Support at Home Program Changes for existing customers

How the changes to your Home Care Package under the new Support at Home program will impact you.

What changes for you with the Support at Home program

It is expected that, from the 1st of July 2025, all current Home Care Package (HCP) recipients will be automatically transitioned to the Government’s new Support at Home program.

The Support at Home program has been developed to provide you with improved access to services, products, equipment, and home modifications, so that you can remain healthy, active and connected to your community for longer.

Transitioned Home Care Package recipients who have not been reassessed under Support at Home continue to receive an equivalent level of funding as their previous Home Care Package. We will help you through this transition. We understand that consistency provides comfort, especially during times of change.

As we move forward together on this path, we promise to keep you informed with each new development. The government will continue sharing important details, and we'll ensure you receive this information with clear guidance every step of the way.

Participant contributions

Support at Home directs government funding to services that keep you healthy in your familiar surroundings, helping prevent unnecessary hospital visits.

As part of this approach, you'll contribute toward everyday items and services you've typically managed independently throughout life. Your contribution percentage varies based on your income and service types.

Service type	Full pensioner	Part pensioner and self-funded Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) Holder	Self-funded non-CHSC holder
Clinical support	~0%	~0%	~0%
Independence	~5%	Between ~5% and ~50%	~50%
Everyday living	~17.5%	Between ~17.5% and ~80%	~80%

Your care journey is protected by a $130,000 lifetime cap that acknowledges the unique path of your ongoing life story. This protection travels with you seamlessly if your journey extends to residential care, with all contributions counting toward the same limit.

No-worse Off Principle

If you were approved for a Home Care Package before 12 September 2024, the ‘no-worse off’ principle applies. This means the new contribution arrangements under Support at Home won’t result in you paying more – you’ll either pay the same or less, allowing you to embrace the next chapter with peace of mind.

How will Support at Home changes affect you?

The changes to the way you will receive your Support at Home has different implications depending on when your services were approved by the government. Understanding where you stand on this timeline is essential for maintaining continuity in your care and embracing these changes with confidence. Your approval date serves as a marker to determine how these changes will impact your home support services. We encourage you to carefully review the table below that outlines how these changes specifically affect your situation based on the date you were approved for aged care support.

Changes	If approved BEFORE 12 September 2024	If approved AFTER 12 September 2024
Funding	You’ll be transitioned to a Support at Home classification level that aligns with your current Home Care Package level – no reassessment needed.	You’ll be assessed and assigned a classification under the new Support at Home funding model.
Contribution	The no-worse off arrangement applies to you. Your contribution under Support at Home will be the same, or less, than what you currently pay.	If you receive your Home Care package before 1 July 2025, you’ll move to the Support at Home contribution model from July. If your funding starts after 1 July 2025, you’ll begin on the standard Support at Home contribution arrangements from day one.
Budget	Your annual budget will shift to a quarterly budget from 1 July 2025.	If your funding begins after 1 July 2025, you’ll receive a quarterly budget from the outset.
Unspent funds	Any unspent Home Care Package funds you’ve accrued before 1 July 2025 will carry over to Support at Home in full. From 1 July 2025, any new unspent funds will be capped at $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget – whichever is greater.	From 1 July 2025, you’ll be able to carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly Support at Home budget – whichever is greater. If you start your package before 1 July 2025 and accrue any unspent funds beforehand, those will transition with you.

Our commitment to honoring your independence and supporting your wellbeing remains unwavering. Together, we can navigate these changes as partners in your continuing care journey.

Unspent funds

If you’re an existing Home Care Package participant with unspent funds, you’ll be able to carry them over when you transition to the Support at Home program. These funds can be used for approved additional services, or for assistive technology and home modifications.

Once you’ve transitioned to Support at Home, any new unspent funds you accrue from your quarterly budget will be capped.

Each quarter, you’ll be able to carry over up to 10% of your Support at Home budget or $1,000 – whichever amount is greater.

This new cap only applies to funds accrued under Support at Home. It won’t affect any unspent Home Care Package funds you already have.

Example

Lorna has a Level 4 Home Care Package

When she transitions to Support at Home, she has $2,500 in unspent Home Care Package funds. These carry over in full.

This means her initial Support at Home quarterly budget will be $18,213, made up of her standard budget ($15,713) plus her unspent Home Care Package funds ($2,500).

The following quarter, Lorna has family visiting and needs fewer services. She ends up underspending her quarterly Support at Home budget by $3,000. However, because Support at Home has a cap on new unspent funds, she can only carry over $1,000 of that amount (the greater of $1,000 or 10% of her budget).

Her total budget for the next quarter will be $19,213. It will be made up of:

$15,713 (standard quarterly budget)
$2,500 (unspent Home Care Package funds)
$1,000 (capped Support at Home unspent funds)

*indicative pricing

Frequently asked questions

Will I need to be reassessed for the Support at Home program?

If you start a Home Care Package before 1 July 2025, you’ll transition to the new program automatically – no reassessment required. Your funding will align with your current Home Care Package level.

If your care needs increase in the future, you’ll need a new assessment under the Support at Home classification system.

What is the ‘no-worse off’ principle?

This is a government safeguard to ensure fairness. If you were approved for a Home Care Package before 12 September 2024, your contributions under Support at Home won’t be more than what you’re paying now – you’ll either pay the same or less.

Will I still be able to self-manage?

Yes, you have the option to self-manage your Home Care Package or Support at Home. Your Care Partner will be there to offer guidance and support, ensuring that your care moves with you as your needs evolve.

They’ll check in regularly to keep everything running smoothly.

Will I lose my unspent Home Care Package funds?

No, you’ll keep any unspent Home Care Package funds when you transition. These can be used for services or assistive technology under Support at Home.

Just note: any new unspent funds you accumulate under Support at Home (after 1 July 2025) will be capped. You’ll be able to carry over up to 10% of your quarterly budget or $1,000 – whichever is greater.

Will Australian Unity still charge care or package management fees?

No. Under Support at Home, providers won’t charge a package management fee – those costs will be included in service pricing.

Care Management fees will be capped at 10% of your funding classification.

Will I keep my existing supplements?

Under the HCP program, if you receive an Oxygen, Enteral feeding, Veterans or Dementia and Cognition supplement, these will be retained under your Support at Home budget.

What do you need to do?

There is nothing you need to do.

In the future you will need to sign a new Service Agreement that is in line with the Aged Care Act. Our team of Care Partners will support and guide you through your transition to Support at Home.

Your care needs come first — not your funding.

At Australian Unity, we believe your care plan should be guided by what you need to keep living life on your terms. While government subsidies can support your journey, they shouldn’t limit it. By focusing on your goals and needs first, we can help you find the right balance between funding and services — empowering you to maintain your independence and continue moving forward with confidence.

With Australian Unity, you’re supported by a quality care team committed to your wellbeing. We offer a wide range of services, from everyday support to specialised care such as acute care, falls prevention and management, and out-of-hospital care. As one of the few providers who can support you across all stages of your care journey, we’re here to help you live well, every step of the way.

Multi-award winning home care services

Our industry recognised, high-quality services are available for residents of New South Wales, Victoria and parts of south Queensland.

Find help & support

Learn more about the changes via official government resources

Understand more about the changes coming through the official government resources.

Support at Home
1800 200 422 (My Aged Care)

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