Understanding support at home funding levels 1 to 8 is essential for older Australians and families planning government-funded aged care. Whether you need nursing assistance, personal care or everyday household support, knowing how the funding works can help you make informed decisions. Choosing a reliable support at home provider is equally important, as the right care arrangement can help you make effective use of your approved funding while maintaining comfort, safety and independence at home.
Introduced on 1 November 2025, Australia's Support at Home program provides eligible older people with access to government-funded services based on their assessed care needs. In 2026, the program offers eight ongoing funding classifications, each with a different quarterly and annual budget.
However, understanding the difference between funding classifications, personal contributions and available services can sometimes feel confusing. This guide explains the current funding amounts, eligibility requirements, care options and practical considerations to help you plan suitable support.
What Are the Support at Home Funding Levels 1 to 8?
The support at home funding levels 1 to 8 are eight government-funded classifications designed to meet different levels of aged care needs. Each classification provides a quarterly budget that eligible participants can use towards approved in-home care services.
The Support at Home program replaced the former Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care Programme on 1 November 2025. It aims to provide more flexible and individualised support, helping older Australians remain independent in their own homes for longer.
The eight classifications offer different funding amounts, with higher classifications providing larger budgets for people with greater assessed support requirements.
For example, someone needing occasional help with daily activities may require less funding than someone who needs frequent nursing assistance, personal care or support with complex health conditions.
However, funding levels do not automatically determine which services you receive. Your aged care assessment identifies your individual needs and the services approved in your support plan.
Importantly, Support at Home funding is not paid directly into your personal bank account. Instead, the funding is used to cover approved services through the program.
Support at Home Funding Levels 1 to 8: How Much Funding Can You Receive in 2026?
One of the most common questions older Australians ask is how much government funding is available under each classification.
As of 1 October 2026, the support at home funding levels 1 to 8 provide annual funding ranging from $11,031.56 to $80,294, including the allocation for care management.
Below is a breakdown of the eight classifications and their current funding amounts.
Support at Home Classification 1: $11,031.56 Annually
Classification 1 provides a quarterly budget of $2,757.89, equivalent to $11,031.56 annually. This is the lowest ongoing funding classification under the program.
It may be appropriate for individuals with relatively limited assessed support needs who require some assistance to continue living independently.
Depending on their approved care plan, participants may receive help with selected daily activities, domestic tasks or other eligible services.
Support at Home Classification 2: $16,483.55 Annually
Classification 2 provides a quarterly budget of $4,120.89, with published annual funding of $16,483.55.
This classification offers a larger budget than Classification 1 and may support individuals who need additional assistance with approved daily living activities.
For example, an older person may require regular help with household tasks, personal routines or maintaining independence in their community.
The actual services depend on the individual's assessment and available funding.
Support at Home Classification 3: $22,580.93 Annually
Classification 3 provides $5,645.23 per quarter, equivalent to $22,580.93 annually.
This classification may support people requiring more frequent assistance with daily activities, mobility or health-related needs.
Depending on their approved services, individuals may receive a combination of personal care, domestic assistance and clinical support.
The provider and participant can work together to develop a schedule that reflects the approved care plan and available budget.
Support at Home Classification 4: $30,528.15 Annually
Classification 4 offers a quarterly budget of $7,632.04, equivalent to $30,528.15 annually.
This funding may be suitable for individuals with more substantial ongoing care requirements, depending on the assessment outcome.
For instance, someone may require regular personal care, assistance with household activities and occasional nursing support.
Because the budget must cover approved services and care management, planning how the funding is allocated is particularly important.
Support at Home Classification 5: $40,809.27 Annually
Classification 5 provides $10,202.32 quarterly, equivalent to $40,809.27 annually.
This higher classification may help individuals with increased care needs who require more frequent assistance to remain safely at home.
Depending on their assessed requirements, this might include nursing services, mobility assistance, personal care and other approved support.
A personalised care plan helps ensure the available funding is directed towards the services that matter most.
Support at Home Classification 6: $49,461.91 Annually
Classification 6 provides a quarterly budget of $12,365.48, with annual funding of $49,461.91.
