If you’re a grandfathered Support at Home participant, you’ve probably heard the phrase “No Worse Off.”
It means you’re protected from the new, higher contribution rates that apply to people who entered Support at Home after 12 September 2024.
But here’s what many people miss: being protected from higher fees doesn’t mean your care plan is automatically keeping up with your changing needs.
Under Support at Home, there are new services, smarter ways to allocate funding and opportunities to stretch your budget further. Whether you stay with your current provider or explore other options, understanding what’s available helps you get the most from your funding.
Here’s how to make sure “No Worse Off” doesn’t accidentally mean “missing out on what’s possible.”
What “No Worse Off” Protects (and what it doesn’t)
The “No Worse Off” principle was introduced to give people peace of mind during the transition from Home Care Packages to Support at Home. Here’s what it actually covers:
What’s Protected:
Your contribution rates are protected based on what you were assessed to pay under your Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024.
- If you paid $0 in income-tested care fees under your HCP, you will never pay contributions under Support at Home, even if your care needs increase.
- If you did pay fees under your Home Care Package, your contribution rate will be the same or lower under Support at Home.
Your lifetime contribution cap remains at $84,571.66 (indexed twice yearly), which is significantly lower than the $135,318.69 cap for new participants.
What Can Still Change:
Your contributions may still change over time due to:
- Changes in your financial circumstances (income or assets)
- Changes in your assessed care needs
- Regular indexation of pension rates and thresholds (20 March and 20 September each year)
- Reaching your lifetime cap
What’s NOT Restricted:
- The services you can access. The new Support at Home service list is broader than the old Home Care Package one, and you’re entitled to explore it.
- The way you use your funding. Quarterly budgets give you more flexibility than the old annual Home Care Package model.
- Your ability to optimise your care plan. You can adjust your service mix to get more hours, better outcomes or supports that match your current needs.
The Key Insight: “No Worse Off” protects your contribution rate structure, not your choices. You can, and should, explore what else is available,
New Services You Can Access as a Grandfathered Participant
The Support at Home program introduced a new service list. Even though you’re grandfathered, you can apply to access services that didn’t exist under Home Care Packages, subject to My Aged Care approval.
Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme
Up to $15,000 in dedicated funding for equipment like walkers, shower chairs, ramps, rails, and smart safety technology. While Home Care Packages covered these items, the new scheme provides a separate, higher funding cap with a more streamlined approval process.
Restorative Care Pathway
A structured 16-week program with up to $6,000 in funding specifically designed to help you regain strength and function after illness or hospital discharge. This replaces the older Short-Term Restorative Care Program with clearer guidelines and better integration with your ongoing care plan.
Fully funded clinical care
All clinical services (nursing, allied health clinical interventions) are now 100% government-funded with no out-of-pocket costs for participants. Under Home Care Packages, these were part of your package budget and subject to income-tested fees.
End-of-Life Pathway
Up to 12 weeks (extendable to 16) with $25,000 in funding for home-based palliative care, including symptom management and emotional support. This pathway is specifically designed for people who wish to remain at home during end-of-life care.
Action Step:
Before requesting anything new, check what is already listed in your My Aged Care Support Plan or Notice of Decision letter.
If you have already been approved:
You will see a specific funding approval listed, such as an AT-HM funding tier (Low, Medium or High) or an approved Restorative Care period (up to 16 weeks). If these are already included, you can begin using them by contacting a provider.
If you have not yet been approved:
These sections will be missing or marked as “not assessed.” In that case, you will need to request a Support Plan Review (SPR) to have them assessed and added to your plan.
For more information, read our article about how to request a Support Plan Review.
How Quarterly Budgets Give You More Flexibility
Under Home Care Packages, your budget was calculated annually. While unused funds could roll over indefinitely, this sometimes led to confusion about what was actually available to spend, and when.
Under Support at Home, your budget is refreshed quarterly.
What This Means for You:
You can see exactly how much funding you have to work with each quarter, making it easier to plan ahead.
Your provider should be helping you match service intensity to your budget cycle. For example, if you need extra allied health sessions or respite in one quarter, you can schedule them without having to spread them evenly across the year.
Understanding Quarterly Rollover:
At the end of each quarter, you can automatically carry over unspent funds, but only up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget, whichever is higher. Any amount above that cap is lost.
For example, if your quarterly budget is $8,000 and you have $1,500 unspent, you can only carry over $1,000 (because 10% would be $800, so the higher cap of $1,000 applies). The remaining $500 returns to the government.
If you have unspent Home Care Package funds from before November 1, 2025, these have no rollover limit and remain available indefinitely. However, the spending order matters:
For assistive technology and home modifications
Your provider MUST use your unspent HCP funds first, before accessing any new AT-HM scheme funding (up to $15,000).
For ongoing services
Your quarterly Support at Home budget must be spent first. Only after you’ve exhausted your quarterly allocation can your provider draw from unspent HCP funds for additional services that quarter.
Understanding your budget: Your provider should be giving you regular budget statements showing your quarterly allocation, how much you’ve used and any unspent HCP funds. If you’re unclear about these numbers, it’s worth requesting a breakdown so you can plan ahead.
When To Request a Care Plan Review (not to be confused with a support plan review)
Many grandfathered participants assume they can’t change anything unless their needs change significantly or they apply for a reassessment.
The truth? You can (and should) request a care plan review with your provider at any time, especially if:
- Your daily routine has changed. Maybe you’re no longer driving, you’ve moved house or your family support has shifted.
- You’ve developed new health needs, like diabetes, mobility issues or chronic pain.
- You’re not using all your services or you’re running out of budget too quickly.
- You want to explore new services that weren’t part of your original plan.
What Happens During a Review?
Your Care Manager reassesses your goals, discusses what’s working and what isn’t, and adjusts your service schedule and mix accordingly. This might mean adding allied health, increasing personal care hours or reallocating funds from services you no longer need.
Important: A care plan review is not the same as a My Aged Care reassessment. It’s an internal adjustment with your provider. You won’t lose your grandfathered status, and you won’t trigger a fee increase. It’s simply about making sure your plan still fits your life.
Understanding Your Unspent Funds
Some grandfathered participants have unspent Home Care Package funds carried over from before November 1, 2025. These funds have no expiry and no rollover limit, which means they remain available indefinitely.
If you have unspent HCP funds, they can be used strategically:
- For assistive technology and home modifications: Your unspent HCP funds must be used first before accessing the new AT-HM scheme (up to $15,000).
- For additional services: Once your quarterly budget is spent, unspent HCP funds can cover extra hours or one-off supports like respite or allied health.
If you’re not sure whether you have unspent HCP funds or how they’re being managed, requesting a budget statement from your provider can help clarify what’s available.
Has Your Situation Changed Since You Started Home Care?
If your health or living situation has changed recently, you might find you need services or specialties that your current provider doesn’t offer.
Aged Care Decisions free matching service can help you find local providers with availability for the specific care you are looking for.
Here’s how Aged Care Decisions’ FREE aged care matching service works:
