Support at Home Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• When will the Support at Home Program (SaHP) start?

  The Support at Home Program will begin on 1 July 2025.

  • It will replace the Home Care Package (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs from this date.

  • The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) will continue until at least 1 July 2027.

• Who is eligible for the SaHP?

  You may be eligible if:

  • You are 65 years or older, or 50 years or older if you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person.

  • You need help with daily activities or health care.

  If you meet these criteria, you will need an aged care assessment to determine your eligibility and the services you qualify for.

• What services are covered under the program?

  The SaHP includes three service categories, each with a defined service list and two additional schemes:

  Service Categories

  1. Clinical Care – e.g. Nursing care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy.

  2. Independence – e.g. Personal care including bathing, dressing and grooming, social support and companionship

  3. Everyday Living – e.g. Cleaning, gardening.

  Additional Schemes

  4. Assistive Technology - e.g. walking frames, shower chairs, products for food preparation 

  5. Home modifications - e.g. grab hand rails, lever door handles, non-slip mat

  Services are not automatically granted—participants must be assessed and approved. Eligible services will be documented in your notice of decision and accompanying support plan. 

  SaHP will not cover general living costs (e.g. air conditioners, white goods). All services must be directly related to age-related decline.

• What are the key changes for the new program?

  Key changes from 1 July 2025 will include:

  • Quarterly budgets – annual funding will be split into four quarters (four equal budgets spanning 3 months. Participants who have not spent their budget within the quarter will be able to rollover a maximum of $1,000 or 10% of their budget (whichever is higher),  from one quarter to the next.

  • Defined service list – Clear guidelines on what is and is not included in the program.

  • No separate administration fees – package management fees will be included in prices, and not charged as separate fees.

  • Care management funding set at 10% – this amount will automatically be deducted from your available funds. Providers will use these funds to deliver care management support across all participants.

  • Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme – These schemes are funded separately and based on your needs.

• Will my existing Home Care Package automatically transfer?

  Yes. Current HCP participants will automatically move to SaHP on 1 July 2025, with the same funding and service levels.

• How are budgets determined?

  Your aged care assessment will determine your needs, goals, and funding level. Budgets are issued quarterly, and you can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% (whichever is higher) into the next quarter.

• What is the End-of-Life Pathway?

  The End-of-Life Pathway will support participants who have been diagnosed with three months or less to live and wish to remain at home. The pathway provides $25,000 over 12 weeks.

• What is the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme (AT-HM scheme)?

  The AT-HM scheme supports older people to live at home and within their community with increased independence, safety, accessibility and wellbeing. Your needs will be assessed to determine the appropriate level of funding and support.

  • Mobility aids e.g. walkers, wheelchairs

  • Bathroom modifications e.g. handrails, non-slip surfaces

  • Assistive devices e.g. personal alarms or voice-controlled systems

  Funding is categorised into three tiers,  each with a set period for fund usage:

  • Low: $500

  • Medium: $2,000

  • High: $15,000 

• What is the Restorative Pathway?

  The Restorative Care Pathway is an approach to care that focuses on early intervention through intensive clinical and care support and monitoring. 

  The Pathway focuses on short-term, intensive support to help you maintain or improve your independence. The aim is to reduce reliance on longer-term services and help you stay active and engaged.

  • An episode of restorative care provides up tot 16 weeks of allied health and/or nursing services aligned to a participants assessed needs with respect to mobility, strength, and daily activities.

  • Each restorative care episode provides a unit of funding of up to $6,000. Additional funding may be approved.

• Will HCP participants need to be reassessed for SaHP? How will their new funding level be decided?

  No. HCP participants and those waiting in the National Priority System will not be reassessed. You will receive equivalent SaHP funding based on your current HCP level.

• What happens to my unspent HCP funds?

  You will keep these funds under SaHP.  They can be used for:

  • Additional services (if your quarterly budget is fully used).

  • Assistive technology or home modifications (if approved).

• Will I pay more under SaHP?

  No. A “no worse off” policy ensures you pay the same or less than under the HCP program, even if reassessed later.

  For further information, refer to page 37 of the Support at Home program handbook. Please call the office if you would like a copy of the handbook.

• What can’t I use my SaHP funds for?

  The new SaHP limits what can be purchased using your aged care funding.

  Funds can’t be used for:

  • General living costs (e.g. bills, insurance).

  • Appliances (e.g. TVs, whitegoods).