This classification offers substantial ongoing funding for people whose assessed needs require considerable care and assistance.
For example, an individual may need support with several daily activities alongside regular clinical services.
Nevertheless, the amount of assistance available will depend on approved services, provider pricing and budget management.
Support at Home Classification 7: $59,776.80 Annually
Classification 7 provides $14,944.20 per quarter, equivalent to $59,776.80 annually.
This classification offers one of the highest ongoing budgets and may support older Australians with significant or complex assessed care needs.
Depending on individual circumstances, a participant may require coordinated nursing, personal care, mobility assistance and other services.
Effective care planning is important to ensure approved services remain appropriate as circumstances change.
Support at Home Classification 8: $80,294 Annually
Classification 8 is the highest ongoing funding classification under Support at Home.
It provides $20,073.50 quarterly, equivalent to $80,294 annually, including care management funding.
This classification is designed to provide a larger ongoing budget for people assessed as having substantial care needs.
Participants may require frequent assistance with personal activities, ongoing clinical support or coordination of multiple approved services.
However, Classification 8 does not automatically guarantee unlimited nursing care or round-the-clock assistance. Services must remain consistent with the approved care plan and available funding.
These funding amounts are effective from 1 October 2026 and may change with future government indexation or program adjustments.
How Are Support at Home Funding Levels Determined in Australia?
Your Support at Home classification is determined through a government aged care assessment rather than your personal preference or income alone.
An aged care assessor evaluates your ability to manage everyday activities, health conditions, mobility, safety and existing support arrangements.
The assessment helps establish the type and extent of assistance required to remain living safely and independently at home.
What Does the Aged Care Assessment Consider?
During the assessment, several factors may influence the outcome.
These include your ability to manage showering, dressing, cooking, cleaning and other daily activities. The assessor may also consider mobility difficulties, falls risks, cognitive changes, nursing requirements and the assistance available from family members or carers.
For example, someone who can independently manage most household activities may have different support requirements from a person who needs regular help with mobility, personal hygiene and clinical care.
The assessment process uses the Integrated Assessment Tool to help determine eligibility and support requirements.
Once the outcome is confirmed, eligible participants receive information about their approved services and funding classification.
Who Is Eligible for Support at Home Funding?
Support at Home generally assists older people who have been assessed as needing government-funded aged care services.
You may be eligible for an assessment if you are aged 65 years or older, or an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 years or older.
Certain people aged 50 years or older who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness may also qualify for an aged care assessment.
However, meeting the age criteria does not automatically guarantee approval for Support at Home.
Eligibility depends on your assessed needs and the relevant program requirements.
What Care Options Are Available Under Support at Home Funding?
Understanding support at home funding levels 1 to 8 is only one part of planning suitable aged care. It is equally important to know which services may be included in your approved support plan.
The program groups services into three broad categories: clinical supports, independence and everyday living.
Clinical Supports: Nursing and Health-Related Care
Clinical supports assist older Australians who require approved healthcare services in their own homes.
Depending on individual circumstances, services may include nursing care, wound management, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other eligible clinical assistance.
Clinical supports generally do not attract participant contributions.
From 1 October 2026, approved personal care services also attract no participant contribution under the updated arrangements, provided the services are included in the participant's support plan and sufficient funding is available.
Personal care assistance may include showering, dressing, grooming, personal hygiene, eating and certain everyday routines.
Although eligible personal care no longer attracts a participant contribution, its cost is still charged against the available Support at Home budget.
Guardian Nursing Agency provides personal care and clinical care services designed to support older people with their individual daily living and health-related needs, subject to service suitability and availability.
Independence Support: Helping Older Australians Stay Active
Independence services help people maintain their routines, mobility and connections with their communities.
Approved assistance may include transport services, respite care, therapeutic services and other support that helps individuals participate in daily activities.
For example, someone who finds travelling independently difficult may benefit from approved transport assistance to attend appointments or community activities.
Similarly, respite services may provide temporary support when informal carers need a break.
Participant contributions may apply to independence services, depending on the individual's financial circumstances and applicable contribution arrangements.
