If you have a partner, the available Home Care Packages will differ slightly and it is important to understand the differences to ensure the appropriate supplements for you.

How Home Care works with couples

No matter your marital or relationship status you are entitled to Support at Home, and both members can receive funding for a provider. The difference is that the amount of available funding and the tier for which you are eligible may be slightly different as the income assessment looks at your combined income.

What fees do I have to pay?

Under Support at Home there are no “basic daily fees” and no income-tested daily fees like the old Home Care Package system. Instead, clinical services such as nursing and allied health are fully funded, while contributions may apply to independence and everyday-living services. These contributions are charged as a percentage of the approved price for the services you actually receive and are shown clearly on your monthly statement. For couples, Services Australia assesses contributions using your combined income, so your percentage may differ from that of a single person on the same service mix.

About contributions for couples

Your contribution rate is set from your assessment and depends on your circumstance. Full pensioners pay the lowest percentages; part-pensioners and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders pay assessed rates; and self-funded retirees without a CSHC pay higher rates, with clinical supports at 0% for everyone. Because couples are assessed jointly, your household income is used to determine the percentage applied to your independence and everyday-living services. Providers collect only what applies to the services delivered, and you’ll see the amounts itemised against each service on your statement.

Support for fees

If you need specific services but your contribution creates financial stress, you can request a review and seek hardship assistance. In addition, a range of supplements may apply subject to assessment and evidence, including dementia and cognition, oxygen, enteral feeding, continence, veterans’ supplements, and other clinically prescribed supports. We can help you understand what applies and what documentation is needed.

Support at Home classifications

Support at Home uses eight ongoing classification levels, set at assessment, ranging from light, occasional help through to complex, coordinated in-home support, with separate short-term pathways for Restorative Care and End-of-Life care. Funding is allocated quarterly, with limited rollover, and your level can be reassessed if your needs change. If you’re coming from a Home Care Package, you’ll transition automatically with your services continuing and any unspent funds carrying over.

Support at Home: The 8 Classifications

Support at Home funding is set at your assessment and placed into one of eight ongoing classifications, with your quarterly budget shown first and the annual total in brackets.

Level 1 – $2,674 ($10,698): Light domestic help such as occasional cleaning, simple meals or transport to maintain independence.
Level 2 – $3,995 ($15,982): Light personal and social care, for example showering assistance, shopping and companionship.
Level 3 – $5,480 ($21,920): Weekly support covering hygiene, mobility, meal preparation and regular household tasks.
Level 4 – $7,386 ($29,545): Near-daily personal care, medication prompts and basic home-safety modifications.
Level 5 – $9,884 ($39,535): Daily assistance with medication, mobility and routine health monitoring.
Level 6 – $11,989 ($47,957): Regular nursing, physiotherapy and allied-health services for ongoing condition management.
Level 7 – $14,531 ($58,122): Intensive, multidisciplinary support delivered by a coordinated care team.
Level 8 – $19,427 ($77,709): Continuous or palliative in-home care with clinical and allied-health oversight.

Short-term options are also available alongside your level if assessed as needed: a Restorative Care Pathway (about $6,000 over up to 16 weeks, twice in 12 months) to help you recover independence; an End-of-Life Pathway (about $25,000 over 12 weeks) focused on comfort and dignity at home; and a separate Assistive Technology & Home Modifications stream with low, medium or high tiers for equipment and safety upgrades.

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