The 8 Support at Home Classifications Explained: Levels, Funding & Assessment

Key Points

• The Support at Home program has eight funding classifications for ongoing care and services.
• Your classification is determined through an aged care assessment based on your individual care needs.
• Each classification provides a different quarterly funding amount, with higher classifications providing more funding.
• Your funding is used for approved care and services based on the needs identified in your support plan.
• If your needs change and your current classification is no longer enough, you may be reassessed.

Summary

The Support at Home program has eight classifications that determine how much government funding you receive for ongoing care and services. This guide explains how your classification is assessed, the funding available at each level, how your quarterly budget works and what happens if your needs change.

Outline

• Introduction
• What are the Support at Home classifications?
• How is your Support at Home classification assessed?
• The 8 Support at Home classifications explained
• How does your Support at Home budget work?
• What can your Support at Home funding be used for?
• What happens if your care needs change?
• How to request a Support at Home assessment
• Frequently asked questions
• How Kirinari can help

Introduction

The Support at Home program helps older Australians access care and services so they can continue living safely and independently at home. If you’re approved for ongoing Support at Home services, you’ll receive one of eight funding classifications based on your assessed care needs.

Your classification determines the amount of government funding available for your ongoing services. Understanding how the Support at Home classifications work can make it easier to plan your care, understand your budget and know what to do if your needs change.

What are the Support at Home classifications?

The Support at Home program has eight classifications for ongoing care and services. Each classification provides a set amount of funding based on your assessed needs.

Classification 1 provides the lowest ongoing funding amount, while Classification 8 provides the highest.

Your classification isn’t something you choose yourself. It is determined through your aged care assessment and is designed to provide funding that reflects your assessed care needs. Support at Home also has separate short-term pathways for assistive technology and home modifications, restorative care and end-of-life care. These sit outside the eight ongoing classifications.

How is your Support at Home classification assessed?

Your Support at Home classification is determined as part of your aged care assessment. The assessment looks at your individual circumstances and care needs to determine what support you require to continue living independently at home.

Following your assessment, you’ll receive a support plan that identifies your assessed needs and approved services. If you’re approved for ongoing Support at Home services, you’ll also be assigned one of the eight funding classifications.

If you haven’t applied for Support at Home yet, start with our guide, How to Apply for the Support at Home Program: A Step-by-Step Guide. (September article) It explains how to register through My Aged Care, what happens during your assessment and what to expect afterwards.

The 8 Support at Home classifications explained

The amount of funding available increases across the eight classifications. Current funding amounts from 1 July 2026 are:

Classification	Quarterly budget	Annual amount
Classification 1	$2,752.50	$11,010.01
Classification 2	$4,112.84	$16,451.35
Classification 3	$5,634.20	$22,536.81
Classification 4	$7,617.13	$30,468.51
Classification 5	$10,182.38	$40,729.53
Classification 6	$12,341.32	$49,365.27
Classification 7	$14,915.00	$59,660.00
Classification 8	$20,034.28	$80,137.12

These amounts include the 10% allocation for care management and are indexed on 1 July each year.

Rather than each classification providing a fixed list of services, your funding is used for approved care and services that meet the needs identified through your aged care assessment and support plan.

How does your Support at Home budget work?

Funding for ongoing Support at Home services is allocated as a quarterly budget.

Your provider will work with you to develop an individualised budget based on your funding, approved services and any participant contributions that apply.

If you don’t use all of your funding during a quarter, you can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget, whichever is greater, into the next quarter.

For ongoing services, 10% of your quarterly budget is allocated to care management. Care management helps make sure your services continue to meet your needs and can include care planning, reviewing your services and supporting you as your circumstances change.

What can your Support at Home funding be used for?

Your funding can be used for approved services that meet your assessed needs and are included in the Support at Home service list. Depending on your support plan, these may include:

• personal care
• nursing
• allied health
• domestic assistance
• meal preparation
• social support
• transport
• respite
• other approved services that help you remain safe and independent at home

The services you receive depend on your individual assessment and support plan rather than your classification number alone. If you’d like to understand the available services in more detail, read our guide, Support at Home service list: what’s included and what’s not? (July article)

What happens if your care needs change?

Your care needs may change over time. If your current services or funding are no longer meeting your needs, your care partner can review your care plan with you.

If your current Support at Home classification no longer meets your needs, and you agree, your provider may request a reassessment. A reassessment can determine whether a different classification or other support is more appropriate for your circumstances.

You don’t need to wait for a major change before discussing your care. Your care plan should also be reviewed when your needs, goals or preferences change.

How to request a Support at Home assessment

If you’re not currently receiving Support at Home services, the first step is to contact My Aged Care. The process generally involves:

Step 1: Contact My Aged Care

Register with My Aged Care and provide some initial information about your circumstances.

Step 2: Complete an aged care assessment

An assessor will talk with you about your needs, daily life and the support that may help you remain independent.

Step 3: Receive your assessment outcome

You’ll receive information about the services you’ve been approved for and, if you’re approved for ongoing Support at Home services, your funding classification.

Step 4: Choose a provider

You can then choose a registered Support at Home provider to help arrange and deliver your approved services.

Step 5: Develop your care plan and budget

Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan and individualised budget based on your assessed needs, goals and available funding.

Frequently asked questions

How many Support at Home classifications are there?

There are eight classifications for ongoing Support at Home services. There are also separate short-term pathways for assistive technology and home modifications, restorative care and end-of-life care.

How much funding do you get under Support at Home?

The amount depends on your classification. Current annual funding ranges from approximately $11,010 for Classification 1 to $80,137 for Classification 8. Funding amounts are indexed each year, so the amount available may change over time.

Can I choose my Support at Home classification?

No. Your classification is determined through your aged care assessment based on your assessed care needs.

Does a higher classification mean I can access different services?

Not necessarily. A higher classification provides a larger ongoing budget. The services you can receive are based on your assessed needs, approved services and the Support at Home service list rather than the classification number alone.

What if my classification doesn’t provide enough funding?

If your existing budget can no longer meet your needs, your provider can work with you to review your care and consider whether a reassessment is needed for a higher classification.

Do I have to pay towards my Support at Home services?

It depends on the services you receive and your circumstances. The Australian Government fully funds clinical supports. Participant contributions can apply to independence and everyday living services, with contribution rates determined according to government rules and, where relevant, an income and assets assessment.

How Kirinari can help

Understanding Support at Home classifications and funding can feel complicated, but you don’t have to work it out alone. At Kirinari, we can help you:

• understand your Support at Home funding
• understand the services available to you
• develop a care plan around your needs and goals
• coordinate your services
• review your care as your needs change
• make the most of your available funding

If you’re trying to understand your Support at Home classification or what your funding means for your care, our team can help you understand your options and take the next step with confidence.

You can also learn more about Kirinari’s In-Home Care services and how we support older Australians to live independently at home.

Or get in touch with our team to discuss your options.