in a way that suits your needs.
Have questions about your care arrangements or changing providers? Contact us to speak with the Elka Home Care team.
The Home Care Packages Program ended on 31 October 2025, and Support at Home began on 1 November 2025. Existing Home Care Package recipients moved automatically to an equivalent transitioned HCP funding level rather than losing their approved support or starting again.
No. Existing Home Care Package recipients were automatically approved for Support at Home when the program started. You may need a reassessment later if your needs change or your current level of funding no longer meets them.
A transitioned HCP level is the Support at Home funding arrangement for someone who previously received a Home Care Package. Levels 1 to 4 became Transitioned HCP Levels 1 to 4, preserving equivalent funding rather than converting directly to the new Support at Home Classifications 1 to 8.
From 1 July 2026, Transitioned HCP Level 4 provides a quarterly budget of $16,353.98, equivalent to $65,415.91 a year. These amounts are indexed annually, so the latest government schedule should be checked when comparing funding.
There is no fixed number of care hours for everyone on the same transitioned HCP level. The amount of care you receive depends on your budget, approved services, service prices and how your funding is allocated across your care plan.
You may be protected if you were receiving or approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024, with government transition arrangements also covering people on the National Priority System or assessed as eligible at that time. The protection means eligible participants should not pay higher contributions simply because Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages.
Not necessarily. Service prices and funding arrangements can differ under Support at Home, but people covered by the no worse off principle should pay the same or lower contributions than they would have under their previous Home Care Package arrangements.
Eligible unspent Home Care Package funds were retained when participants moved to Support at Home. They are kept separately from the normal quarterly budget and can be used for eligible extra services once the quarterly allocation is used, as well as approved assistive technology and home modifications.
Support at Home allows participants to take an active role in organising aspects of their care, but care management remains part of the program and 10% of the ongoing quarterly budget funds care management activities. The exact self-management arrangement should be agreed with your provider.
Your funding can be used for services that match your assessed needs, approved support plan and the Support at Home service rules. Transitioned HCP participants may also have retained unspent HCP funds available for eligible additional services, assistive technology or home modifications.
Yes. Support at Home participants can change providers for any reason, and their ongoing funding moves with them. Eligible unspent Home Care Package funds also remain available when a transitioned participant moves to a new provider.