Everyday Living Support: Assistance With Household Tasks
Everyday living services help older Australians manage essential household activities and maintain a comfortable living environment.
Depending on the approved care plan, assistance may include cleaning, laundry, shopping, meal preparation, gardening and certain home maintenance activities.
These services can be especially valuable for individuals who experience mobility limitations, fatigue or difficulty completing household tasks independently.
For example, regular domestic assistance may help reduce the physical demands of maintaining a home while allowing an older person to concentrate on their health and wellbeing.
Guardian Nursing Agency offers aged care domestic assistance to help eligible individuals manage everyday tasks according to their needs and available service arrangements.
Everyday living services generally attract participant contributions, making it important to understand the costs before arranging support.
How Much Do You Pay Under Support at Home in 2026?
Although the government contributes towards approved aged care services, some participants are required to pay part of their service costs.
Your personal contribution depends on the services you receive, your financial circumstances and any applicable transitional protections.
Do You Pay for Clinical Support Services?
Approved clinical support services generally have no participant contribution.
This means eligible participants do not pay a personal contribution towards approved clinical services delivered within their available program funding.
Furthermore, the contribution changes introduced on 1 October 2026 mean approved personal care services are also contribution-free when the relevant requirements are met.
However, these services still use the participant's allocated funding, so they must be planned within the available budget.
What Are the Costs of Independence Services?
Independence services may involve a participant contribution.
The amount depends on the type of service, the person's assessed financial circumstances and applicable contribution rules.
For example, an eligible pensioner may have a lower contribution rate than someone with greater assessable financial resources.
Therefore, it is important to understand your individual contribution rate before arranging regular independence support.
What Are the Contributions for Everyday Living Services?
Everyday living assistance, such as cleaning, gardening and meal preparation, generally involves participant contributions.
These contributions help cover part of the approved service cost, while the government subsidises the remaining amount.
Because contribution rates can vary, older Australians should request clear information about their expected expenses.
A transparent support at home provider should explain service pricing, applicable contributions and how charges affect the available care budget.
How Do Support at Home Quarterly Budgets Work?
Under Support at Home, ongoing funding is allocated through quarterly budgets rather than being made available as an unrestricted annual amount.
The standard funding quarters begin in January, April, July and October.
Each participant receives a quarterly allocation based on their approved classification and applicable funding arrangements.
Your budget is used to pay for eligible services delivered during the period, including the allocation for care management.
For example, someone receiving Classification 4 has a quarterly budget of $7,632.04.
However, this does not mean the entire amount is available for direct nursing, personal care or domestic assistance, because part of the budget is reserved for care management.
What Are Support at Home Care Management Fees?
Under the ongoing program, 10% of each participant's quarterly budget is allocated to care management.
Care management helps coordinate approved services, monitor care requirements, review care plans and support communication between participants, families and care professionals.
For someone receiving Classification 4, approximately $763.20 of the quarterly budget is allocated to care management.
This leaves approximately $6,868.84 for approved direct services before considering individual contribution arrangements or other applicable adjustments.
Understanding this allocation helps families plan their care and compare service arrangements more confidently.
Can Unused Support at Home Funding Roll Over?
Yes. Participants receiving ongoing Support at Home services may carry a limited amount of unused funding into the following quarter.
The maximum rollover is generally the greater of $1,000 or 10% of the quarterly budget, including applicable supplements.
However, participants cannot carry over more than the amount they actually have remaining.
For example, someone with a quarterly budget of $4,120.89 and $1,500 in unspent funding may carry over up to $1,000.
This provides flexibility for unexpected care needs without allowing unlimited funding accumulation.
What Happens If You Receive Interim Funding?
Some approved participants may initially receive interim funding while waiting for their full ongoing funding allocation.
Interim funding is generally 60% of the approved classification amount.
For example, if your full quarterly budget has not yet been allocated, the interim amount may help you begin essential approved services while waiting for the remaining funding.
Once the full allocation becomes available, the applicable ongoing budget increases accordingly. The additional funding is not backdated.
During this period, careful planning is important to prioritise essential care within the available interim budget.
How Many Hours of Care Can You Receive With Support at Home Funding?
