Support At Home Contributions: 2026 Breakdown

As of November 2025, the new Support at Home program has changed the way older Australians make payments for accessing home care services. This guide will help you understand how much you will need to pay to access different types of home care services.

Key changes to participant contributions under Support At Home:

• You will not be required to make any contributions to access clinical support services such as nursing or physiotherapy. 
• You will only make contributions based on the services you receive, based on how much you can afford to pay. 
• If you were under the Home Care Package program before the changes, you will not pay more than you did before. 

How Contributions Work Under the Support at Home Program

Under the Home Care Package program, participants made contributions based on the approved level of service, regardless of whether the services were actually used. The new Support at Home program is transitioning to a service-based arrangement, where participants will only pay for the services they receive. 

Contributions for home care services are paid on a percentage basis, depending on the participant’s income and assets. For example, if you receive personal care services for two hours, you will only need to contribute a percentage of the costs for those two hours.

The Support at Home program divides home care services into three different categories:

• Clinical support services – These are essential services provided by medical or allied health professionals, including nursing, occupational therapy, or physiotherapy. Clinical support services are fully funded by the government and will not require any financials from participants. 
• Independence services – Independent services aim to promote or help maintain independence in older individuals, such as personal care, respite care, and social engagement. Independence services have a moderate contribution rate. 
• Everyday living services – Everyday living services have the highest contribution rate – these are services that provide convenience for older individuals, such as household cleaning and meal preparation. 

Support at Home Contribution Rates

These percentages represent the amount of contribution required for accessing one hour or one unit of the service. For example, a full pensioner receiving an hour of personal care (independence category) will only pay 5% of the full cost of the service. For items like dietary supplements, the percentage contribution amount will be based on the total cost of the bill.

The outstanding cost of the service will be funded by the government (funding is based on the Support at Home classification) and paid to the home care provider.

Contribution Rates for Existing Home Care Recipients

Participants who have previously received support under the Home Care Package (HCP) program, are awaiting support for an HCP, or are approved for an HCP by 12 September 2024 are covered by a no-worse-off guarantee. These participants will make the same or a lower amount of contributions under the new Support At Home program. 

• Full pensioners who paid no fees under the HCP as of 12 September 2024 will not be required to pay any fees under the Support At Home program. 
• Participants who are required to make contributions under the HCP will still be required to do so – however, the amount will either be the same or less than before. 
• Participants who are reassessed under the Support At Home program after 1 July 2025 will be assigned an equivalent or improved care level. The level of contribution will also be changed to better reflect the type of services received. 

Participants who made contributions under the HCP will pay discounted rates according to the table below:

The Support At Home program also has a lifetime contribution cap of $130,000—participants who have reached this cap will not need to make further contributions when using services. 

Existing hardship arrangements that are in place before 1 July 2025 will continue to apply for participants after the transition to Support At Home. Once the hardship arrangements expire, participants can either apply for a new arrangement or make contributions at the discounted rates outlined above.  

If you need further clarification on how much you need to contribute under the Support at Home program, our friendly care team at Respect are here to help. Give us a call to ask us about our home care services and the contribution rates that apply to you.