If you’ve been comparing the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and Support at Home and still feel unsure which one applies to you, you’re not alone.
We speak with people every day who are trying to figure out the same thing. This is especially common since Support at Home launched in November 2025 as the main pathway for ongoing home care.
By the end of this article, you’ll be clear on how they differ across eligibility, assessment, services, support levels, costs and contributions, and you’ll know the next step to take.
What is the difference between the Commonwealth Home Support Program and the Support at Home program?
The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) provides entry-level, service-based support for older Australians, while Support at Home is a budget-based care program designed for people with higher or ongoing care needs.
CHSP offers access to individual services such as cleaning, transport, meals, and basic personal support. It is suited to people who are largely independent but need help with specific tasks.
Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages from 1 November 2025. It provides an annual care budget across eight classifications, with funding managed in quarterly instalments. Care is coordinated through a single provider, making it easier to adjust support as needs change over time.
The key differences are:
- CHSP provides individual services as needed, while Support at Home provides a coordinated care budget
- CHSP is designed for lower or occasional support needs, while Support at Home supports more regular or complex care
- Support at Home allows care to scale within the same program as needs increase
CHSP will continue operating until at least 1 July 2027, when it is expected to transition into Support at Home.
Who is the Commonwealth Home Support Program suitable for?
CHSP works well for older Australians who can manage most things on their own but need a hand with a few specific tasks.
How it works in practice
Margaret is 72 and lives alone. She handles her own meals and personal care but finds vacuuming and mopping harder now due to arthritis in her knees. CHSP gives her fortnightly domestic assistance so she can stay safely at home without needing more intensive support.
Learn more: What is the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)
Who is the Support at Home program suitable for?
Support at Home is designed for people who need regular, coordinated care across several areas, or whose needs are likely to grow over time.
How it works in practice
Robert is 78 and was recently diagnosed with early-stage dementia. He needs help with showering, medication reminders, meal preparation and getting to medical appointments. His wife also needs respite. Support at Home gives him a quarterly budget to access personal care, domestic assistance, nursing visits and carer respite, all through one provider.
Learn more: Support at Home Program
Commonwealth Home Support Program vs Support at Home: side-by-side comparison
Here’s a quick look at how the two programs stack up:
Category | CHSP | Support at Home |
Eligibility | 65+ (50+ for First Nations people), low-level care needs | 65+ (50+ for First Nations people), complex or ongoing care needs |
Assessment | Aged care assessment via My Aged Care for specific services | Integrated Assessment Tool determines classification level (1-8) |
Service types | Entry-level: cleaning, transport, meals, social support, home maintenance | Comprehensive: clinical care, personal care, nursing, allied health, respite, domestic assistance |
Support levels | No formal tiers, task-based support | 8 classifications with quarterly budgets ($10,732 to $78,106 annually) |
Costs and contributions | Small fee per service, varies by provider | Means-tested contributions, clinical care fully funded, lifetime cap of $135,318.69 (indexed) |
Provider choice | Multiple providers for different services | One provider manages your budget, easy switching |
Flexibility | Limited, new assessments needed for additional services | High, adjust services within your budget without reassessment |
Suitable for | Low-level, occasional support | Complex, ongoing or increasing care needs |
Eligibility
Eligibility requirements are largely the same for both programs, but the level of support differs based on assessed need.
To access either program, you must generally be aged 65 or older, or 50 or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and require assistance to remain living at home.
The key difference is that CHSP supports people with low-level needs, while Support at Home is designed for people who require ongoing or increasing support.
Learn more: Am I eligible for Support at Home?
Assessment
Both programs require an aged care assessment through My Aged Care, the Australian Government’s entry point for aged care services.
For CHSP, the assessment identifies specific services you need help with, such as cleaning or transport.
For Support at Home, assessors use the Integrated Assessment Tool to assess your overall care needs and assign you to one of eight classifications, which determines your care budget.
If you are already receiving CHSP services, you do not need a new assessment solely due to the transition to Support at Home. A reassessment is only required if your care needs increase and you want to access a higher level of support.
