Level 1 Home Care Packages
Level 1 Home Care Packages (HCP Level 1) are designed to support people who have basic lower-level care needs. It can be offered to you temporarily while waiting for a higher-level package to become available.
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What is a Home Care Package Level 1?
A Level 1 Home Care Package offers basic home care services for the older Australians who need support at home. You could be given this level of support if you are generally independent in your home.
While the Level 1 Home Care package may seem similar to the Commonwealth Health Support Programme (CHSP), there are a few notable differences. A Home Care Package service gives you more control and choice over your support services. It is also a more ongoing and comprehensive form of care.
What does a Level 1 Home Care Package include?
In Level 1, you’ll receive a basic level of Home Care help, such as gardening and cleaning, depending on the support you need. Generally, this support is in the form of day-to-day assistance that most older Australians would require.
This package level gives you approximately 4 hours of support every fortnight – depending on your provider’s fee.
What can I spend my Level 1 Home Care Package on?
The choice is yours! You are allowed to spend your Home Care Package on any reasonable service or product that will directly assist you with your care and safety at home.
As the recipient of the Home Care Package, you also get to choose your approved provider and the type of service you’d like to receive. Some of the most common services a Level 1 is used for are:
- Domestic or household tasks such as cleaning, dusting, laundry, and dishes
- Household maintenance
- Gardening services such as lawn-mowing, weeding, and ensuring garden paths are safe and hazard-free
- Transport services
- Social activities
How much is a Level 1 worth?
For Level 1, you can receive a government subsidy of $10,271 a year (July 2023). This is calculated as daily and fortnightly government subsidies.
These government subsidies change each year in July and are paid directly to your Home Care provider. You should consider your package subsidy and how much you can pay out of pocket when selecting the right provider.
What fees are associated with a Level 1?
You may need to pay a basic daily fee and an income tested care fee when you have a Home Care Package.
Basic daily fee
Some Home Care providers may charge a basic daily fee for their services, but you will not be charged this fee from a CareAbout provider.
This fee changes in March and September each year, and the current basic daily fee for Level 1 is $11.43 a day (March 2024).
Income tested care fee
This fee is your contribution to the costs of your Home Care and is determined through an income assessment. Pensioners and those whose income doesn’t exceed $32,820 a year will not need to pay this fee (March 2024).
Currently, the income tested fee ranges anywhere from $18.30 to $36.60 per day, and this fee is also subject to change in March and September each year (March 2024).
Your Home Care provider may charge additional fees besides these two fees mentioned above, so it’s important to check with them and ask for a breakdown of your fees.
How do I apply for a Level 1 Home Care Package?
You can apply for a Level 1 at the My Aged Care portal or call them at 1800 200 422. Once you have applied, My Aged Care will arrange for an assessor to visit you in your home and determine the level of care you need.
Am I eligible for a Level 1 Home Care Package?
You may be eligible for a Home Care Package if you are above 65 years of age, are an Australian resident, and require assistance with tasks at home. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander individuals are eligible for a Home Care Package from 50 years old.
Find a provider you can trust for your Level 1 Home Care Package
Finding the right Home Care provider and understanding your Home Care Package can be challenging. If you’d like help with applying for a Home Care Package and comparing providers, CareAbout is here to help.
CareAbout helps carers and their loved ones select and navigate the various Home Care options available. For experienced advice in understanding Home Care, contact our team for a personalised discussion.
Know more about individual Home Care Package Levels :
