Question 1

What is in-home aged care in Australia?

Accepted Answer

In-home aged care is Australian Government-funded support that helps eligible older people stay living at home for longer by providing services and supports matched to assessed needs.

Question 2

What is My Aged Care and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care is the Australian Government’s main website and contact centre for finding and accessing government-subsidised aged care, including applying for an assessment and finding providers.

Question 3

What is the Support at Home program?

Accepted Answer

Support at Home is the Australian Government’s in-home aged care program that delivers coordinated services to help older people stay at home longer, with funding based on assessed needs and classifications.

Question 4

What is the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)?

Accepted Answer

CHSP is an entry-level program that helps eligible older people with low-level support needs to live independently and safely at home, with subsidised services provided by funded organisations.

Question 5

What is the difference between the Commonwealth Home Support Program and the Support at Home program?

Accepted Answer

CHSP is designed for low-level (entry-level) help at home, while Support at Home is for people with more complex or intensive needs and offers coordinated support with classified budgets and additional pathways.

Question 6

When did Support at Home replace Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care?

Accepted Answer

Support at Home started on 1 November 2025 and replaced the Home Care Packages Program and the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme from that date.

Question 7

When will the Commonwealth Home Support Program transition to Support at Home?

Accepted Answer

The Commonwealth Home Support Program is planned to transition to Support at Home no earlier than 1 July 2027; until then, CHSP continues operating.

Question 8

Who qualifies for government-funded in-home aged care services?

Accepted Answer

Eligibility for government-subsidised aged care is based on your age, needs and situation, and is confirmed through an aged care needs assessment.

Question 9

What age do I need to be to access My Aged Care services?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care states you generally qualify for an aged care assessment if you are aged 65 or older, with lower age thresholds for specific groups (including First Nations people and people experiencing homelessness).

Question 10

Can Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people access aged care from age 50?

Accepted Answer

Yes—My Aged Care states Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 50 may be able to get aged care support if assessed as eligible.

Question 11

Can people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness get aged care from age 50?

Accepted Answer

Yes—My Aged Care lists “homeless or at risk of homelessness and aged 50 or older” as a qualifying category for an aged care assessment (subject to care needs and assessment).

Question 12

Does my income affect whether I can get in-home aged care?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care states eligibility is based on age, needs and situation; your financial situation generally affects what you may need to pay, not whether you can be assessed for services.

Question 13

How do I apply for an aged care assessment online?

Accepted Answer

You can apply online through My Aged Care’s “Apply for an assessment online” form, which is used to apply for many care types including help at home and short-term pathways.

Question 14

Can I apply for an aged care assessment by phone or in person?

Accepted Answer

Yes—My Aged Care explains you can apply by phone, and you can also apply in person by booking an appointment with an Aged Care Specialist Officer at a Services Australia office.

Question 15

Does an aged care assessment cost anything?

Accepted Answer

No—My Aged Care states the aged care assessment is free of charge.

Question 16

What happens during an aged care assessment?

Accepted Answer

An assessor meets with you (often in your home) to understand your strengths, difficulties and care needs, and the assessment organisation uses this to decide eligibility and priority.

Question 17

What should I prepare for my aged care assessment?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care recommends preparing by thinking about your goals, needs and preferences, and you can have someone with you (such as a carer, registered supporter, interpreter, or care finder).

Question 18

How long does it take to receive my assessment outcome (Notice of Decision)?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care says the assessment organisation may take up to 2 weeks to review your information and decide the outcome, depending on needs identified.

Question 19

What is a Notice of Decision letter and what does it include?

Accepted Answer

A Notice of Decision is your assessment outcome letter; for Support at Home, My Aged Care says it includes approved services, reasons and evidence for the decision, review rights, and your support plan.

Question 20

What is a support plan in My Aged Care?

Accepted Answer

A support plan is a key document that summarises your assessment outcomes and lists approved services aligned to your goals and assessed needs.

Question 21

What is the Single Assessment System for aged care?

Accepted Answer

The Single Assessment System is an Australian Government reform designed to simplify and improve aged care assessments and make it easier to access services as needs change.

Question 22

What happened to ACAT and RAS assessments?

Accepted Answer

The Department says the Single Assessment System workforce replaced the previous assessment workforces (including RAS and ACATs) from 9 December 2024.

Question 23

Can my GP or hospital refer me to My Aged Care for an assessment?

