Support at Home FAQs: Answers for Older Australians, Families and Carers

Support at Home is the Australian Government’s in-home aged care program. It helps eligible older people access services so they can remain living safely and independently at home. The program includes different types of support, including clinical care, independence supports and everyday living services.

Some services may be fully funded by the government, while others may require a personal contribution depending on the person’s circumstances.

Not sure where to start? Liz can help you understand your options, compare local providers and take the next step with more confidence.

1. What is Support at Home?

Support at Home is the Australian Government program that helps eligible older people receive aged care services at home. It is designed for people who need support to remain independent, safe and well in their own home.

The program can help with services such as nursing, allied health, personal care, cleaning, meals, transport, home maintenance, assistive technology and other approved supports, depending on what is included in your support plan.

2. Who is Support at Home for?

Support at Home is for older Australians who need help to keep living at home. This may include people who are becoming less mobile, finding daily tasks harder, managing health conditions, recovering after illness, or needing more regular support to stay safe.

Eligibility is not based only on whether someone is in crisis. Many people apply because they need light support now and want to avoid a bigger problem later.

3. How do I apply for Support at Home?

You apply through My Aged Care. You can apply online or contact My Aged Care to start the assessment process. After you apply, My Aged Care will arrange an assessment to understand your needs and decide what type of support you may be eligible for.

4. Do I need an assessment for Support at Home?

Yes. You need an aged care assessment before you can be approved for government-funded Support at Home services. The assessment looks at your health, mobility, safety at home, personal care needs, daily routines, support network and what help you may need to remain living at home.

5. What happens after my assessment?

After your assessment, you may receive a decision about the type of care you are approved for. If you are approved for Support at Home, your decision letter and support plan will explain the services you are eligible to receive.

Your approved services matter because Support at Home funding can only be used for services that are included in your support plan.

6. What services can Support at Home pay for?

Support at Home services are grouped into three broad categories:

• Clinical supports, such as nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry and other allied health services.
• Independence supports, such as social support, transport, respite, assistive technology and home modifications.
• Everyday living supports, such as cleaning, meals, gardening and home maintenance.

Personal care, including help with showering, dressing and personal hygiene, remains an approved Support at Home service. From 1 October 2026, personal care moves to the Clinical Supports category for participant contributions. If personal care is approved in the support plan and funding is available, the participant contribution for those services is $0. The service cost still comes from the person’s Support at Home budget.

The services available to you depend on your assessed needs and what is approved in your support plan.

7. Does Support at Home cover cleaning?

Yes, cleaning may be covered if it is included in your approved support plan. Cleaning usually sits under everyday living supports, which means you may need to contribute to the cost depending on your financial circumstances.

Support at Home is not designed to fund unlimited household help. The cleaning must relate to your assessed aged care needs.

8. Does Support at Home cover gardening?

Gardening or home maintenance may be covered where it is necessary to help you remain safe at home. This might include basic garden maintenance to reduce falls risk, improve access or keep the home environment manageable.

9. Does Support at Home cover transport?

Yes, transport may be included where it supports your assessed care needs. This may include transport to medical appointments, shopping, community activities or other essential outings.

10. Does Support at Home cover nursing?

Yes. Nursing is a clinical support and may be covered under Support at Home when it is included in your support plan. Clinical supports, such as nursing care, are fully funded by the government.

11. Does Support at Home cover physiotherapy and allied health?

Yes. Support at Home can include allied health services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, psychology, speech pathology, social work and other approved clinical or therapeutic supports.

12. Does Support at Home cover personal care?

Yes. Personal care can be covered if it is included in your support plan. Personal care may include help with showering, dressing, grooming, toileting, mobility and other daily personal tasks.

From 1 October 2026, the Australian Government will fully fund personal care services for eligible Support at Home participants who are approved for that service type.

13. Is Support at Home free?

Some parts of Support at Home are fully funded, while others may require a contribution. Clinical supports, such as nursing, are fully funded by the government. Most participants will need to contribute to the cost of independence and everyday living services, depending on their individual circumstances.

14. How much will I pay for Support at Home?

How much you pay depends on the type of service you receive and your financial circumstances. The government pays the full cost of clinical supports. For independence and everyday living services, your contribution may depend on an income and assets assessment by Services Australia.

15. Do pensioners pay for Support at Home?

Pensioners may still need to contribute to some Support at Home services, especially independence and everyday living services. However, the amount depends on individual circumstances. Clinical supports are fully funded, regardless of whether you are a pensioner or self-funded retiree.

