Can my Support at Home classification change?

Can my Support at Home classification change?

Yes. Your Support at Home classification is not permanently fixed. You may move to a different classification if your health, abilities, safety risks or support circumstances change significantly.

Support at Home has eight classifications for ongoing services. Each classification provides a different level of government funding based on assessed care needs.

When might my classification increase?

A higher classification may be considered if you develop greater or more complex support needs, such as:

• declining mobility

• needing more help with showering, dressing or toileting

• repeated falls or increasing safety risks

• worsening dementia or cognitive impairment

• greater nursing or medication needs

• a new diagnosis or serious illness

• hospitalisation followed by a lasting decline

• difficulty preparing meals or eating safely

• needing more supervision or prompting

• the loss of regular support from family or friends

• increasing carer stress or burnout.

A diagnosis alone does not automatically result in a higher classification. The assessor considers how the condition affects your everyday functioning, safety and need for assistance.

Can my classification be reduced?

Potentially, yes.

A reassessment may find that you need less ongoing support because:

• your condition has improved

• rehabilitation or restorative care has increased your independence

• a temporary health problem has resolved

• equipment or home modifications have reduced your need for assistance

• your previous classification no longer reflects your current circumstances.

A classification should not be reduced simply because you have not spent all your funding or because a provider has difficulty supplying workers.

The change must be based on an assessment of your care needs.

Who decides whether it changes?

Your provider cannot independently increase or reduce your classification.

The classification is determined through the aged care assessment system. Your provider can:

• review your current care plan

• document changes in your needs

• adjust services within your existing approval and budget where possible

• help request a Support Plan Review or reassessment.

The final decision is made through My Aged Care and the assessment organisation.

What is the difference between a care-plan review and a Support Plan Review?

Your provider’s care-plan review considers how your existing approved services are being delivered.

It may allow the provider to change:

• visit times

• service frequency

• the balance between approved services

• workers or scheduling

• day-to-day care arrangements.

A Support Plan Review examines whether your My Aged Care support plan still reflects your needs.

It may be needed where you require:

• a different approved service

• additional types of support

• a higher ongoing classification

• access to another aged care program or pathway.

A Support Plan Review may sometimes be completed by telephone and is intended to avoid a full reassessment where one is unnecessary.

When is a full reassessment required?

A new comprehensive assessment may be required where your needs have changed substantially or your current approval is no longer appropriate.

This may happen where:

• your ongoing funding appears insufficient

• your care needs have become significantly more complex

• you may need residential care

• your living situation has changed substantially

• the reviewer cannot determine your needs from the existing information

• several new services or approvals are being considered.

The reviewer decides whether the matter can be resolved through a Support Plan Review or requires a fuller reassessment.

How do I request a change?

You can request a Support Plan Review at any time if your needs have changed.

You can:

• ask your care partner or provider to help request it

• call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422

• speak with a Services Australia Aged Care Specialist Officer.

My Aged Care confirms that people already receiving services can request a Support Plan Review whenever their needs change.

You do not need to wait for your annual care-plan review.

What information should I provide?

Explain specifically what has changed and how it affects daily life.

Useful information may include:

• recent hospital discharge records

• reports from your GP, nurse, physiotherapist or occupational therapist

• a current medication list

• records of falls or near falls

• examples of missed meals or medication problems

• changes in memory, behaviour or judgement

• details of assistance now provided by family

• evidence that a family carer can no longer continue

• records showing that your current budget cannot meet assessed needs.

Describe what happens on difficult days, not only what you can manage when feeling well.

For example:

“Since my hospital admission, I now need assistance to shower, transfer safely and prepare meals. My daughter is currently helping every day, but she cannot continue providing this level of care.”

What happens while I wait?

Your provider should review whether your existing services can be rearranged within your current approval and budget.

Depending on the situation, you may also need to explore:

• temporary family support

• hospital discharge services

• respite

• health-system services

• short-term restorative support

• assistive technology

• urgent clinical care.

A request for a higher classification does not mean the additional ongoing funding will become available immediately. If a new classification is approved, access may still be affected by your priority category and the Support at Home funding allocation process.

Are short-term pathways the same as changing classification?

No.

You may qualify for additional short-term funding through pathways such as:

• the Restorative Care Pathway

• the End-of-Life Pathway

• the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme.

These pathways have separate eligibility and funding arrangements. Receiving short-term pathway funding does not necessarily change your ongoing classification.

What if I disagree with the decision?

Your Notice of Decision should explain your review rights.

Check whether the assessment included all relevant information, particularly:

• unpaid care provided by family

• overnight or supervision needs

• dementia-related risks

• frequent falls

• nursing needs

• recent decline

• carer burnout.

You can contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to discuss the decision.

Free independent assistance is also available from OPAN on 1800 700 600.

What should I do next?

1. Check the person's Notice of Decision and support plan.

2. Ask the provider or My Aged Care to explain how the rule applies to this situation.

3. Keep the advice and any agreed changes in writing.

Helpful Local Home Help resources

• Understand Support at Home

• Start with Liz

• Read Support at Home articles

Check the official guidance

Check current official Support at Home guidance. Aged care rules, funding amounts and program guidance can change, so check the current official information before making an important care or financial decision.