Support at Home Levels Simplified (2025): Easy Guide to the 8 New Care Tiers

The Australian Government's Support at Home Program, launching on November 1 2025, introduces a refined approach to in-home aged care. Replacing the existing Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Resto rative Care (STRC) programs, this initiative aims to provide older Australians with more personalized and flexible care options.

Under this program, care recipients are classified into eight distinct levels, each corresponding to specific care needs and associated funding. This structure ensures that individuals receive support tailored to their unique circumstances, promoting independence and quality of life at home.

1. Why Eight Levels? A Move Toward Personalized Care

Transitioning from the previous four-tier HCP system to an eight-level classification allows for a more detailed assessment of care needs. This change addresses the diverse requirements of older Australians, ensuring that services are neither underutilised nor overstretched. By aligning care levels more closely with individual needs, the program enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of in-home support.

The eight-level system creates a more detailed and precise classification, enabling:

• More accurate budget matching

• Better response to changing needs

• Greater flexibility for people with moderate and complex care situations

2. Understanding the 8 Support at Home Levels (2025)

A. Level 1 – Minimal Support for Independent Living

Support at Home Level 1 is tailored for older individuals who are still largely independent but need minimal help with occasional tasks around the home.

Services under this level typically include light domestic assistance such as vacuuming, mopping, or changing bedsheets once or twice a week. It may also involve support for safe meal delivery, brief welfare check-ins, or community transport for medical appointments.

This level is ideal for seniors who require reassurance and limited support to maintain their well-being and independence without constant supervision. It acts as a preventive layer of care that helps delay the need for more intensive services down the track.

B. Level 2 – Light Personal Assistance and Social Connection

Level 2 provides more regular support while still preserving the person’s independence. It includes light personal care, such as help with dressing or showering a few times a week, assistance with managing medications, and basic health monitoring like blood pressure checks.

Seniors may also receive help with grocery shopping, food preparation, or attending social or cultural gatherings. This level introduces gentle care routines that support physical health and reduce isolation, without being intrusive.

A regular care worker might become part of the weekly rhythm at home, helping ensure day-to-day tasks are managed safely and socially.

C. Level 3 – Moderate Support with Daily Routines

Support at Home Level 3 represents a shift toward more structured care, where assistance is needed multiple times per week across several areas of daily living.

Services here expand to include consistent personal hygiene support (e.g., bathing, hair washing), assistance with using mobility aids, escorting the individual to appointments, and preparing nutritious meals that align with dietary needs. Cleaning and laundry become routine services, and care plans might begin to include fall prevention strategies and mild cognitive support.

At this stage, people may struggle to live alone safely without regular intervention, making this level crucial for maintaining dignity at home.

D. Level 4 – High-Frequency Personal and Household Support

At Level 4, individuals typically require support on a near-daily basis. Carers often help twice per day with toileting, showering, dressing, and meal prep.

Occupational therapists may assess the home for modifications, leading to the installation of handrails, bathroom chairs, or non-slip flooring. Incontinence support or mobility device usage also begins at this level. Housekeeping is managed throughout the week, ensuring the environment remains clean and safe.

For many, Level 4 is where the line between occasional care and essential, daily assistance is crossed, giving families peace of mind while allowing the person to remain in their home.

E. Level 5 – Daily Support and Clinical Coordination

Level 5 introduces daily care and is suitable for those with significant and consistent needs that must be monitored by both personal carers and allied health professionals.

Services include intensive personal care (e.g., catheter hygiene, medication management), physical support like hoisting or transferring from bed to chair, meal preparation tailored by dietitians, and transport to recurring treatments such as dialysis or chemotherapy. In-home safety becomes a priority, with monitoring systems or alert devices installed.

Individuals at this level may also receive emotional and cognitive support, particularly if memory loss or confusion is part of their health profile. Daily visits are common and closely scheduled.

