Receiving approval for Support at Home Classification 7 means you qualify for substantial funding to manage very high care needs at home. But you may still have questions about what services are covered and how many hours of support you will actually get.
This straightforward guide clarifies everything. We cover the funding details, typical services, expected hours of care and practical actions to take right now. We’ve translated the policy language into everyday terms, helping you move from uncertainty to confident planning.
What is Support at Home Classification 7?
Support at Home Classification 7 provides very high-level funding for people needing intensive, coordinated daily care to remain safely at home. Within the program’s 8 classifications, Classification 7 is near the top, supporting severe physical, cognitive or health challenges.
Lower levels (1–6) handle lighter to intensive needs, but Classification 7 addresses situations requiring multiple daily visits, advanced clinical oversight and multidisciplinary team coordination. This includes full assistance with daily activities for conditions like advanced dementia, severe mobility loss or multiple chronic illnesses.
Who is the Support at Home Classification 7 designed for?
This classification suits individuals with very high support needs who require a full care team but not the continuous 24/7 monitoring of Classification 8. It targets ongoing, complex requirements involving personal, clinical and household management.
Classification 7 might be right for you if:
- You need help with nearly all daily activities like eating, bathing, dressing, toileting and mobility transfers
- You have advanced cognitive issues, such as severe dementia, requiring supervision and behavioural support
- Multiple chronic conditions demand frequent nursing, wound care, medication oversight or vital signs monitoring
- You rely on hoists, wheelchairs or other equipment for safe movement, with full transfer assistance
- Coordinated input from nursing, allied health and personal care workers is essential to prevent hospitalisation
Classification 7 enables dignified home living for those whose needs exceed lower levels, often serving as an alternative to residential aged care.
How much funding do you receive with Support at Home Classification 7?
The Government allocates a set budget for each classification level. For Classification 7, the current funding is:
- Quarterly Budget: $ 14,537.04
- Annual Budget: $ 58,148.15
Important things to know about this funding:
- It is not paid to you directly. The Government holds the funds, and your chosen provider draws from that budget to deliver services and care management.
- It is indexed each year on 1 July, so the amount may increase over time.
- It reflects very high care needs. It sits above Classification 6 at around $48,114 per year and below Classification 8 at around $78,106 per year.
While the funding amount is the same for everyone at Classification 7, the amount of care you receive can vary. This is because every provider sets their own prices for services and administration. A provider with lower fees will make your budget stretch further than one with higher costs.
How many hours of care does Support at Home Classification 7 usually provide?
The number of care hours is not fixed because it depends on provider pricing and what services you choose. But we can give you a realistic estimate based on typical industry pricing.
With an annual budget of about $58,148, many people receive roughly 18 to 24 hours of support per week. This is a practical estimate based on typical service pricing and the fact that some of the budget is used for care management.
A typical weekly schedule might include:
- Personal care 2–3 times daily, 45–60 minutes each for hygiene, dressing and transfers
- Nursing visits 3–5 times per week for clinical care, monitoring and medication
- Allied health (physio, OT) 1–2 times weekly, plus other therapies as needed
- Domestic and meal prep several times weekly to maintain safe living
- Transport and social support for appointments or outings
This classification funds multiple daily interventions with strong clinical and therapy involvement, suitable for complex, coordinated care.
What does Support at Home Classification 7 cost?
The Support at Home program uses a co-contribution model. That means the Government pays part of the cost of each service. You may pay the rest. How much you pay depends on your income and assets, and which service category the support falls into.
My Aged Care groups services into three categories:
- Clinical supports: You pay 0%.
- Independence: You pay 5% if you are a full pensioner, between 5% and 50% if you are a part pensioner and 50% if you are self-funded.
- Everyday living: You pay 17.5% if you are a full pensioner, between 17.5% and 80% if you are a part pensioner, and 80% if you are self-funded.
There is also a lifetime capon what you can be asked to contribute. Once you reach the cap, you do not pay further contributions. The current cap is $135,318.69, and it is indexed twice a year in March and September.
Learn more: Understanding Support at Home contributions and what you may need to pay.
What services are included with Support at Home Classification 7?
Your Classification 7 budget is flexible. You can use it for a wide range of services to address very high needs and enable safe home living.
Common services include:
- Personal Care: Multiple daily assistance with bathing, dressing, toileting, feeding and full mobility support
- Clinical Nursing: Frequent visits for wound care, injections, palliative symptom management and health monitoring
- Allied Health: Intensive physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology and dietetics
- Dementia/Behaviour Support: Specialised supervision, prompting and risk management
- Domestic Assistance: Regular cleaning, laundry, linen changes and home safety checks
- Meal Preparation: Adapted nutrition support, feeding assistance and hydration monitoring
- Transport: Escorted trips to medical, therapy or social activities
- Assistive Technology/Home Modifications: Hoists, hospital beds, ramps and adaptive equipment
- Care Coordination: Multidisciplinary planning and family respite
What Is Not Included At This Classification
Support at Home funding is limited to care services. It does not cover general living costs or things already funded by other programs.
- Rent or mortgage payments: The funding is strictly for support services
- General living expenses: Groceries, bills and entertainment are not covered
- Major home renovations: Large-scale construction is generally not covered. Significant safety items may be funded through the AT-HM scheme if prescribed by a health professional
Read our complete Support at Home Service List for more information.
