CHSP vs Support at Home: When to Make Switch and Differences

04 September 2026

Key things to know about switching from CHSP to Support at Home

Many older Australians begin with support through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP). As care needs change, some people may need a broader range of services or more coordinated support.

Support at Home is designed for people whose needs have become more complex over time. Understanding the differences between CHSP and Support at Home can help you decide whether it's time to make the switch.

Some key things to know about Support at Home are:

Support at Home offers a wider range of services, including government-funded clinical care.
Funding is based on your assessed care needs.
You'll receive support from a dedicated Care Partner.
An aged care assessment is required before accessing funding.
Your CHSP services continue while you wait for Support at Home funding.

When should you switch from CHSP to Support at Home?

For some people, CHSP services continue to provide everything they need for many years. But often things change over time and mean that a little extra support could help make life easier.

Many people start exploring additional care when situations like these arise:

You’ve recently had a fall
You’re recovering from an illness or surgery
Household tasks are becoming harder to manage
You need help with showering or personal care
Family members are providing more support than before, or finding it hard to manage
You’re paying privately for services that are not covered by CHSP
You need several different services each week

CHSP vs. Support at Home: What's the difference?

While both programs help older Australians remain independent at home, they are designed for different levels of support. CHSP focuses on entry-level assistance, while Support at Home is designed for people with changing or more complex care needs.

	CHSP	Support at Home
Who is it for?	Older Australians who just need 1-2 services	People whose care needs are changing or becoming more complex
What services are available?	Basic support services like domestic assistance, meals, respite care, personal care	A broader range of services, including more complex clinical support as needs change
Who provides services?	You can have different services provided by multiple providers	All services delivered by one provider
How many levels of funding are there?	One level of funding to provide entry-level care	8 levels of funding depending on your needs, plus 3 short term care pathways
Who coordinates my care?	Services are self-managed. You coordinate care yourself	Managed by your dedicated care partner, or you can choose to self manage.

Learn more about Support at Home

How to switch to Support at Home

It’s easy to get started, and we’re here to help every step of the way.

Step 1: Apply for an Aged Care Assessment

The first step is to apply for an assessment through My Aged Care. You can apply for an assessment either online through My Aged Care or by calling them on 1800 200 422.

My Aged Care will do an initial assessment and ask about your needs, to see if you are eligible for a comprehensive assessment for funding under Support at Home.

If you are eligible for a comprehensive assessment then an assessor will contact you to book your assessment within 2-6 weeks.

Step 2: Receive Your Assessment Outcome

After your assessment, you will receive a letter telling you the outcome. This will show what services you are approved for and what will happen next.

Step 3: Wait for Funding

If you are approved for Support at Home, you will be placed on the waitlist for your funding to become available, this may vary depending on your needs and priority.

If you are approved for a short-term care pathway such as Restorative Care Pathway, Assistive Technology and Home Modifications or End-of-Life Pathway there is no waitlist and you will be able to start services straight away.

Your CHSP services will continue as normal while your other funding is being organised and assigned to you.

Step 4: Start Your Support at Home Services

When your funding is available you will receive a letter with a referral code for your approved package. You have only 56 days from when your funding is assigned to choose a provider and sign a service agreement, so it’s good to get started as soon as you get your letter.

Contact your chosen provider and give them the referral code, this allows them to access your information from My Aged Care and get things rolling to start your services. Your care partner will talk with you about your needs and create a care plan, and also give you a service agreement to sign to start your new Support at Home services.

Want some help?

We’re here to answer your questions and guide you through the process.

Get in touch online Call 1300 160 170

Get your free guide to moving to Support at Home

Common questions

Can I receive CHSP and Support at Home at the same time?

No, you can’t receive both CHSP and Support at Home. You can continue your CHSP services while waiting for Support at Home funding, and then when you begin services under Support at Home your CHSP services will stop.

Do I need a reassessment to move from CHSP to Support at Home?

Yes, you will need to have a new My Aged Care assessment, to determine if you are eligible for Support at Home and what level of support you need.

The assessor will talk with you about how you like to live and what sort of things you need help with, and will also work with you to create a support plan.

You can arrange for someone to be with you at the assessment like a family member or friend if you wish.

What will change for me if I move from CHSP to Support at Home?

Support at Home offers many similar services to CHSP, but differs in some important ways.

Support at Home provides funding across multiple levels and covers a wider range of support services than CHSP, including more complex clinical care. So you can access more flexible support to meet your needs.

A key benefit of Support at Home is your dedicated care partner, who will manage your services. They will work with you to create your personalised care plan, connect you with the right care professionals and check in regularly with you so they can adapt your care as your needs change.

Will I be able to keep my care workers if I move from CHSP to Support at Home?

If you stay with the same provider when you move to Support at Home you may be able to keep the same care workers, depending on what services you need.

However some providers only offer services under CHSP, not Support at Home. At Australian Unity we offer a broad range of services from help around the home to complex clinical care. We also offer services under both CHSP and Support at Home, so you can make changes to your services and switch from CHSP to Support at Home without having to find a new service provider.

How much does Support at Home cost?

Under Support at Home you may be asked to make contributions towards the cost of your services, depending on your financial situation and the types of services you need.

Some services, like clinical care, are fully covered by the government funding, whereas for others like home cleaning or transport assistance, you may need to pay a small amount towards your care. This amount is set by the government based on your income and financial situation.

Find out more about how Support at Home costs and contributions work

How long does it take to get Support at Home funding?

There are several steps to getting Support at Home, from assessment to your funding being assigned to you. It can take a bit of time, so it’s good to get an assessment and start the process early.

Time to assessment: around 2-6 weeks from when you apply
Receiving Notice of Decision (outcome of the assessment): Up to 8 weeks
Funding assignment: from 1 month to 12 months depending on how urgent your needs are.

Your CHSP funding will continue until your Support at Home funding is assigned and available for you to use.

What can I do if I need more care while waiting for my Support at Home funding?

There are several options if you need more care while waiting for Support at Home funding:

Tell My Aged Care your needs have changed. If your needs change you need to let My Aged Care know what has changed - you can call them on 1800 200 422. You may be eligible for more urgent support or other pathways such as Restorative Care Pathway, End-of-Life pathway or Assistive Technology/Home Modifications funding.
Accept interim funding. You may be offered ‘interim funding’ where you can receive 60% of your Support at Home funding to enable you to get started with essential services. The remaining 40% will be assigned when the funding is available.
Consider paying privately. You can consider paying privately for home care services above what is available with your CHSP funds, to ‘top-up’ your services until your Support at Home funding is available.

Will I need to choose a new provider if I move from CHSP to Support at Home?

This depends on your current provider and your preferences. Some CHSP providers don’t offer services under Support at Home, so if your provider doesn’t cover Support at Home then you will need to switch to a new provider. You can do this whenever you like, either while you are still receiving CHSP or when your Support at Home funding is available.

At Australian Unity we offer services under both CHSP and Support at Home, so if you are a CHSP customer with us you can continue your services without having to switch providers when you move to Support at Home.

Can I stay with Australian Unity if my needs increase?

Yes, at Australian Unity we offer a broad range of services from help around the home, through to complex clinical care, all under one roof.

Through our integrated network of healthcare services, including Plena Healthcare, Ramsay Connect and Remedy Healthcare, we can connect you with the right support as your needs evolve. These connected services make transitions between services simpler and ensure your care remains coordinated and focused on your wellbeing.

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Moving from CHSP to Support at Home: When and How to Make the Switch

Learn how moving to Support at Home could help you stay living well at home