Service types
The main difference in services is that CHSP provides task-specific support, while Support at Home offers broader, integrated care.
CHSP typically covers individual services such as domestic assistance, transport, meal services, social support, home maintenance, and selected allied health services.
Support at Home offers a wider range of services which are organised into three categories:
- Clinical Care: nursing, allied health, continence support, nutrition.
- Independence: personal care, social support, respite, transport.
- Everyday Living: domestic assistance, home maintenance, meals, shopping.
This means you can access more comprehensive support if your needs increase.
Support levels
CHSP is designed for people with low-level needs. There are no formal funding tiers. You access individual services as needed and may use different providers for different supports.
Support at Home has 8 classifications with defined annual budgets, ranging from around $10,732 per year (Classification 1) up to $78,106 per year (Classification 8). Your budget is managed through one provider under a single care plan, which can be adjusted as your situation changes.
If your needs increase, you can request a reassessment to move to a higher classification without starting again.
How it works in practice
Jean starts on Classification 2 with light personal care. After a fall, she’s reassessed to Classification 4, which gives her a higher budget for daily assistance, mobility support and home modifications to help prevent future falls.
Learn more: Support at Home Classifications 1-8
Costs and contributions
With CHSP, the government covers most of the cost of each service. You may be asked to pay a contribution if you can afford to. Providers set their own fees, so costs vary. Providers must have a publicly available fee policy, and you won’t be denied services if you can’t afford to pay.
Support at Home works differently. Clinical care is fully funded by the government. For independence and everyday living services, your contribution depends on your income and assets. Full pensioners typically pay less, while self-funded retirees may pay more.
There is a lifetime cap of $135,318.69 (as at 1 November 2025) on how much you can be asked to contribute toward non-clinical care costs. This cap is indexed twice yearly, in March and September.
Provider choice
Provider arrangements differ between the two programs.
With CHSP, you must use a registered CHSP provider. These providers hold grant agreements with the government and must meet the Aged Care Quality Standards. You can use different providers for different services, for example, one for transport and another for meals.
Support at Home gives you more flexibility. You choose one registered provider to manage your budget and coordinate all your care. You can switch providers at any time without penalty, and your unspent funds come with you.
Flexibility
CHSP can be limiting if your needs grow. Because services are accessed individually, adding new support often means going back through the assessment process and finding another provider.
Support at Home makes it easier to adjust. You can change your service mix within your quarterly budget without needing a new assessment. For example, if you find you need less help with cleaning but more help with showering, you can work with your provider to reallocate your budget. If your needs increase beyond your current classification, you can request a reassessment for a higher level of support.
What happens to current CHSP clients?
If you’re receiving CHSP services now, nothing changes immediately. Your services will continue as normal until at least 1 July 2027. When the transition to Support at Home happens, you’ll be supported to move across without losing services.
You only need a reassessment if your needs change and you want to apply for a higher level of care. The government’s focus is on ensuring there is no disruption during this period.
What should new applicants do now?
If you’re looking into home care for the first time, here’s how to get started:
- Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au to register and request an assessment
- Complete an aged care assessment where an assessor will visit your home to discuss your needs and work out whether you’re eligible for CHSP or Support at Home
- Complete an income assessment through Services Australia to determine your contribution rates (optional but recommended)
- Choose a provider and sign a home care agreement once your funding comes through
Learn more: How to apply for Support at Home
How Aged Care Decisions can help
Working out which program is right for you doesn’t have to be stressful. Aged Care Decisions is Australia’s largest free aged care placement service, and we’ve helped tens of thousands of families find providers that match their needs.
We can help you:
- Understand your assessment outcome and what you’re eligible for
- Compare home care providers in your area based on your needs, location and budget
- Get a personalised Options Report matched to your situation
- Arrange meetings with providers and support you through onboarding
Our service is 100% free, independent and available Australia-wide. Answer a few quick questions to get your free options report today.
Learn more: How to choose a Support at Home provider
