Support at Home program - Classifications and Budgets
Once assessed for the Support at Home program, you will receive a specific classification tailored to your current needs. These classifications include:
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Ongoing Services:
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Eight ongoing classifications to ensure that the more support you require, the higher your allocated quarterly budget becomes. This structured approach allows for reliable, long-term care management.
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Four transitioned Home Care Package classifications (if approved on or before 31 October 2025)
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In addition to ongoing care, three specialised short-term pathways are available to address specific circumstances:
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Restorative Care Pathway: Focused on enhancing your daily independence through allied health and therapy services.
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End-of-Life Pathway: Providing compassionate funding for essential services to support staying at home during the final months of life.
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Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM): Dedicated funding for equipment and home safety upgrades to keep you living safely.
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Understanding your classification is straightforward.
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After your approval, a Notice of Decision and a Support Plan will be issued to you to share with the team at LingCare - clearly outlines your specific classification, your quarterly budget, and your goals. It provides a comprehensive overview of your approved services and any eligible short-term supports, ensuring you and your family have full transparency regarding your government funding.
Ongoing Services
If approved, you will be allocated one of the 8 classifications for ongoing Support at Home services, to meet your assessed care needs. Your classification is determined by an aged care assessor.
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The table below lists each of the eight ongoing service classifications. This includes funding for care management. These amounts are indexed on 1 July each year.
* Last updated 28 November 2025
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Transitioned Home Care Package (HCP)
If you transitioned from the Home Care Packages Program, you continue to receive a funding classification for ongoing services that’s equivalent to your previous funding level.
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If you were assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package on or before 31 October 2025, you will receive a classification that is equivalent to your approved Home Care Package level when funding becomes available.
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The table below lists each of the 4 transitioned Home Care Package classifications. This includes funding for care management. These amounts are indexed on 1 July each year.
* Last updated 28 November 2025
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Short-Term Pathways
Different funding amounts and classifications apply for participants accessing short term pathways:
Restorative Care Pathway
The Restorative Care Pathway gives you access to coordinated, intensive allied health and/or nursing services to regain function and delay the need for long-term care.
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You can be approved for a maximum of 2 units of funding ($6,000 per unit) over a 12-month period. This can be either:
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2 separate 16-week episodes at different times within the year, or
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2 units of funding within a single 16-week or less period, if approved through a Support Plan Review.
End-of-Life Pathway
Under the End-of-Life Pathway, older people with 3 months or less to live can access higher level in-home aged care services.
Funding of $25,000 is available over 12 weeks, with flexibility to use this funding up to 16 weeks.
Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme
Funding for assistive technology and home modifications is upfront and separate from your other Support at Home services. This means that the AT-HM scheme provides access to assistive technology and home modifications, without you needing to save up your individual budget.
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If you have an assessed need for assistive technology or home modifications, you get allocated an AT-HM funding tier to cover the cost of these specific supports to meet your care needs.
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You may be funded for assistive technology, home modifications, or both.
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The table below outlines funding tiers, amounts and access periods for assistive technology and home modifications.
* Last updated 28 November 2025
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How does the Support at Home budget work
Ongoing Services
To help manage your care, you will be provided with a quarterly budget that looks after you for three months at a time. The amount of government funding you receive is thoughtfully chosen based on your personal classification.
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To give you extra peace of mind, any funds you haven’t used can be gently carried over to the next three-month period. You can safely carry forward up to $1,000 or 10% of your budget to ensure your future needs are met. At LingCare Home Care, we will walk alongside you to help pick the services that feel right for your home.
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By choosing from your list of approved supports, we will create a personal care plan and budget together. To keep things clear and simple, you will receive a friendly monthly statement to help you stay across your funding.
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Please note that these budget figures are effective from 1 November 2025 and are updated annually each July to reflect current indexation rates.
Short-term Pathways
Our short-term pathways, including Restorative Care, End-of-Life support, and the AT-HM scheme, are designed to give you extra help right when you need it. Your available budget is based on your specific pathway or equipment tier.
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To help you plan ahead, these specialised funds are available for a set time:
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- Restorative Care: 16 weeks to help you get back on your feet.
- End-of-Life Care: Available for 12 weeks, though you can use it for up to 16 weeks for your comfort.
- AT-HM Scheme: Usually 12 months (in most cases) for equipment and home safety.
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Funding for AT-HM Scheme is kept in a separate budget so we can quickly arrange the tools you need for a safer home.
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Please keep in mind that these specific short-term funds must be used within their set timeframes and cannot be carried over once the period ends.
Other types of government funding
Care Management
Care management ensures your support is tailored to you. We work together to create a personal plan that manages your services and adjusts as your life changes.
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For ongoing care, 10% of your quarterly budget is dedicated to this coordination. If you use specialised pathways like Restorative Care, End-of-Life support, or the AT-HM scheme, your care coordination is covered within those specific funding pools.
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This ensures you always have a dedicated partner at LingCare to guide you through your care journey.
Primary supplements
Primary supplements provide additional financial support for specific health requirements, such as oxygen, enteral feeding, or veteran-specific needs. For the AT-HM scheme, if you live in a remote area (Modified Monash Model area 6 or 7), you may also access a remote supplement for equipment, products and services.
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For those who transitioned from a Home Care Package, rest assured that previous dementia, cognition, and EACH-D top-up supplements will continue if they were active before 31 October 2025. This extra funding ensures you receive the comprehensive, specialised care you deserve at home.
Contributions
Your contributions are unique and depend on these personal factors:
Type of Service you receive
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Clinical supports: no contribution for clinical support services such as nursing and physiotherapy. This is fully funded by the government.
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Independence: a moderate contribution for independence services such as personal care, and products and equipment under the AT-HM scheme.
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Everyday living: highest amount of contributions for everyday living services such as domestic help and gardening.
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From 1 October 2026, the Australian Government will fully fund personal care services. This means you can access personal care services at no out-of-pocket cost if you’ve been approved for the personal care service type in your support plan.
How much you contribute towards your care is based on your unique financial situation, which is determined by the standard income and assets assessment.
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We want to reassure you that full pensioners contribute the least, while self-funded retirees without a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card are asked for a higher amount.
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Please keep in mind that the term 'pension' covers the age pension as well as other income support payment.
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To ensure you receive the correct funding, it is important to share your details with Services Australia; otherwise, you may be set at the maximum rate under a 'means not disclosed' status.
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At LingCare, we are here to help you understand exactly what these contributions look like for your family.
Income and Assets
When you were aprroved for Services
To help you feel secure about your future, the government ensures a fair transition for everyone.
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If your care began or was approved after 12 September 2024, standard contribution guidelines apply to your services.
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For those already in the system before 12 September 2024, you are protected by a 'no worse off' guarantee.
This means:
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- If you previously had no fees, you will continue to have no costs under the new program.
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- If you were paying fees, your contributions will either stay the same or decrease.
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- Additionally, the lifetime safety cap of $86,185.23 remains in place to protect your savings.
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Services Australia will provide clear notice to both you and the team here at LingCare regarding your unique contribution rates, so everything stays transparent and manageable for you and your family.
If you are unsure about any fees or contributions, our LingCare team is here to explain things clearly and support you.
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