F. Level 6 – Comprehensive Medical and Personal Care at Home

Level 6 support is for individuals whose complex health conditions demand multidisciplinary input. Nursing care becomes regular and may include wound management, pressure sore treatment, blood glucose monitoring, and medication administration through injections or IVs. Personal care continues daily, while allied health professionals like physiotherapists or speech pathologists provide rehabilitation or communication therapy.

Continence care, mobility aids (like hoists or commode chairs), and the use of specialized equipment also become necessary. Homes at this level are often reconfigured for safety and clinical functionality.

The overall goal is to delay hospital admissions by managing chronic illnesses or post-acute care at home.

G. Level 7 – Intensive Daily Care Across Multiple Needs

Support at Home Level 7 reflects the need for sustained, intensive care across every area of a person’s life. Services are delivered by a team of professionals, typically including personal carers, nurses, and allied health practitioners, multiple times each day.

Support may be required with All Activities of Daily Living (ADLS): feeding, bathing, transferring, toileting, and dressing. Clients often rely on mobility aids or live with conditions like dementia, COPD, or advanced arthritis. Social and emotional engagement is essential, with planned activities or companionship support included in care plans.

This level is a home-based equivalent of low-acuity nursing care, coordinated to avoid premature residential placement.

H. Level 8 – Highest Level of In-Home Care, Including Palliative Support

Level 8 offers the most intensive in-home care available and is designed for individuals with severe, chronic, or terminal illnesses. Palliative care services become central, with nurses managing pain, nausea, or other symptoms through specialist interventions.

Support may include overnight care, 24/7 on-call nurse coordination, assistive breathing devices, feeding tubes, and emotional or spiritual support. Homes may contain hospital-style beds, pressure mattresses, and hoists.

Multidisciplinary care teams ensure dignity, comfort, and support for both the client and their family. This level enables Australians to live — and even pass — at home with compassion, control, and expert medical support.

3. Budget Breakdown by Classification Level

The Support at Home Program (2025) offers an eight-tier funding structure designed to match the specific needs of older Australians receiving in-home care. Each level corresponds to a quarterly and annual budget allocated by the government, giving recipients financial support to access a range of approved aged care services.

Understanding how much funding you’re entitled to—and how it can be used—is essential for effective care planning.

A. Support at Home Classification Levels & Budgets

Support at Home Level	Quarterly Budget	Annual Budget	Ideal for
Level 1	$2,750	$11,000	Basic needs like meal delivery, light housework, and check-in visits
Level 2	$4,000	$16,000	Regular help with personal care, medication, and errands
Level 3	$5,500	$22,000	More frequent support services, mobility assistance
Level 4	$7,500	$30,000	Daily support needs, basic assistive tech
Level 5	$10,000	$40,000	Higher care needs, transport to appointments, and safety aids
Level 6	$12,000	$48,000	Complex support including nursing, continence care
Level 7	$14,500	$58,000	Extensive, daily support with multiple needs
Level 8	$19,500	$78,000	Highest level of care, complex or palliative support at home

 Pro Tip: These amounts are reviewed annually by the Department of Health and Aged Care. It's essential to stay updated via the Support at Home Program Fact Sheet.

B. Understanding Unspent Funds: Roll-Over Rules

If you don’t use your full budget in a quarter, you’re allowed to roll over up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget, whichever is higher. This can be helpful during months when your needs are lower or when saving for larger expenses like assistive devices or home modifications.

Example: If you are at Level 5 and your quarterly budget is $10,000, you can carry over up to $1,000 for future use.

This system is consumer-friendly, giving recipients more control and flexibility over how and when care is delivered.

4. How Are Levels Assigned? Assessment and Eligibility

To access services under the Support at Home Program 2025, older Australians must undergo a structured eligibility and assessment process. This ensures each person receives the appropriate Support at Home classification level that matches their care needs, lifestyle, and goals.

A. Who Is Eligible for Support at Home?

To be eligible for the program, you must meet the following basic criteria:

• Be aged 65 or older (or 50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people).

• Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

• Be living at home, not in residential aged care.