  • Items not related to age-related decline.

  All purchases must be directly related to age-related decline.

• What can I spend my Home Care Package unspent funds on?

  Your unspent funds may be used to access additional services if a quarterly budget is fully allocated, or for assistive technology and home modifications, if approved.

• If a current HCP participant is paying an Income Tested Care Fee, do they continue to pay this same amount?

  Existing HCP participants who pay income-tested care fees will transition into the SaHP with special discounted contribution arrangements. 

  For more information refer to page 37 of the Support at Home program handbook.

• What are the Eight classifications under SaHP?

  • Level 1 – $2,750 per quarter / $11,000 per year

  • Level 2 – $4,000 per quarter / $16,000 per year

  • Level 3 – $5,500 per quarter / $22,000 per year

  • Level 4 – $7,500 per quarter / $30,000 per year

  • Level 5 – $10,000 per quarter / $40,000 per year

  • Level 6 – $12,000 per quarter / $48,000 per year

  • Level 7 – $14,500 per quarter / $58,000 per year

  • Level 8 – $19,500 per quarter / $78,000 per year

  Subject to change. 

  
  See page 12 of the Support at Home Program Handbook for further details.

• Can SaHP funds be saved between quarters?

  Yes. You can save up to $1,000 or 10% (whichever is higher) to use in the next quarter.

  Participants assessed as requiring assistive technology and/or home modifications will not need to save up their funds for these services because additional funding will be provided separately through the AT-HM Scheme.

• What happens if I change service providers?

  Your budget stays with you. The previous provider has 60 days to finalise claims. There is no transfer of money between providers.

• How will the quarterly funding cycle work?

  The quarterly funding cycle will follow the fiscal quarters:

  • Quarter 1: July to September 

  • Quarter 2: October to December 

  • Quarter 3: January to March

  • Quarter 4: April to June

  Participants who join during a quarter will receive a pro-rata amount.

• How do I pay my contributions?

  Providers will be responsible for collecting client contributions.

  Allcare will send you an invoice. Your Client Engagement Manager can help with payment options.

• What is the annual and lifetime contribution caps?

  There is no annual cap.

  • New SAHP participants, will have a lifetime contribution cap of $130,000.

  • Existing HCP participants who transition to SaHP will have a grandfathered lifetime cap of $82,018.

  Once your lifetime cap is reached, across Support at Home and non-clinical care component of a participant’s contribution to residential care, you do not pay any more individual contributions.

• Who tracks my contributions?

  Services Australia will keep track of contributions and manage the lifetime cap arrangements.

• I am a Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) client. Does this affect me?

  Not yet! The CHSP program will remain is is until at least 1 July 2027.

• Will allcare still charge a package management fee?

  No. Under SaHP, all costs must be included in service prices. There are no administration fees.

• Will there be price caps on services?

  • No price caps until 1 July 2026.

  • Until then, providers set their own prices. Government will monitor for fairness.

  • allcare is committed to offering the lowest prices in Illawarra and Shoalhaven.
    

• What will I pay for services?

  Under SaHP, participants will only pay contributions on the services they have received. 

  Contributions are based on a percentage of service cost, depending on your income.

  • Full Pensioner

    • Clinical Care: 0%

    • Independence Services: 5%

    • Everyday Living: 17.5%

  • Part Pensioner

    • Clinical Care: 0%

    • Independence Services: 5–50% (means tested)

    • Everyday Living: 17.5–80%

  • Self-funded (CSC)

    • Clinical Care: 0%

    • Independence Services: 5–50% (means tested)

    • Everyday Living: 17.5–80%

  • Self-funded (no CSC)

    • Clinical Care: 0%

    • Independence Services: 50%

    • Everyday Living: 80%

  Note: CSC = Commonwealth Seniors Card

• What services will I get under SaHP?

  SsHP offers a broad range of services tailored to help you live well at home. Based on your assessment, you may receive:

  • Clinical care: eg Nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, continence support

  • Independence support: eg Help with showering, dressing, taking medications, transport

  • Everyday living services: eg Help with cleaning, gardening, shopping assistance, meal preparation 

• How can I get Support at Home program Handbook?

  • Call our office for a printed copy.

  • Download from the Department of Health website here.

• How can I stay informed?

  • Visit our website.

  • Follow our Facebook page.

  • Contact your Participant Engagement Manager.

  • Read allcare Connect.

  Visit: www.health.gov.au/our-work/aged-care-act.