Support at Home (SAH)
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Support at Home overview
HomeMade has provided general information regarding key questions below, but we advise that you contact the Department of Health, Disability and Aging for any specific questions.
What is the Support at Home program?
The Support at Home program is the new Australian Government program that launched on 1 November 2025 to replace the Home Care Packages program and Short-Term Restorative Care program. It’s all about creating a flexible, personalised and more supportive system for in-home aged care so older people can live independently at home for longer.
What if I already have a Home Care Package?
If you currently have a Home Care Package, you do not need to reapply for a package under the new Support at Home scheme. If you received or were assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package before 12 September 2024, your new budget under Support at Home will be ‘no worse off’ than the budget you receive under your current Home Care Package.
This is commonly referred to as a ‘grandfathering arrangement’. Any unspent funds you have will also move across. If you had to pay an Income Tested Care Fee (ITCF) prior to 12 September 2024, you will likely need to pay a contribution fee under Support at Home. If you did not pay an ITCF, you will not be required to pay the contribution under Support at Home.
How do I apply for Support at Home?
If you are already receiving care, no action is needed. If you are new to aged care, apply through My Aged Care.
Phone: 1800 200 422
Will I need to reapply for in-home aged care funding?
No, if you are currently receiving home care through a Home Care Package, your services will continue under Support at Home. However, if your needs have changed, you or your provider (with your consent) can request a Care Plan Review through My Aged Care.
How long is the wait for Support at Home funding?
Support at Home funding is prioritised using information collected during the assessment process.
Assessments for Support at Home funding are managed by the government. Applicants will be allocated one of the following priority categories:
- Urgent
- High
- Medium
- Standard.
A higher priority applicant will receive their funding sooner.
Once a Support at Home classification has been determined, My Aged Care estimates a medium priority individual may expect to wait up to 8 to 9 months for funding. The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care aims to reduce this to 3 months by July 2027.
Will ACAT assessments still exist under Support at Home?
The Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) has now been merged with the other assessment teams into a Single Assessment System. Aged care assessments continue under Support at Home, but the assessment is completed by the Single Assessment System workforce. Learn more about the Single Assessment System workforce.
Will I get a Support at Home approval letter and referral code to activate my funding like I did with my Home Care Package?
If you are approved for Support at Home funding, the assessment organisation will send you a Notice of Decision letter.
This letter will include:
- Information about the services you’re approved to receive.
- A copy of your support plan, which will include your referral code.
- Approval for any short-term support, if applicable.
- The reasons and evidence supporting the assessor’s decision.
- Your rights to have the decision reviewed if you disagree with it.
How do I know whether the Commonwealth Home Support Program or Support at Home funding is right for me?
Once you apply for an assessment, an assessor will come to your house to check your eligibility. If you’re eligible for the CHSP, the assessor will tell you right away. If they think Support at Home funding is more suited to your needs, they’ll review your situation and My Aged Care estimate that the assessor will send you a letter within 2 to 6 weeks to let you know what Support at Home classification you’re eligible for.
How does Support at Home improve my care?
The Support at Home program is all about creating a flexible, personalised and more supportive system for in-home aged care. It comes with improvements such as:
- More funding levels for tailored support.
- Mandatory care management with monthly check-ins.
- Faster access to short-term care options.
- More flexibility in choosing care that fits your lifestyle.
Services
How could HomeMade help me get more support from my funding compared to other providers?
As Australia’s best-value home care provider, we make quality care affordable.
Choose our Fully Managed option to access cheaper set rates for the services you need, allowing you to get more out of your funding with no surprise costs. Or choose to self-manage with HomeMade and pick the providers that best suit your budget.
Can I use my Support at Home funding for social and domestic tasks?
Yes, you can if it forms part of your Care Plan. These services are included under the Support at Home categories, Independence, and Everyday Living.
You will need to check if your Support at Home funding includes a budget for these categories.
An example of the social and domestic tasks covered by Support at Home are:
- Social support and community engagement (social activities, digital education, maintaining personal affairs, etc.)
- Respite
- Transport (engaging a driver, or rideshare or taxi service, etc.)
- Assistive technology and home modifications
- Domestic assistance (house cleaning, laundry, etc.)
- Home maintenance and repairs (gardening, changing light bulbs, cleaning gutters, etc.)
- Meals (meal preparation, meal delivery).
Can Support at Home participants access the Commonwealth Health Support Program (CHSP)?
Generally not, however there are some limited circumstances where a Support at Home participant can access additional services through the CHSP.
For more information, refer to the Commonwealth Home Support Program manual.
Can you help with the End-of-Life Pathway or the Restorative Care Pathway?
Currently, we are unable to help with the short-term Restorative and End-of-Life pathways.
We do, however, plan to be able to help with these pathways in the future.
Can you help me with Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) funding?
The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme refers to separate supports under Support at Home, with separate funding tiers and rules.
‘Assistive technologyʼ refers to equipment or items that can help you perform tasks more easily or that you cannot do independently, such as a walking stick or frame.
‘Home modifications’ refer to changes to a home environment that make it safer and more accessible, such as grab rails in the shower.
If you have a Home Care Package and:
- You were approved for AT-HM, you can use your unspent funds for items on the AT-HM list when you transition to Support at Home.
- You are required to use the unspent HCP funds on AT-HM items before accessing Support at Home AT-HM funding.
- You were approved for AT-HM but have no unspent funds, with your permission, we can complete an AT-HM survey for you or refer you for a care plan review.
- You were not approved for AT-HM, but think you would benefit from AT-HM support, we can assist you in completing a care plan review.
If you have Support at Home funding:
Your eligibility for the AT-HM scheme will be determined in your aged care assessment or during a care plan review. If assessed as eligible, you will be assigned a funding tier. For more information on AT-HM funding, refer to section 12.1 of the Support at Home manual.