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How to Apply for the Support at Home Program Without Stress

From Confused to Confident: Your Simple Guide to Applying for the Support at Home Program

It is daunting to negotiate aged care services, especially with the evolving face of in-home care in Australia. Because there is a growing need for simpler, more person-focused care, the Australian Government will be starting the Support at Home Programme on 1 November 2025. This new programme will bring together and build on the current in-home care services. The aim is to help older Australians stay in their own homes, live independently, and enjoy a better quality of life for as long as possible.

The new Home Support program will better help older people to live in their own homes independently. It will bring together current in-home aged care programs, add new care categories, and ensure fairer pricing structure. The  program will also place a stronger emphasis on early support and offer additional care levels for individuals with complex needs.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll discuss the key highlights of the Support at Home Programme, including its intent, eligibility, application, and how the Support Network can assist individuals throughout their aged care journey.

What the Support at Home Program Means for You

The Support at Home Program is an important new change in Australia’s aged care system. The program will combine two current services, Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) into one easier-to-use system that works better. It will be more straightforward for older people.

This update is meant to make getting help at home easy and more suitable for older people with all kinds of needs. As their needs change, older people can get all the care they need through one simple system.

This new program is designed to give older people the right support so they can look after themselves and stay comfortable. No matter your situation, recovering from an illness or needing everyday help. The Support at Home Program is built to provide care that adjusts to your needs and makes living at home easier and more comfortable.

What are the changes trying to do?

Simpler and Faster Access

Shorter waiting periods for receiving care services and simpler access to them for you.

More Funding Levels and Pathways

More opportunities for funding for home adaptations for comfort and independence.

More Personalization

Care plans more personally tailored to your individual health needs and lifestyle preferences.

What does this mean for you?

If you are already on a Home Care Package, you will keep your current funding and unspent funds. You will not pay any more and might even pay less. You will have access to up-front payments for specific goals like home modifications and assistive technology. Your Care Partner can explain all the new features of the Support at Home program and how they affect you.

If you don't currently receive aged care services but think you may need additional care, you don't need to wait. We can guide you through the process from the start, just call us.

The Primary Benefits of Support at Home

Higher levels of care

The program will provide access to higher levels of care by increasing the maximum amount of annual funding for home aged care.

Free Clinical Services for all Eligible Recipients

These include things like nursing, physio, wound care, continence management, etc. This is a big one. Under HCPs, many of these services would come out of your funds – now they're fully covered by the government

More Equitable Costs for Daily Living Services

You'll now only pay for what you use, and only for non-clinical support (like domestic assistance, shopping, or gardening). That's more transparency – no more blanket charges.

Individually Tailored Funding

Instead of being placed into one of just four HCP levels, the new system will assess you more closely. you’ll be matched with one of eight funding tiers, offering support that better fit your specific needs.

Quarterly budgets = easier management

Your yearly funds are now split into four quarterly budgets. Unspent money (up to 10% or $1,000) may be transferred to the next quarter; encouraging better planning and use of your care budget.

Ongoing Services 

You will have access to a comprehensive list of services. This  includes personal care, clinical assistance, and daily living assistance, based on your assessed needs.

Short-Term Support 

Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme

Additional funding will be given to you if you're eligible to help you access necessary assistive technologies. Also, home modifications for improved safety and independence.

Restorative Care Pathway

You will receive access to the Restorative Care Pathway. Also, you will have access to allied health-focused on building your strengths and capacities.

Support will be funded for up to 12 weeks with the option to extend to another 4 weeks if needed. This is an improvement on the 8 weeks of support previously offered under the STRC Programme.

Entry to the Restorative Care Pathway will be based on an assessment. In addition, individuals who are already in receipt of on-going services can also access the Restorative Care Pathway.

End-of-Life Pathway

The new End-of-Life Pathway is designed for people who have 3 months or less to live. It will give them access to more aged care services in their own homes. This is so that they can stay at home for as long as possible.

