Reforms in Aged Care

Current HCP recipients, and those waiting for a Home Care Package, will automatically move to the Support at Home program. No reassessment is needed, and you will get funding equal to your current HCP level.

If you have any HCP unspent funds, you will keep these funds until they are exhausted. Unspent funds can be used for assistive technology and home modifications or additional services if the quarterly budget is used up.

The yearly Home Care Package amount will be split into four equal parts, each covering three months. If you don't spend your budget within the quarter, up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget (whichever is higher) is carried over to the next quarter.

All Support at Home services will be defined in the service list, with clear inclusions and exclusions.

From 1 July, the pricing structure will change. Package management costs will be included in the unit prices for each service, not charged separately. Care management funding will be set at 10% of all ongoing quarterly budgets. Discussions and information about pricing changes will begin in the lead up to the program commencing (prior to 1 July 2025).

There is a no-worse off principal in place, so you won’t pay any more than you are currently paying under your Home Care Package. If you currently pay an income-tested care fee, this will continue under Support at Home, with special discounted contribution arrangements (to be determined by Services Australia). There are more details on this in the Support at Home program handbook.