What Happens to Your Home Care Package Funds?

From 1 November 2025, Australia’s aged care system will change, with the new Support at Home program replacing Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care.

If you or someone you love currently receives a Home Care Package, it is completely normal to have questions like:

• What happens to the funds in my package?

• Can I still carry forward unspent funds?

• Will this change the services I receive?

• What does this mean for my family?

  
  

Let’s walk through what is staying the same, what is changing, and how you can feel prepared.

What Are Home Care Package Funds? 

Your Home Care Package funding is made up of:

• A government contribution, based on your assessed care needs

• A basic daily fee, if applicable

• An income tested care contribution, if required

• Any additional agreed fees

  
  

Together, this funding supports the services that help you live well at home, such as:

• Personal care like showering or dressing

• Meals and shopping support

• Transport

• Nursing and allied health

• Home modifications and assistive equipment

What Happens to Your Funds Under Support at Home? 

When Support at Home begins, your current package does not disappear. Instead, it transitions into the new program, with some changes to how funding works.

Continuity of Care

If you are already receiving a Home Care Package:

• Your services will continue under transition arrangements

• Your care should not be interrupted

• You will not need to reapply for support

  
  

In short, your care continues while the system changes around you.

Changes to How Funds Work 

1. Carrying forward unspent funds

   Under Support at Home, you will be able to carry forward a limited amount of unspent funding each quarter. This is capped at the lower of $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget.
   

2. Home modifications and equipment

   There will be lifetime caps on certain supports, including home modifications and assistive technology. These caps are designed to help spread funding more fairly and consistently over time. 
   

3. Clear service categories

   Funding will be organised into clearer service groups, such as:

   • Everyday living support

   • Independence support

   • Clinical care

   • Assistive technology and home modifications
     

   This means some funding will need to be used within specific categories, rather than across your entire budget.

Greater Transparency 

Support at Home introduces clearer pricing and explanations around:

• What the government pays

• What you may be asked to contribute
  

This makes costs easier to understand and plan for, even if it means making more deliberate choices about services.

What This Means for Families 

For older Australians and their families, these changes may mean:

• Less opportunity to save large balances for big one off purchases

• More predictable budgets and clearer expectations

• Ongoing support, with some new rules around how funds are used

How to Prepare for the Transition 

A little planning now can help things feel smoother later:

• Review your current balance and unspent funds

• Think ahead about major purchases or changes to your support

• Talk with your provider about how Support at Home may affect you

• Have open conversations with family about what matters most

• Stay informed through My Aged Care and trusted providers

Your Home Care Package funding will not be lost when Support at Home begins. What will change is how that funding is managed.

• Limits on how much funding can be carried forward

• Lifetime caps on some supports

• Clearer service categories and pricing
  

While this may feel like a shift, it also brings greater clarity and consistency.

With the right conversations and a little planning, you can continue living safely, confidently and independently at home.

Need a hand making sense of it all?

We are here to help you understand the changes and make the most of your funding, without the stress.

📞 Call our friendly aged care team on 1300 336 488