Accepted Answer

Yes—My Aged Care states referrals can be made by a range of health and community professionals, including GPs, hospital-based professionals and allied health practitioners.

Question 24

What are the “urgent, high, medium, standard” priority categories?

Accepted Answer

These are priority categories used to allocate Support at Home funding when it becomes available; the Department states an aged care assessment determines your priority category.

Question 25

How does the Support at Home Priority System decide when I get funded?

Accepted Answer

The Department says the Support at Home Priority System allocates ongoing funding when it becomes available based on your approval date and priority category, and you only enter it if you have approval and are actively seeking care.

Question 26

What is interim funding in Support at Home and how much is it?

Accepted Answer

Interim funding is a temporary allocation intended to reduce waiting impacts; the Department says it is 60% of a person’s funding classification and the remaining funding is allocated later (not backdated).

Question 27

What services are included under the Support at Home program?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care states Support at Home includes a range of services such as domestic assistance, home maintenance, meals, clinical supports, and supports for independence, with the mix based on assessed needs and budget.

Question 28

What is care management in Support at Home?

Accepted Answer

Care management supports you to understand and access your care, including developing and reviewing your care plan and helping manage services, and My Aged Care says 10% of an ongoing quarterly budget is allocated to care management.

Question 29

Do I have to pay for clinical services under Support at Home?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care states you do not contribute to clinical support costs and the government pays the full price of clinical supports.

Question 30

What are the short-term pathways in the Support at Home program?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care states Support at Home has three short-term pathways: the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme, the Restorative Care Pathway, and the End-of-Life Pathway.

Question 31

What is the Restorative Care Pathway and how long does it last?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care describes the Restorative Care Pathway as short-term care to help you regain function and maintain independence, and it is limited to a maximum of 16 consecutive weeks per episode.

Question 32

How much funding do you get for the Restorative Care Pathway?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care states the Restorative Care Pathway provides a budget of around $6,000 for the duration of care, with the possibility of requesting up to another $6,000 in some cases.

Question 33

Can I take a break or pause my Restorative Care Pathway episode?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care states there are no leave provisions for restorative care and an episode is limited to a maximum of 16 consecutive weeks.

Question 34

What is the End-of-Life Pathway in Support at Home?

Accepted Answer

The End-of-Life Pathway provides urgent support and funding for eligible older people diagnosed with 3 months or less to live who wish to remain at home.

Question 35

How much funding is available for the End-of-Life Pathway and how long can I use it?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care states End-of-Life Pathway funding is $25,000 over 12 weeks, and funds can be used for up to 16 weeks if funding remains available.

Question 36

Can I access the End-of-Life Pathway if I’m not already receiving Support at Home services?

Accepted Answer

Yes—My Aged Care states you can access End-of-Life Pathway care through a high-priority assessment even if you don’t already receive Support at Home services.

Question 37

What is the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme?

Accepted Answer

The AT-HM scheme provides upfront funding (separate from other Support at Home services) for eligible people to access assistive technology and home modifications to live safely and independently at home.

Question 38

How much funding is available under the AT-HM scheme?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care lists AT-HM funding tiers of up to $500 (Low), up to $2,000 (Medium), and up to $15,000 (High) for a 12-month access period (with some extension possibilities described for certain circumstances).

Question 39

How do I get approved for AT-HM funding and how long does the approval last?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care states an aged care assessment determines whether you’re approved for the AT-HM scheme; if approved, it is listed in your Notice of Decision and support plan, and the funding tier is generally for a 12-month access period.

Question 40

Can I rent or borrow assistive technology instead of buying it?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care includes “Do I have to buy assistive technology, or can I rent or loan it?” as part of its AT-HM scheme guidance, indicating rental/loan options are considered within official information.

Question 41

How do I access Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) services?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care states an aged care assessment determines whether you are eligible for CHSP services; after approval, accessing services depends on local provider availability.

Question 42

Do I need an income and assets assessment to get CHSP services?

Accepted Answer

No—My Aged Care states you do not need an income and assets assessment to access CHSP services, but you may be asked to contribute if you can afford to.

Question 43

What is included in a Support at Home quarterly budget?

Accepted Answer

The Department states ongoing Support at Home budgets are allocated quarterly and include government funding and any participant contributions; My Aged Care also states 10% of the quarterly budget for ongoing services is allocated to care management.

