Changes to Aged Care – New Support at Home

Home Changes to Aged Care – New Support at Home

The new Aged Care Act 2024 was introduced on 1 November 2025.

The application process remains centralised through My Aged Care, but the underlying structure and funding for self-management have changed significantly.

One of the first changes you will notice is that the term “self-managed home care package” has been replaced by the new Support at Home program.

Other key changes include:

  • Funding Structure: The four-level funding system has been replaced by eight funding classifications, allowing for better alignment with individual care needs. Funding is allocated quarterly, not annually, with provisions for carrying over unspent funds. The eight funding classifications are:
    • Classification 1: Minimal Support for Independent Living (approx. $10,000 annual budget) focuses on occasional assistance with tasks like cleaning, shopping, and meal preparation.
    • Classification 2: Light Personal and Social Support (approx. $16,000 annual budget) provides more regular contact, including help with personal care, transport, and social activities.
    • Classification 3: Moderate Assistance with Daily Living (approx. $22,000 annual budget) offers consistent support several times a week for hygiene, mobility, and essential home tasks.
    • Classification 4: High-Frequency Personal and Domestic Support (approx. $30,000 annual budget) includes near-daily assistance with personal and household tasks.
    • Classification 5: Daily Support with Health Monitoring (approx. $40,000 annual budget) provides daily and more intensive care for complex personal needs such as medication management and dementia care.
    • Classification 6: Comprehensive Health and Clinical Care (approx. $50,000 annual budget) involves significant ongoing care, including nursing and wound care, with regular clinical input.
    • Classification 7: Intensive Daily Multidisciplinary Care (approx. $60,000 annual budget) supports complex nursing needs and multiple service types for very high-level care.
    • Classification 8: Highest Level of In-Home and Palliative Care (approx. $78,000 annual budget) provides extensive, continuous, or overnight care for complex and end-of-life needs. 
  • Mandatory Care Management: The new program includes mandatory allocation of 10% of the care budget to a provider for care management services, even for self-managed clients.
  • Client Contributions: Participants will make an income-based contribution for non-clinical services (independence and everyday living services). Clinical services (e.g., nursing, allied health) are fully subsidised by the government. A lifetime contributions cap of $130,000 applies.
  • Assistive Technology (AT) and Home Modifications: A separate Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme now provides dedicated, upfront funding (up to $15,000 for high-tier items).

New Applicants

Older people seeking new in-home care services need to follow the process below:

  1. Register with My Aged Care: The first step is to register by calling the My Aged Care government phone line at 1800 200 422 or applying online via the My Aged Care website.
  2. Assessment: An assessor from an assessment organisation will conduct an in-home assessment using a new Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT). This assessment determines eligibility for all in-home support programs, including ongoing Support at Home and short-term pathways like the Restorative Care or End-of-Life pathways.
  3. Support Plan and Funding Allocation: If eligible, the assessor helps develop a support plan. The applicant is then placed in a priority system (immediate, high, medium, standard) to await funding. Once funding is available, Services Australia manages it on the participant’s behalf.
  4. Choose a Provider and Self-Manage: The participant chooses a registered provider and enters into a service agreement. Under the new system, participants can still choose to self-manage their care, but a mandatory 10% of their quarterly budget is allocated for care management services provided by a ‘care partner’ from the provider. 

For Existing Recipients/Applicants:

If an older person was already receiving a Home Care Package or was on the waiting list before November 1, 2025, they automatically transitioned to the Support at Home program with their existing funding level and ‘no worse off’ fee protections. They do not need to reapply or undergo a new assessment unless their needs change.

To find out further information, head to https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/aged-care-act