What does no worse off mean under Support at Home?

Understanding Support at Home
Transition
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In short...
No-worse-off protections are intended to prevent eligible existing participants from paying more solely because the system changed.
The details...
What does “no worse off” mean under Support at Home?
The no worse off principle protects people who were:
receiving a Home Care Package on 12 September 2024, or
approved for a Home Care Package on or before that date, including people still waiting for funding.
It means the move to Support at Home should not increase the amount they personally contribute toward their care.
How it works
If you did not have to pay an income-tested care fee under your Home Care Package, you will not be required to make service contributions under Support at Home.
If you did pay an income-tested care fee, your Support at Home contributions should be the same or lower than what you would have paid under the former system.
What it does not guarantee
“No worse off” is mainly a financial contribution protection. It does not necessarily mean:
every service will cost the same
you will receive exactly the same number of service hours
your provider cannot change its prices
your care arrangements will never change.
Your available services can still be affected by your approved funding, assessed needs, provider prices and the new Support at Home service rules.
People approved after 12 September 2024 are generally covered by the standard Support at Home contribution arrangements rather than the no worse off protection.
What should I do next?
Check the person's Notice of Decision and support plan.
Ask the provider or My Aged Care to explain how the rule applies to this situation.
Keep the advice and any agreed changes in writing.
Helpful Local Home Help resources
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.
Takeaways
- No-worse-off protections are intended to prevent eligible existing participants from paying more solely because the system changed.
- The person's support plan and circumstances determine how the rule applies.
- Current official guidance should be checked before an important decision.
About Local Home Help
How Providers Are Listed
How providers appear on Local Home Help Local Home Help helps families discover home support services available in their area. Providers may appear on the site in a few different ways. Some providers create and manage their own listing on the platform. Others may appear based on publicly available information about services operating in a particular region. This helps families see a broader view of support options available locally. Where possible, we encourage providers to claim and manage their listing so information such as services offered, contact details and service areas remain accurate and up to date. There are no paid or enhanced listings on Local Home Help, and there never will be. Claiming or managing a listing has no effect on a provider's visibility, ranking, or how often it appears in a consumer's personalised shortlist, it simply keeps the information families see accurate and current. Local Home Help does not charge consumers to access the platform. We may generate revenue in other ways in the future, but none of these will ever influence which providers a consumer sees, how they're ranked, or what appears in their shortlist. Provider visibility is, and will remain, based solely on relevance to each family's stated needs. What does not influence Liz There are no paid or enhanced listings on Local Home Help, not now, and not in the future. No provider can pay for a higher position in Liz results, a better ranking, or inclusion in a consumer's shortlist. This is a permanent commitment, not a current-state description. Claiming or updating a profile does not improve a provider's ranking. It gives Liz more accurate information about the provider's services, coverage and care model, which can make the explanation of why a provider matched clearer, but it has no effect on whether or how highly that provider appears. Local Home Help intends to generate revenue in other ways in the future - for example through tools built for providers, or products separate from the consumer matching experience. None of these will influence which providers appear in Liz's results, how they're ranked, or what a consumer sees in their personalised shortlist. Visibility and ranking are based solely on the fit factors described above, and nothing else. This reflects the platform's core ethos: Local Home Help is built consumer-first. Every design and revenue decision is made so that what a family sees from Liz is the most relevant outcome for them. Never the most profitable outcome for Local Home Help or a provider.
Independence Statement
Our independence Local Home Help is designed to help families navigate the often confusing world of home support and aged care services. The platform aims to present information in a clear and balanced way so families can better understand the types of help available and where to find it. While providers may appear on the platform, Local Home Help does not recommend one provider over another. The decision about which service may be suitable will always depend on individual circumstances. Families are encouraged to contact providers directly, ask questions and make their own enquiries before making a decision. Our focus is to make the process of understanding and finding support at home easier. Local Home Help does not accept payment of any kind in exchange for provider visibility, ranking, or shortlist placement, and never will. Any future revenue Local Home Help generates will come from sources entirely separate from how providers are matched to consumers.
Quality Signals
What to look for when choosing a provider Finding the right support service can take time. When considering a provider, families may wish to look for signs of quality such as: Clear information about services offered Transparent pricing or funding options Experience supporting older people at home Relevant professional qualifications where appropriate Positive feedback or reputation in the community Willingness to answer questions about care and services It is often helpful to speak with more than one provider before making a decision. Local Home Help aims to provide a starting point for exploring services, but the best choice will depend on the needs and preferences of the individual receiving support.
About the Author
Local Home Help Editorial Team
This article was created by Local Home Help to help Australian families better understand aged care and home support options in plain English.
Our content is based on publicly available information from:
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My Aged Care
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Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
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Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
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Provider pricing schedules and operational experience within the aged care sector.
Local Home Help is an independent consumer information platform and does not provide medical, legal or financial advice.
Important information
Aged care rules, fees, eligibility requirements and program arrangements can change. The information on this page is general guidance only and may not apply to every person or situation.
Before making a financial, legal or care decision, check the latest information with My Aged Care, Services Australia, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, or another appropriate official source.
Local Home Help does not provide legal, financial, medical or clinical advice.
Source data
Last reviewed
20/7/26, 9:08 pm