If you have recently received your Support at Home approval letter and noticed that your funding is only 60 percent of what you expected, you’re not alone. This can feel surprising, but it is actually a standard part of the new Support at Home system.

What you have received is called Interim Funding, or the Minimum Service Offer (MSO). It is designed to make sure you can start receiving essential services immediately, even during periods of high demand.

What Interim Funding Means

Interim Funding is used when the Support at Home system is experiencing elevated demand. Instead of placing you on a long waitlist with no help, the Department releases 60 percent of your ongoing support budget so you can begin services right away. The remaining 40 percent is released as soon as the system has capacity.

It is important to understand that this interim amount relates only to your ongoing services budget. Support at Home includes several different types of support, and not all of them draw from the same pool of funds.

This distinction is crucial.

Which Services Use the Interim 60 Percent Budget?

Many people assume that Interim Funding covers all Support at Home services, but that is not the case. The 60 percent allocation applies only to your ongoing quarterly services, which include things like personal care, basic respite, meal preparation, domestic assistance, transport and similar day-to-day supports.

Other parts of Support at Home use separate funding streams, meaning they are not affected by Interim Funding at all.

This table often brings clarity. If a support type has its own funding stream, it is not affected by Interim Funding.

Who Normally Receives Interim Funding?

Interim Funding is most commonly allocated to:

• people who were already on the National Priority System before 31 October 2025, and
• people newly assessed from 1 November 2025 onwards during busy periods.

It is simply the government’s way of ensuring no one waits indefinitely for care.

People who always skip Interim Funding and go straight to full funding include those with urgent needs, and anyone approved for the Restorative Care Pathway or End-of-Life Pathway.

How You Are Notified

Your first letter explains that you have been allocated 60 percent of your ongoing budget and can now begin receiving services. A second letter is sent once your full funding becomes available. Your provider receives matching notifications through the My Aged Care portal.

How Interim Funding Works in Daily Life

While you are on a reduced budget, your provider will help you create a care plan that focuses on essential supports. These core services form the foundation of the Support at Home program and allow you to remain independent and safe.

Because the ongoing budget covers things like personal care, domestic assistance and everyday supports, these are the services that may need to be prioritised temporarily.

Meanwhile, any AT-HM items or short-term pathways you are approved for are funded separately and are not affected by the 60 percent limit.

What Happens When Your Full Funding Arrives

When the remaining 40 percent becomes available, it activates from the date it is assigned. You do not have to go through another assessment. Instead, you simply review your care plan with your provider and adjust it to reflect your full budget.

This is the point at which you can expand your supports and include services that were postponed during the Interim Funding period.

The 56 Day Rule for Choosing a Provider

Once your funding is allocated, you have 56 days to choose a provider and sign a service agreement. If you need more time, you can request a 28 day extension, giving you a total of 84 days.

If no agreement is signed, your funding is withdrawn and you are removed from the Support at Home Priority System. You would then need to re-enter the queue if you want to receive services later.

Fees During the Interim Funding Period

Your care management fee remains at 10 percent but is calculated on the interim amount rather than the full budget.

You only pay contributions for the services you actually use, and clinical care continues to be fully funded.

Finding a Provider Who Can Guide You Through MSO and FSO

Managing a reduced budget requires thoughtful planning, and the right provider will help you prioritise what matters most while preparing for the shift to full funding.

If you would like to check your classification before choosing a provider, you can view it here:https://www.careabout.com.au/support-at-home-classifications

CareAbout can also help you compare providers and find someone experienced in guiding people through Interim Funding.