An older person can be referred to high-priority assessment to access the End-of-Life Pathway. They don't have to be an existing Support at Home client to be eligible.

How to Know If You Can Get Support from the Support at Home Program

Checking all the criteria needed for the application should be the first thing you will do. This makes the process easy without any issues.

Age Requirement

The program mainly supports older people in Australia. Over 65 years of age for older Australians and 50 for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. You might be eligible if you fall into this category.

Daily Living Support Needs

You could qualify if everyday tasks are becoming hard to manage. The program is there to give you extra support so you can feel more at ease at home.

Residency Status

People with temporary visas usually don’t qualify for this program. So, you have to be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident. Also, have a special type of visa that gives you certain rights to live in Australia. 

My Aged Care Assessment

In the end, the government decides if you're eligible through an assessment organised by [My Aged Care]. A trained assessor will come to your home to see what kind of help you need.

How Support Network Can Help

At Support Network, we can help to navigate you through pre-assessment and make sure you know about each requirement. We can help you to register on My Aged Care, by signing up for the documentation required and preparing you for your assessment.

Eligibility Assessment

Your eligibility is worked out through a full check by either the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) or the Regional Assessment Service (RAS). The one you get depends on how much help you need.

ACAT considers several key areas, including:

• Physical Health: Can you do everyday tasks and move around, or do you need any assistance?

• Mental Function: Did you usually struggle with memory, understanding things, or making daily decisions? Can you handle your daily tasks?

• Mental and Emotional State: How are you feeling lately? Are you lonely or stressed? Are you socially connected or mostly isolated?

• Social Support: Did you have any support system in place made up of family and friends?

• Environment: Are you living in a safe and suitable environment?

A home visit is also part of the assessment. This helps assess your living conditions and the personal care you may need.

This formal assessment is not just to check if you are eligible, it is also required to exactly what kind of home care you may need.

Application Process

The application process for the Support at Home Programme has several steps:

Step 1: Initial Contact

Reach out to My Aged Care to get started with the government-funded aged care services in Australia. You can get in touch with them easily by visiting their website.

You’ll be asked simple questions about yourself. This helps work out the type of support you may need and which assessment team is right for your situation.

Step 2: Assessment

After the first check, you’ll be matched with one of two assessment teams depending on how much help you need:

• Regional Assessment Service (RAS): If you only need a little help to stay independent, like with cleaning, shopping, or getting around, you’ll be sent to RAS.

• Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT): If you need more or ongoing help like personal care, medical support, or several services, you’ll be referred to ACAT for a detailed assessment of your needs.

Your assessment will happen in person. When the assessor visits, they will ask about your situation and what type of support would work best for you. Then, they will suggest the right service for you to meet your needs.

Step 3: Approval and Care Plan Development

You will be sent an approval letter after your assessment. This letter will clearly list the types of help you can get through the Support at Home Programme based on your needs. This will detail:

• Approved Services: Your service list according to your assessed needs.

• Budget Allocation: Your funding allocation for each quarter according to your classification level.

• Care Plan: This is a support plan made just for you based on your needs. The plan was made with the input of your prospective provider. This is to ensure it suits your everyday needs.

Step 4: Selecting a Service Provider

You are free to choose a service provider that fits your needs once your care plan and agreement are ready. Someone who’s best able to give you the right support. One of these providers is the Support Network, whose services are designed to support people at all stages of aged care.

Step 5: Service Commencement

Your services will start as a planner after you have picked a provider and your care plan is intact. As time goes on, your needs might change. So your services can be updated to make sure they still fit your needs.

Funding and Contributions

The Support at Home Programme introduces a more balanced funding system, with contributions based on income and the type of services received.

Government Contributions

Clinical care, such as nursing and allied health care, will be fully subsidised by the government. For other services:

• Independence Services (e.g., personal care): Partial contributions will be requested, income-based.

• Everyday Living Services (e.g., cleaning, gardening): Higher contributions will be payable, income- and asset-based.

