If care needs increase on a transitioned HCP level, you can request a Support Plan Review through My Aged Care at any time. A review can lead to simple updates to the current support plan or a full reassessment if needs have changed significantly. If a reassessment shows that more support is needed, you may move from your Transitioned Home Care Package tier into one of the eight standard Support at Home classifications. If you were receiving or approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024, you are a grandfathered participant protected by the No Worse Off Policy (NWOP). This status stays with you under Support at Home, even if your classification or provider changes.
Key Takeaways
- You do not have to wait for an emergency to request a Support Plan Review if your needs increase.
- A Support Plan Review can be requested at any time if care needs have changed.
- A review may result in small changes to services or a full reassessment.
- If more support is needed, the person may move from a transitioned HCP level into a standard Support at Home classification.
- People protected by the no worse off principle keep their grandfathered contribution protections, even if they move to a higher Support at Home classification.
- Legacy unspent funds carried over from the old package system remain available after reassessment.
If you or your loved one is on a Transitioned Home Care Package (HCP) under Support at Home and their care needs change, it can be hard to know what to do next. This guide explains when to ask for a review, what reassessment means and how fees and funding protections work if care needs increase.
When Should You Request a Support Plan Review?
You should ask for a review when your current support no longer matches day-to-day needs. You have the right to request a Support Plan Review at any time if circumstances have changed.
Common signs you may need a review include a recent fall, a hospital stay, reduced mobility, changes in memory or a growing gap between the help needed and the services currently in place. It can also be the right time to act when family support is becoming harder to sustain. Keep an open dialogue with your provider about whether it’s time to get a support plan review.
What Happens During a Support Plan Review?
A Support Plan Review checks whether your current services still meet your needs and goals. Based on this review, an assessor may update the current support plan or decide that a full reassessment is needed.
In many cases, speaking with your provider should be your first step. Providers can review your current care plan, to see whether they can offer you better support, and then help you contact My Aged Care if a review or reassessment is needed.
Do You Move to a Higher Transitioned HCP Level?
No. This is the part that often causes confusion for families.
Transitioned HCP levels exist simply to carry over the same funding level for people who moved from the old Home Care Package program into Support at Home. If care needs increase, the next step is not an upgrade to another transitioned tier. Instead, a reassessment may place you into one of the eight standard Support at Home classifications, which are based on current care needs.
How Funding Changes After Reassessment
If a reassessment shows that more support is needed, the person may be assigned a standard classification with a higher budget. For a broader explanation of how this sits within aged care funding, it is useful to compare the transitioned level with the standard classification budgets. Support at Home features eight ongoing classifications, and the higher your care needs, the higher the classification and quarterly budget.
Current Transitioned HCP Level | Annual Budget | Standard Classifications with a Higher Budget | New Annual Budget Range |
Transitioned Level 1 | $10,986.50 | Classification 2–8 | $16,034.45 – $78,106.35 |
Transitioned Level 2 | $19,319.45 | Classification 3–8 | $21,965.70 – $78,106.35 |
Transitioned Level 3 | $42,055.30 | Classification 6–8 | $48,114.30 – $78,106.35 |
Transitioned Level 4 | $63,758.20 | Classification 8 | $78,106.35 |
Source: Department of Health and Aged Care: Funding classifications for Support at Home, indexed annually.
This table shows the standard classifications that offer more funding than each transitioned level. The final outcome always depends on the person’s reassessed needs, goals and circumstances, it is not an automatic upgrade.
Will No Worse Off Protections Still Apply?
Yes. People approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024 are covered by the government’s No Worse Off Policy (NWOP).
Your grandfathered status is based on your original approval date and does not change if your classification changes.
This means your Support at Home contribution percentage stays the same or lower than it would have been under the old Home Care Package system. These contribution protections continue to apply even if you are reassessed into a higher Support at Home classification.
What Happens to Your Unspent Funds?
Any unspent funds you brought over from the old Home Care Package system remain even after you move into a new Support at Home classification. These legacy funds do not expire and are not affected by your classification change.
In practice, families can use their ongoing Support at Home budget for regular weekly services, and then draw on their unspent Home Care Package funds for larger one‑off supports, like assistive technology or home modifications, or for extra services once the quarterly budget is fully used.
Need Help Finding the Right Provider?
When care needs increase, finding a provider with the staff and expertise to support a higher classification can feel overwhelming. You do not have to face these choices alone.
Aged Care Decisions is a 100% free and 100% independent service that helps families compare Support at Home providers based on care needs, location and budget.
Our Aged Care Specialists do the running around and research for you, providing a tailored Options Report so you can make the next step with confidence.
Compare home care providers today. Get your FREE Aged Care Provider Options Report.
FAQs About Upgrading Your Care
How do I request a Support Plan Review?
You can request a Support Plan Review by calling My Aged Care directly on 1800 200 422 or by asking your current Support at Home provider to trigger the review on your behalf.
For more information read our article on how to request a Support Plan Review.
Will I lose my current funding while waiting for a reassessment?
No. You will continue to receive your current transitioned level of funding and services while you wait for your aged care assessment and the subsequent assignment of your new classification.
Do I need a new aged care assessment to upgrade my classification?
Yes. To move to a higher Support at Home classification, an assessor must visit you to complete a reassessment and verify your increased care needs.
Can I keep my current home care provider if I am upgraded?
Yes, provided they have the staff and expertise to deliver the higher level of care. If not, families may want to compare whether another Support at Home provider can offer more suitable services, better availability or stronger support for changing needs. There are no exit fees for changing providers.
What happens if I disagree with my new classification?
If you believe your new Support at Home classification does not reflect your actual needs, you can contact My Aged Care to request an appeal or a secondary review of the decision.
Here’s how Aged Care Decisions’ FREE aged care matching service works:
Stephanie Burdett
Content Writer · Aged Care Decisions
- 8 June 2026
- 8 min read
