What happened to people who already had a Home Care Package?
Understanding Support at Home
Transition
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In short...
People already receiving Home Care Packages moved automatically into Support at Home with equivalent ongoing funding. They retained their unspent funds, did not need a fresh assessment solely because of the change, and may be protected by the no worse off contribution rules depending on when they were approved.
The details...
What happened to people who already had a Home Care Package?
The Home Care Packages Program ended when Support at Home began on 1 November 2025.
People who were already receiving a Home Care Package moved automatically into Support at Home with a transitioned Home Care Package classification. Their ongoing government funding remained equivalent to their previous package level.
Did they have to be reassessed?
No.
A person already receiving a Home Care Package did not need a new assessment simply because the program changed.
Their previous package became one of four transitioned classifications. The transitioned classifications are separate from the eight classifications used for people newly assessed under Support at Home.
A transitioned participant may later receive one of the eight new classifications if their needs change and they are reassessed for a higher level of ongoing support.
Did their funding stay the same?
Their funding level remained equivalent to their previous Home Care Package.
Keeping the same government funding level does not necessarily mean receiving exactly the same number of service hours. Provider prices and the way budgets are administered may differ under Support at Home.
Did they keep the same provider?
In most cases, services continued with the person’s existing provider during the transition.
The provider was responsible for discussing any changes to:
the service agreement
the care plan
service prices
participant contributions
monthly statements
the way services were scheduled or delivered.
A participant was not required to remain permanently with the same provider. Support at Home participants can still compare and change providers, subject to arranging a safe transfer and continuity of essential care.
What happened to unspent Home Care Package funds?
Existing unspent Home Care Package funds were not lost.
Transitioned participants retained those funds and can use them for:
approved assistive technology and home modifications
additional approved services after their current quarterly Support at Home budget has been used.
The ordinary Support at Home quarterly carryover limit does not apply to these historic HCP funds. They can also be transferred when the participant changes providers.
This means the person may have two types of unspent funding:
Historic Home Care Package funds, retained from before 1 November 2025.
New quarterly Support at Home funds, which generally have more limited carryover rules.
The provider’s statements should distinguish between these amounts.
Did the services remain exactly the same?
Not automatically.
Services now need to fall within the Support at Home service list and remain connected to the person’s assessed needs and goals.
The provider should review the person’s arrangements and explain:
which existing services can continue
whether service names or categories have changed
whether prices have changed
whether any item is no longer available
what alternative support may be offered.
Participants should not assume that an old Home Care Package arrangement continues unchanged indefinitely merely because the funding level was preserved.
What happened to fees and contributions?
The answer depends heavily on when the person was approved for their Home Care Package.
Approved on or before 12 September 2024
The Australian Government’s no worse off principle applies.
This means:
if the person was not required to pay an income-tested care fee under their Home Care Package, they will not be required to pay Support at Home contributions
if they were required to pay an income-tested care fee, they should pay the same or less under Support at Home.
The previous Home Care Package lifetime cap on contributions also continues to apply.
Approved from 13 September 2024 to 31 October 2025
These participants transitioned to equivalent ongoing funding, but they are generally subject to the standard Support at Home contribution arrangements.
Under those arrangements:
clinical supports have no participant contribution
contributions may apply to independence services
higher contributions generally apply to everyday living services
the rate depends on the person’s income, assets and pension status.
The date of approval—not simply the date services began—is therefore important.
What happened to people approved for a package but still waiting?
People who had been assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package by 31 October 2025, but had not yet received one, moved into the Support at Home Priority System.
When funding becomes available, they receive an ongoing transitioned funding level equivalent to the Home Care Package for which they were approved.
They do not normally need another assessment unless their needs have changed.
Can a transitioned participant receive more support later?
Yes.
A transitioned classification is not a permanent ceiling.
A person can request a Support Plan Review or reassessment if they experience:
worsening mobility
increasing personal-care needs
repeated falls
dementia-related changes
greater nursing or medication needs
hospitalisation followed by ongoing decline
loss of support from family or friends
carer burnout.
If reassessed and approved for a higher level, they may move from their transitioned HCP classification into one of the eight ongoing Support at Home classifications.
They may also qualify separately for short-term pathways such as:
restorative care
assistive technology and home modifications
end-of-life support.
What should transitioned participants check?
Ask the provider for:
the current transitioned classification
the quarterly and annual government funding amount
a copy of the updated care plan
the current service agreement
the complete price list
the participant contribution rate
the balance of historic unspent HCP funds
the balance of current Support at Home funds
confirmation of how care-management funding is charged
an explanation of any services or prices that changed at transition.
Do not assume the provider’s first transition statement is correct. Query unexplained reductions, missing unspent funds or services that changed without proper discussion.
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
- Existing Home Care Package recipients transitioned to Support at Home, generally with protections designed to preserve their funding position.
- 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