Understanding Support at Home Funding

Support at Home is subsidised by the government, making it more affordable for you. But there are different costs you may need to pay on top of your government funding, depending on your financial situation, the type of services you need, and the provider you choose.

Who is Support at Home for?

Any older person who needs support to live safely at home may be eligible for Support at Home. The first step is contacting My Aged Care for an assessment. This will help work out what services you might need.

After your assessment, you will be placed into one of eight funding classifications designed to match the level of support you need. You then choose a provider to deliver your services.

Support at Home budgets

Your Support at Home classification comes with a budget to help pay for the services you need. This budget sets out the total amount of funds you can use.

The funds in your Support at Home budget are made up of:

  • The government’s contribution to your ongoing services
  • Any short -term pathway supports you are eligible for
  • Any Assistive Technology and Home Modifications you are eligible for
  • Any government-funded supplements you are eligible for
  • Any income-tested care fee you are asked to pay

These funds, along with any additional fees you agree to with your service provider, will cover the cost of your Support at Home services.

It’s important to us that you are in control of your care and funding. If you partner with Kirinari, we’ll break down your Support at Home budget together and work with you to choose the services that best meet your needs.

How much does the government contribute to my Support at Home budget?

Ongoing Services (services you receive regularly)

The amount of funding you receive from the government for ongoing care depends on your classification level. You can find the current government subsidy for new Support at Home participants in each classification level below.

Classification level    Quarterly Budget   Annual Budget  
Level 1$2674.18  $10,696.72   
Level 2$3995.42  $15,981.68   
Level 3                        $5479.94  $21,919.77   
Level 4                        $7386.33  $29,545.33   
Level 5                        $9883.76  $39,535.04    
Level 6                        $11,989.35  $47,957.41   
Level 7                        $14,530.53  $58,122.13   
Level 8                        $19,427.25  $77,709.00    

Care Management

All Support at Home participants will have 10% of their ongoing quarterly budget pooled into a Care Management Fund, which is managed by your provider.

Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme

You may also get separate funding for assistive technology, such as walking frames and wheelchairs, and for home modifications like grab rails and ramps.

Support at Home’s AT-HM scheme offers three levels of funding.

Funding Tier               Amount      
Low        Under $500
Medium Up to $2,000
High Up to $15,000

Restorative Care Pathway

After an illness, a fall, or if you’re experiencing age-related decline, you can access the Restorative Care Pathway. This pathway helps you regain your strength, mobility, and independence by providing up to 12 weeks of support from allied health professionals like physiotherapists and occupational therapists.  If approved during your aged care assessment, you will receive a budget of about $6,000 to fund these extra supports.

End of Life Pathway

The End‑of‑Life Pathway is accessed through Support at Home and provides extra support in the last three months of life. If approved for this funding, you or your loved one will receive up to $25,000 over three months to cover the extra care and support needed during this time.

Contribution rates:

Under Support at Home, you’re expected to contribute to the cost of your care.

Your contribution will depend on:

  • the type of service/s you receive, and
  • your income and assets.

Contribution by service category

  • Clinical care services, like nursing, occupational therapy, and continence care, are fully funded.
  • Independence services, like help with showering, dressing, taking medications, transport, and respite care, attract a moderate contribution.
  • Everyday living services, like help with cleaning, gardening, shopping, or meal preparation, attract a higher contribution.

Contribution depending on income and assets

The Australian Government will assess your income and assets based on the Age Pension means test, with Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders paying lower contributions than self-funded retirees.

We’re here to help

If you have any questions about the Support at Home program or if you need help navigating My Aged Care and the assessment process, our team is here to help you every step of the way.

You can talk to one of our experienced team members by calling 1300 547 462.