Participant contributions

Contributions are determined through a means-tested assessment by Services Australia so that people contribute to their care based on their financial capacity to help ensure system sustainability and fairness.

Participant contributions will be charged at an hourly (or unit of service) rate at a fixed percentage for each service type. That is:

• You will pay the dollar amount determined by the percentage.

• The government will subsidise the remaining cost to the provider.

• The charge will also vary based on the kind of service you get. 

• Participants will pay no contribution for clinical care services (for instance, nursing and physiotherapy).

• The government will cover the full costs of aged care services that fall under the clinical care category.

Moderate contribution levels apply to independent services such as personal care and to products and equipment provided under the AT-HM Scheme. Most of these supports help people live outside hospitals and residential aged care.

Highest contribution levels apply to daily living services, such as domestic assistance and gardening. The government does not generally fund these types of services for individuals at other life stages.

Role of the Support Network

Support Network is at the heart of helping people with the Support at Home Programme. Our support includes:

• Guidance and Navigation: Informed people about the programme and navigated them through the application.

• Getting Ready For Assessment: We assist individuals in getting prepared for their aged care assessment and help them make sense of the results.  

• Creating Your Care Plan: We work alongside clients to build a tailored support plan that matches their personal needs and future goals.  

• Organising Your Services: We take care of setting up and managing your approved services to ensure everything runs smoothly and fits together properly.  

• Continued Guidance: We check in regularly and adjust your plan when needed so the support keeps up with your lifestyle.

With Support Network, you get expert advice and kind, ongoing help to make your care journey easier. This helps you more easily and confidently negotiate the aged care system.

A Few Things to Remember Once The Support At Home Program Is Underway

Forfeiture of unused funds

With the Support at Home program, any amount of your quarterly budget over 10% or $1,000, whichever is greater, that is not spent will not be transferred to the next quarter.

Fees for activities of daily living

Retirees who are self-funded will be required to pay for non-clinical services like gardening or household support, but clinical support will still be totally free from any fee.

Services are more clearly defined.

The government will now clearly state what is and isn't included, so some grey areas may get eliminated.

Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for the Support at Home Program

Applying for the Support at Home Program can be straightforward if you avoid a few pitfalls. Here are mistakes people often make and how to avoid them:

Applying Too Late

Many people wait until there's an emergency. But since getting approved can take time, it's better to apply early so you don't miss out on the help you need.

Not Getting Assistance with the Application

Doing it all on your own can be stressful, especially with government forms. Support Network can guide you through the process and help make sure everything is filled out correctly.

Submitting Incomplete or Incorrect Information

Mistakes in your application or assessment with My Aged Care can cause delays or even stop you from getting support. Always confirm that your details and daily care needs are correct and up to date.

Not Preparing for the Home Assessment

Others overlook the importance of the assessment visit. Be truthful about your struggles. Underreporting your needs can lead to fewer services than you require.

Assuming You are Not Eligible

Even if you think your needs are minimal, you may still qualify for some level of support. Don't rule yourself out; get the official evaluation completed to make sure.

Not Returning Follow-Up Calls or Emails

Once you have submitted your application, stay on your toes. Not following up or providing additional documentation when asked will hold up your application.

Support Network Tip: Let us help you steer clear of all these. We'll see to it from start to finish that your application is done right, on time, and with full support.

Get the Best Out of Your Home Care Package

It's not a question of boxes being ticked when choosing the correct provider, and it's a case of working with a partner who gets to know you and works alongside you to allow you or your loved one to live safely, comfortably, and with dignity.

If you require a reliable, seasoned and compassionate Home Care Package Provider, we are here to help. At Support Network, we focus on you. Our method ensures your needs, choices, and goals come first in everything we do.

Conclusion

Australia is committed to providing more personalised and top-quality care for seniors who wish to remain in their own homes. The Support at Home Program plays a vital role in making this happen. This way, you can receive the right support to maintain your independence and enjoy life comfortably at home.  
For personalised help and guidance through every part of your aged care journey, contact Support Network. We are here to make sure you receive the care that's right for you.