If you have just opened your My Aged Care SAH Funding Assignment Notice, you may feel relieved to see that you have been allocated Support at Home funding but confused about when you will get the full amount.
Right now, many people are being approved for Support at Home but only a portion of their funding is available to start with. This interim funding, is typically 60 percent of your total budget, released so you can start with essential services immediately while you wait for the remaining amount.
Next, we’ll explain what interim funding is, what happens to the remaining funding, and the 3 steps to take as soon as this letter arrives, including the 56-day deadline you need to know about.
What Interim Funding Means for Your Support at Home Budget
When you receive your letter confirming you’ve been allocated Support at Home funding, check Page 2. If it mentions that “60 percent of your allocation” is now available, you’ve been offered interim funding.
What does this mean?
You can start services immediately with a registered provider, but you’ll be working with 60% of your total budget for now. The remaining 40% is still allocated to you and will be released automatically as soon as it becomes available.
Why only 60% to start?
The government uses interim funding when demand is high. Instead of leaving people waiting months with no help at all, they release part of your budget so you can begin essential services straight away.
When will I receive the remaining funding?
The most important thing to understand is that the remaining 40% is not lost. It is still coming to you.
Here’s how it works:
- The move from 60% to 100% funding is automatic. You do not need to call My Aged Care or reapply.
- My Aged Care will send you a notification when the remaining funding is released
- Contact your provider to make sure they have been notified.
What about backpay?
There is no backpay. When your full funding arrives, your budget simply increases to 100% from that day forward. You will not receive a lump sum for the months you were on 60%.
How long will I wait?
The Government expects most people to stay on interim funding for around 10 weeks before moving to their full budget, but some may wait longer depending on demand and their Priority Category.
Learn more about Support at Home Wait times.
3 Steps to Take When You Get Your SAH Funding Letter
When your SAH Funding Assignment Notice arrives, don’t let the official language overwhelm you. The letter contains all the information you need to get started, the key details are spread across different pages.
Here’s the information you need to look for.
Step 1: Check Your Classification and total budget
First check page 1 to confirm your total funding amount.
- Classification Type and Classification appear first (e.g., ” Classification Type: Ongoing”, “Classification: SaH Level 3”).
- The yearly funding amount should be at the bottom of the page.
This is your total annual budget once 100% funding is in place.
Step 2: Find your available budget
If you have been allocated interim funding this will be on page 2.
This is typically 60% of your full budget the letter confirms the amount in dollars
This is the amount you can spend right now. For example, if your full budget is $42,055, your 60% interim budget is approximately 25,233. This is what you’ll use to start services while you wait for the remaining 40%.
Step 3: Find Your Referral Code
You will find your referral code on page 3. Make a note of it as you need to give this code to any provider you contact. It allows them to access your assessment and support plan so they can confirm whether they can meet your care needs.
Top tip: Keep this letter handy. You'll need to refer to your referral code multiple times when calling providers, and you'll want to double-check your available budget when discussing care plans.
How To Budget On 60% Interim Funding (And Plan to Scale Up Later)
Because you are working with a reduced budget, you need to be strategic about which services you start with.
The Must-Haves (Start Now)
Use your 60% budget for:
- Personal care: Showering, dressing, toileting support.
- Medication management: Ensuring medications are taken safely.
- Essential transport: Getting to medical appointments.
- Nutrition: Meal preparation if cooking is unsafe.
The Nice-To-Haves
Defer these until your full funding arrives:
- Deep cleaning (stick to basic bathroom/kitchen cleaning for now).
- Social outings or extra respite hours.
- Non-urgent home maintenance or gardening.
Provider tip: Ask How Far Your Budget Goes
When you contact providers, ask:
- “What are your hourly rates for the main services I need (for example, personal care and domestic help)?”
- “On my current 60% budget, how many hours of care will I receive each week?”
Under Support at Home, 10% of your quarterly budget is set aside for care management, and providers build their other costs into the hourly price they charge. That means higher hourly prices = fewer hours of care, so it’s worth comparing providers to see who gives you the most support for your budget.
Download our handy provider comparison checklist.
Important Deadlines in This Letter
Your letter includes a strict deadline that you must meet to keep your funding. You need to sign a Service Agreement with a provider within 56 days from the date your funding was allocated.
If you need more time to choose a provider, you can call My Aged Care before that deadline to request a single 28-day extension, giving you up to 84 days total.
Don’t ignore this deadline. Even though you’re only receiving 60% of your budget, the clock is still ticking. If you miss the deadline (and don’t request an extension), your funding can be withdrawn and you may need to re-join the waiting list
How Aged Care Decisions Can Help
Managing a 60% budget means finding a provider who is flexible, transparent about fees and ready to scale up when your full funding arrives.
We help you by:
- Explaining your Funding Assignment Notice in plain English, including your budget, deadlines and what happens next.
- Matching you with Support at Home providers who have current availability in your area and can start services quickly.
- Comparing hourly rates so your 60% budget goes further and buys more hours of care.
Our service is 100% free, 100% independent, and 100% personal.
Don’t let confusion or tight deadlines stop you from getting the aged care you need today.
Got your Funding Assignment Notice? Contact us for your free personalised options report today.