• Have difficulty with daily activities such as showering, dressing, preparing meals, or moving around safely.

• Be assessed and approved by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT).

If you're under 65 but have age-related functional decline, you may still be considered eligible through special assessment provisions.

B. Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Assessed

1. Start with My Aged Care Registration Visit the My Aged Care website or call 1800 200 422 to register. You'll be asked some basic questions to determine if you're ready for an assessment.

2. In-Home Assessment by ACAT or Regional Assessment Service (RAS)

   • For entry-level support, a RAS assessment is arranged.

   • For more complex or ongoing support needs, an ACAT assessment will take place. This is a free service where a qualified professional visits your home to assess:

   • Your mobility and personal care needs

   • Cognitive or psychological conditions

   • Living arrangements

   • Existing support networks

   • Cultural or language-specific requirements

3. Receive a Classification Level (1–8) Based on the ACAT report, you'll be assigned a Support at Home Level (from 1 to 8), which dictates the type and amount of support you can access.

4. Choose a Provider.

   Once approved, you’ll receive a Support at Home Handbook outlining your care level and how to select a Support at Home provider. You can find a list of qualified providers on My Aged Care’s service finder.

5. Will My Support at Home Level Change Over Time?

   
   

Yes. The system is designed to evolve with your needs. You may be reassessed:

• After a hospital stay

• Due to injury or chronic illness progression

• At the request of your provider or carer

• If your current budget is not meeting your needs

This flexible model ensures you're always receiving the right support, whether your care needs decrease or increase.

6. Comparison: Support at Home Levels vs. Home Care Packages

   
   

With the rollout of the Support at Home Program in 2025, many older Australians and caregivers are asking: "How does this differ from my current Home Care Package (HCP)?"

Here’s a clear comparison of HCP and Support at home, and a handy level-mapping guide to help you understand the transition.

Key Differences at a Glance

Feature	Home Care Packages (HCP)	Support at Home Program (2025)
Package Levels	4 (Level 1 to 4)	8 (Level 1 to 8)
Budget Frequency	Annual	Quarterly
Flexibility	Moderate – fixed care categories	Highly consumer-directed, flexible funding
Unspent Funds	Rolled over annually	Rollover limited to $1,000 or 10% per quarter
Care Provider Transition	Fixed to a single provider	Easier to switch or mix providers
Service List	General, broad categories	Streamlined and detailed Service List
Care Planning	Provider-led	Consumer-led with digital tools and care navigation support
Goal	Deliver basic-to-high support	Deliver tailored, timely, adaptable care at home

💡 TIP: If your care needs have increased recently, request an updated assessment via

 My Aged Care to ensure your new level reflects your current situation.

Final Thoughts: Making the New Levels Work for You

Navigating the new Support at Home system can feel overwhelming, and that’s completely understandable.

If you're unsure about what level of support you might need or how these changes affect your care, we're here to make things simple.

Book a call with our team, and we’ll help:

• Determine which Support at Home level best suits your current needs

• Guide you through the eligibility and application process

• Answer any questions about your budget, services, or care hours.

  
  

You don’t need to figure this out alone. Let’s talk and make sure you get the right support to continue living safely and independently at home.

Call us on 1800 950 838 or visit, simply book your consultation.

FAQS About Support at Home Levels

Q1: Can I choose my own service provider? 

Yes, recipients can select from a list of registered Support at Home providers.

Q2: Do these levels affect my pension? 

No, classification levels under the Support at Home Program do not impact pension entitlements.

Q3: What if my needs change over time? 

Recipients can request a reassessment through My Aged Care to adjust their care level accordingly.

Q4: Are there exit fees if I switch providers? 

The government has proposed banning exit fees under the new system to facilitate easier transitions between providers.

Q5: How do I apply for the program?

Applications can be initiated through My Aged Care or by calling their support line.

Q6: Is there a handbook or guide I can download? 

Yes, the Support at Home Program Handbook provides comprehensive information.