Support at Home: Budgets, Statements, and How They Work

The launch of the Support at Home program on 1 November 2025 brings major changes not only to services but also to how aged care funding is budgeted, priced, and tracked.
One of the government's goals is to make funding more transparent, flexible, and easier for clients to manage.

In this article, we'll break down:

• How budgets are allocated and used

• How financial statements will work

• How to understand prices for services

• How participants can stay in control of their aged care spending

How Budgets Work Under Support at Home

One of the major changes in the Support at Home program is the introduction of eight new funding classifications in addition to the four existing home care package levels that HCP transitioned clients will remain on until they are re-assessed.

The table below lists all 12 funding levels from lowest to highest, showing the annual and quarterly budget amounts. These amounts may change before the program begins, but they indicate the likely budget range for each level.

Deduct 10% Quarterly care management shows the amount that will be automatically deducted from each funding level and held by Services Australia for Care Management activities (10%), and Column E shows the amount remaining at each funding level for participants to spend on care and services each quarter.

Quarterly spending amount (actual) shows the maximum allowable quarterly unspent amount that can be carried forward to the next quarter.

Grandfathered participants will remain on the same home care package funding level when they move to the Support at Home program on 1 November 2025, retain access to all their unspent HCP funds, and are permitted to carry forward up to the specified amounts in Maximum rollover per quarter.

Want to learn more about the eight funding classifications?
See our previous blog: Support at Home: Funding, Classifications and Pathways for a full breakdown of how classifications work and what they mean for your care.

Key Features of Quarterly Budgets:

• Issued every three months.

• Carryover rules: You can roll over up to $1,000 or 10% of any unused funds (whichever is greater) into the next quarter.

• Care Management Allocation: 10% of your total budget is automatically set aside to cover care coordination, planning, and support activities.

• Flexibility: Your care plan and mix of services can change following reassessments — meaning your funding follows your evolving needs.

What Your Budget Can Be Used For

Support at Home services fall into three categories:

• Clinical Supports (e.g., nursing, allied health)

• Independence Services (e.g., personal care, transport, assistive technology)

• Everyday Living Services (e.g., domestic assistance, gardening, meals)

Additionally, you might access short-term pathways such as after an assessment:

• Restorative Care Pathway (short-term recovery)

• End-of-Life Pathway (high-priority palliative care at home)

How Service Pricing Works Under Support at Home

Unlike the previous Home Care Packages system, there are no standard set prices in Support at Home for 2025–2026.
Providers can set their own prices — but from 1 July 2026, national price caps will apply.

For now:

• Providers must set reasonable, transparent prices.

• Prices must include all costs (labour, travel, admin) — there are no extra fees for package management or travel anymore. Right at Home never charged package management fees so this will not  be a change for our clients.

• Providers must publish their standard prices on My Aged Care.

Participants are encouraged to compare providers — if you think a price is too high, you can question it, negotiate, or switch providers.

Important:
No participant pays co-contributions for clinical care services.
Co-contributions only apply to Independence and Everyday Living services based on your income.

Indicative Pricing Examples (Based on a survey results published by DOHAC 14 March 2025)

Prices may vary by location and service type (e.g., after-hours care or weekend care can cost more).

Understanding Your Support at Home Statements

You will receive a Care and Funding Statement every month showing quarterly details.
This statement is designed to be simple, clear, and detailed.

What Your Statement Will Include:

• Your total quarterly budget

• Amount allocated to care management

• Detailed services delivered and their costs

• Any co-contributions you paid

• Unspent funds carried into the next quarter

• Remaining budget balance

Tip: Your statement is your financial health check. Always review it to make sure the services listed match what you actually received.

Tracking and Managing Your Care Funds

You are encouraged to:

• Monitor spending throughout the quarter (not just at the end)

• Ask questions if you don't understand a charge

• Ask for a consultation with your care manager to discuss services if your needs or preferences change

• Switch providers if you find a provider with better value (no exit fees are allowed)

Your care plan is flexible — and so is your budget.

Protections for Participants

The government has introduced strong protections to ensure fair pricing:

• Providers must justify prices if challenged by the Department of Health or the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

• You cannot be charged for time not spent delivering your care.

• Thin-market grants are used to support reasonable pricing in remote or high-cost regions — prices must reflect these supports.

If a provider’s prices seem unreasonable, you can change providers at any time without penalty.

How Right at Home Supports You

At Right at Home, we believe funding transparency builds trust. We help you:

• Understand your quarterly budgets and statements

• Maximise your funding to meet your personal care goals

• Compare and review services and prices

• Navigate adjustments, reassessments, and changes to care plans

We’re committed to making your aged care journey simple, empowering, and stress-free.

Book Your Free Funding Review Consultation Today

Let us help you understand your Support at Home budget, protect your funding, and ensure you receive the right care at the right price.

Contact Right at Home today for your free consultation. 

Right at Home Australia is a leading provider of quality in-home care. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for those we serve ensuring the Right Care, Right at Home™.  We support people living with complex and post-operative care needs, dementia and cognitive decline, seniors, and adults living with a disability including NDIS participants. Our tailored services help clients to remain safe and independent in their homes. We are an Approved Provider under the Aged Care Act, meaning we can provide quality support at home under a government-funded home care package. We also offer private pay arrangements for those who do not have government funding, or who wish to pay privately for top-up care. Right at Home is all about you. We are available 24/7 so contact your local office today. You can also call our national number on 1300 363 802. 

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