There is no fixed number of weekly care hours guaranteed under support at home funding levels 1 to 8.
The number of hours depends on your approved services, provider pricing, available budget and the type of assistance you require.
For example, two participants receiving Classification 4 may have identical quarterly funding amounts but different care needs.
One person may require frequent personal care and occasional nursing visits. Another may need domestic assistance, community transport and therapeutic services.
Therefore, the services and hours available to each person may be different.
When planning care, it is useful to consider the frequency of services, hourly charges, weekend or public holiday pricing, care management and applicable personal contributions.
A suitable care plan should prioritise your assessed needs while using the available funding responsibly.
Can You Apply for a Higher Support at Home Funding Level?
Yes. If your care needs change significantly, you may be eligible for reassessment.
For example, someone who develops additional mobility difficulties, requires more frequent nursing assistance, or experiences declining independence may need a higher level of support.
Similarly, changes in family caregiving arrangements may affect the amount of formal care required.
In these circumstances, speak with your care partner or provider about reviewing your current support arrangements.
They can help you understand whether a support plan review or formal reassessment may be appropriate.
However, requesting reassessment does not automatically guarantee a higher funding classification.
An authorised aged care assessor must determine whether your changed circumstances justify additional funding.
What Happens to Existing Home Care Package Funding?
Older Australians who previously received Home Care Packages may have different funding arrangements under Support at Home.
People who were receiving a Home Care Package, or were assessed as eligible for one before the transition date, may retain a transitioned classification based on their previous approval.
These transitional arrangements use four classifications rather than the eight ongoing funding classifications introduced under the new program.
Consequently, former Home Care Package recipients should not automatically assume that the standard Support at Home Classification 1–8 funding amounts apply to their existing arrangements.
Can You Keep Unspent Home Care Package Funds?
Eligible unspent Home Care Package funds can remain available under the relevant transitional arrangements.
These funds may help pay for approved services after the participant's quarterly budget has been exhausted.
They may also be used towards eligible assistive technology or home modifications in accordance with the program requirements.
Because transitional funding arrangements can differ between individuals, reviewing your personal funding information is important.
Are There Separate Funding Options for Specialised Care?
Yes. Support at Home also provides specific pathways for certain short-term and specialised care needs.
These include restorative care, end-of-life care, and assistive technology and home modifications.
Each pathway has its own assessment, eligibility and funding arrangements.
Therefore, funding available under these pathways should not be confused with the standard ongoing classifications.
How to Choose a Support at Home Provider in Australia
Understanding your funding classification is an important first step, but finding the right provider can have a significant impact on your care experience.
A suitable support at home provider should help you understand your approved services, available budget, pricing and care management arrangements.
When comparing providers, consider whether they can deliver the services included in your support plan and whether they operate in your local area.
It is also important to understand their service prices, scheduling arrangements, care coordination processes and approach to changing care needs.
For instance, if you require both nursing care and domestic assistance, you may prefer a provider that can coordinate these approved services effectively.
You should also ask how frequently your care plan will be reviewed and how concerns or changes in support requirements will be managed.
Once your full funding allocation becomes available, you generally have 56 calendar days to enter into a service agreement and begin services. An additional 28 days may be available through My Aged Care when an extension is requested and approved.
Guardian Nursing Agency, also known as GNA Services, provides aged care support through its registered service locations in Western Australia and New South Wales, subject to current availability and suitability.
Its services include assistance with personal care, nursing and everyday living activities, helping older Australians access practical support according to their approved needs.
Understanding support at home funding levels 1 to 8 can help you make informed decisions about aged care, but choosing services that match your daily needs is just as important. Whether you require personal care, nursing assistance or help with everyday activities, knowing your approved funding and support options can make planning easier.
Guardian Nursing Agency is committed to helping older Australians access compassionate, personalised and practical care that respects their independence, comfort and individual preferences. If you are looking for a trusted support at home provider, contact us to discuss your approved care needs, funding arrangements and suitable service options. The team can help you explore available aged care assistance and understand the next steps towards arranging support, subject to eligibility, service suitability and local availability.