16. Do self-funded retirees pay more for Support at Home?

Self-funded retirees may pay higher contributions for some services, depending on their income and assets assessment. However, clinical supports are still fully funded by the government.

17. Are clinical services free under Support at Home?

Yes. Clinical supports are fully funded by the government. This includes services such as nursing care and other approved clinical supports included in your support plan.

18. What is the difference between clinical, independence and everyday living supports?

Clinical supports are health-related services, such as nursing and allied health. Independence supports help you stay safe, mobile and independent. Everyday living supports help with daily household tasks, such as cleaning, meals, gardening and home maintenance.

19. Can I choose my own Support at Home provider?

Yes. Once you are approved, you can choose a provider to deliver your services. You can compare providers based on location, services, preferences, culture, language and other needs.

20. Can I change Support at Home providers?

Yes. If your current provider is not meeting your needs, you can explore other providers. Before changing, check your current service agreement, understand any notice periods, confirm your new provider can deliver the services you need, and make sure there is no gap in essential care.

21. What should I look for in a Support at Home provider?

Look for a provider that can deliver the services in your support plan, communicate clearly, explain costs upfront, provide consistent workers where possible, and respond when your needs change.

Ask:

• What services can you deliver in my area?
• What are your hourly rates or service prices?
• Are there travel costs?
• How do you manage cancellations?
• Will I have regular workers?
• Who do I contact if something changes?
• Can you support my cultural, language or personal preferences?

22. How long does Support at Home take to start?

Wait times can vary. The time from applying through My Aged Care to actually starting services depends on assessment availability, approval, funding, provider availability and workforce capacity.

If you need help urgently, contact My Aged Care, speak with local providers, and consider whether interim or private support is needed while you wait.

23. What can I do while waiting for Support at Home?

While waiting, you may be able to access other local supports, private services, community programs or short-term assistance depending on your situation.

You can also use the waiting period to gather medical information, make your home safer, compare local providers, understand likely costs, speak with family about support needs and keep My Aged Care updated if your situation worsens.

24. Can I pay privately for home care while waiting?

Yes. Many people choose to pay privately for services while waiting for government-funded support or while waiting for approved services to begin. Private support may be useful for cleaning, transport, personal care, respite, gardening, home maintenance or allied health.

25. What if my needs change after I am approved?

If your needs change, contact My Aged Care or your provider. You may need a review or reassessment, particularly after a fall, hospital stay, new diagnosis, change in mobility, carer breakdown, increased confusion or difficulty managing daily tasks.

26. What is the difference between Support at Home and CHSP?

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme, often called CHSP, provides entry-level help for older people who need lower levels of support. Support at Home is designed for people who need more structured or ongoing support at home.

27. What is the difference between Support at Home and Home Care Packages?

Support at Home is the newer in-home aged care program. It has replaced the older Home Care Package model for ongoing in-home aged care. The newer model changes how services are grouped, how contributions work, how budgets are managed and how providers claim for services.

28. Can Support at Home help after hospital?

Support at Home may help after a hospital stay if you are assessed as needing support at home. Depending on your situation, this might include nursing, allied health, personal care, equipment, home modifications or short-term restorative support.

29. Can Support at Home help with dementia?

Yes. Support at Home may help people living with dementia if they are assessed as needing support at home. Support might include personal care, respite, social support, domestic assistance, transport, home safety changes, nursing or allied health.

30. Can Support at Home help carers?

Support at Home can indirectly support carers by funding services that reduce pressure on the family, such as personal care, respite, transport, domestic assistance or social support.

31. Can Support at Home pay family members?

Generally, government-funded aged care services are delivered by approved or registered providers, not paid directly to family members. Support at Home may still help by funding services that reduce the burden on informal carers.

32. Can I use Support at Home for home modifications or equipment?

Yes. Support at Home may include assistive technology and home modifications where they are approved as part of your assessed needs.

33. Can I get Support at Home if I only need a little help?

Yes. You do not need to wait until you are in serious decline before applying. Light support with cleaning, transport, mobility, allied health or home safety may help prevent falls, hospitalisation, carer stress and loss of independence.

34. Should I apply for Support at Home now or wait?

If you are starting to struggle at home, apply now. Support at Home is not only for emergencies. It exists to help people remain living at home for longer.

35. Can Local Home Help help me find Support at Home providers?

Yes. Local Home Help helps older Australians, families and carers understand their options and find local home care providers. Local Home Help is not My Aged Care and does not replace the government assessment process, but it can help you make sense of your options before, during or after applying for Support at Home.