A real-world example of life on Support at Home Classification 7
Meet Graham, 76.
Graham lives at home with advanced dementia and severe mobility limitations following a stroke. He needs total assistance with daily routines and supervision to stay safe.
His family feared residential care was inevitable, but Classification 7 funding supports his independence. A typical mix from his $58,148 annual budget includes:
- Daily Personal Care: A support worker visits mornings and evenings for showering, dressing, toileting and safe transfers
- Nursing (3x week): A registered nurse manages medications, monitors health changes and coordinates with doctors
- Weekly Physiotherapy: Sessions to preserve mobility and prevent contractures
- Daily Meal Preparation: Specialised meals with feeding support for swallowing issues
- Weekly Domestic Support: Cleaning, laundry and safety checks to eliminate hazards
With this coordinated team, Graham remains comfortably at home. His family gains reassurance from daily professional oversight and reduced hands-on involvement.
How does Support at Home Classification 7 compare to other levels?
Understanding where you sit in the system helps you know if you are receiving the right level of care.
Classification 7 vs Classification 6
Classification 6 funds intensive daily support for complex needs, with regular clinical input.
Classification 7 escalates to multiple daily personal care visits and stronger multidisciplinary coordination for very high needs.
The difference centres on frequency, supervision intensity and dementia/behavioural management.
Classification 7 vs Classification 8
Classification 8 delivers the program’s highest funding for critical or end-of-life care, often with overnight or 24/7 elements.
Classification 7 provides very high daily support without continuous monitoring.
If constant supervision or palliative overnight care is required, Classification 8 would be a better choice.
Learn more: Receive a full breakdown of Support at Home classifications 1-8
Is Support at Home Classification 7 the right level of care for me or my loved one?
Classification 7 suits very high needs requiring multiple daily interventions and team coordination, short of Classification 8’s continuous care.
It may be suitable if:
- Nearly all personal care activities need assistance multiple times daily
- Advanced dementia or cognitive decline demands supervision and prompting
- Severe mobility/chronic issues require frequent nursing and therapy
- Home safety relies on regular clinical oversight to avoid crises
Signs it may not be enough:
- 24/7 monitoring or overnight support is essential
- End-of-life palliative needs demand constant symptom management
- Hospital admissions continue despite intensive daily care
- Family must provide round-the-clock gaps in support
If you feel the current funding isn’t covering your essential needs, you can ask for a review.
What happens if care needs change?
Aged care needs change over time. You can request a reassessment through My Aged Care if your situation changes.
If there is a temporary setback, such as a hospital stay, you may qualify for the Restorative Care Pathway, which provides short-term additional funding without reducing your ongoing budget.
If your condition declines permanently, you may be reassessed to a higher classification with increased funding. Classification 8 provides the maximum support for critical or end-of-life needs.
How to Access Support at Home Classification 7
Getting started with Support at Home involves a few simple steps:
- Register with My Aged Care – Begin by contacting My Aged Care, the government’s entry point for aged care services. You can register online at the My Aged Care website or by calling 1800 200 422.
- Screening and Assessment – After registering, you’ll complete a short screening. If you’re eligible, you’ll be referred for a full aged care assessment using the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT).
- Receive Your Support Plan – Once assessed, you’ll receive an outcome letter with a personalised Support Plan that sets out your care needs, goals, and the services recommended for you.
- Enter the Priority System – You’ll be assigned a priority rating (urgent, high, medium, or standard) based on your care needs. This new system, which replaces the previous National Priority System, helps make sure those with the greatest needs receive funding and services first. Your place in the queue depends on how urgent your needs are, not just when you applied.
- Choose a Provider and Begin Services – Once funding is allocated, you’ll have 56 days (or up to 84 days with an extension) to select a provider and sign a Service Agreement so your services can begin.
Learn more: How to apply for Support at Home
What should you do after receiving Support at Home Classification 7
Once your funding is officially allocated, here’s what to do:
1. Check your letter and note the deadline
Your funding assignment letter shows your budget, classification, and the date funding was assigned. From that date, you have56 days to choose a provider and sign a Service Agreement (extendable to 84 days if needed).
2. Compare providers quickly
Not all providers charge the same. Some may stretch your budget to 7 hours of care per week, while others deliver only 5. Look for providers with current availability in your area, transparent pricing, and fees that leave more money for actual care rather than administration.
3. Choose and sign within 56 days
Select a provider that offers good value, availability, and the services you need. Sign your Service Agreement before the deadline to lock in your funding.
Need help finding the right Support at Home provider for this level of care?
Finding a provider who has availability now and services your specific local area can be a challenge.
This is where Aged Care Decisions FREE SERVICE can assist.
We are Australia’s largest independent aged care matching service. We help tens of thousands of families every month find care, at absolutely no cost to you.
- We save you time: We only match you with providers who have current availability in your suburb.
- We know the market: We can help you find providers who suit your specific needs and budget.
- 100% Free & Independent: Our service is completely free for families.
Don’t spend hours calling providers who are full or don’t service your area. Let us do the running around for you.
Get started today and receive a personalised list of Support at Home providers, suited to your needs and budget.