Question 44

What are the ongoing Support at Home classification budgets (levels 1–8)?

Accepted Answer

The Department lists 8 ongoing classifications with set quarterly and annual funding amounts (effective from 1 November 2025 and indexed in July each year).

Question 45

Can I carry over unspent Support at Home funds to the next quarter?

Accepted Answer

Yes—the Department states participants can carry over unspent funds up to $1,000 or 10% (whichever is greater) to the next quarter.

Question 46

What happens to unspent Home Care Package funds when moving to Support at Home?

Accepted Answer

The Department states transitioned Home Care Package recipients keep unspent funds to use in Support at Home for certain purposes, and no carryover limit applies to unspent Home Care Package funds.

Question 47

Do Support at Home providers have to publish their prices?

Accepted Answer

Yes—My Aged Care states Support at Home providers must publish their full price list of services online, and it recommends comparing providers.

Question 48

When will price caps apply for Support at Home services?

Accepted Answer

The Department states Australian Government price caps apply from 1 July 2026, and My Aged Care has explained the shift toward price caps and how pricing is structured.

Question 49

How are my Support at Home contributions calculated?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care states contributions are based on your income and assets and are set as a percentage of the price of each service you receive, with the government paying the remainder.

Question 50

Do I need an income and assets assessment for Support at Home?

Accepted Answer

Yes—My Aged Care states you need an income and assets assessment to work out how much you will contribute towards Support at Home services.

Question 51

Which agency does the income and assets assessment (Services Australia or DVA)?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care states that for most people, Services Australia does the income and assets assessment; if you receive a means tested payment from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, DVA does the assessment.

Question 52

What is the “no worse off principle” for people transitioning from Home Care Packages?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care states that people who were receiving or approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024 are covered by “no worse off” arrangements so contributions in Support at Home are the same or lower than under Home Care Packages.

Question 53

Can I get financial hardship assistance with aged care fees?

Accepted Answer

The Department states people may be eligible to apply for financial hardship assistance if they can’t contribute for reasons beyond their control, and it links to Services Australia for the process.

Question 54

How do I find and choose a Support at Home or CHSP provider?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care says you can use the Find a provider tool to browse, shortlist and compare providers, considering factors like location, services, costs, quality and availability.

Question 55

What is a Support at Home service agreement and what must it include?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care states a Support at Home service agreement is a contract between you and your provider and includes your services and prices, your care costs and contributions, rights and responsibilities, and the complaints process.

Question 56

Do I have to start Support at Home services within a certain time after funding is allocated?

Accepted Answer

Yes—the Department states that after receiving a funding allocation letter, you must enter a service agreement and start services within 56 days, with the option to request a 28-day extension through My Aged Care.

Question 57

What is a registered supporter in My Aged Care and what can they do?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care states a registered supporter can help you make and communicate your own aged care decisions, but becoming a registered supporter does not give them decision-making authority over you.

Question 58

How do I register a supporter for My Aged Care?

Accepted Answer

My Aged Care provides a “Register a supporter” form and explains you can request to register a supporter online, including by uploading documents through your Online Account.

Question 59

What is the Statement of Rights under the Aged Care Act 2024?

Accepted Answer

The Department states the Statement of Rights explains the rights of older people when accessing aged care services and is a core part of the Aged Care Act 2024.

Question 60

What are the Aged Care Quality Standards and who monitors providers?

Accepted Answer

The Aged Care Quality Standards set expectations for safe, quality care, and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is responsible for monitoring providers against these requirements.

Question 61

What is the Aged Care Code of Conduct and who does it apply to?

Accepted Answer

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission states the Code of Conduct describes how registered providers, responsible persons, and aged care workers (including volunteers) must behave and treat people accessing funded aged care services.

Question 62

How do I make a complaint about my aged care services?

Accepted Answer

You can complain to your provider and, if needed, you can make a complaint to the Complaints Commissioner at the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission online or by phone; My Aged Care states anyone can complain and the service is free.

Question 63

Can I make an aged care complaint anonymously?

Accepted Answer

Yes—the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission states you can stay anonymous if you want, and My Aged Care also notes you can complain anonymously, confidentially or openly.

Question 64

What happens after I lodge a complaint with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission?

Accepted Answer

The Commission publishes its complaints process and explains it collects and triages complaints and supports people to make a complaint, including providing access to interpreters and advocacy support.

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