To be eligible for the Support at Home program, you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident aged 65 or older (or 50 or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people). You must also need assistance with everyday tasks to safely live independently at home. Eligibility is based purely on your care needs, not your financial situation, though income determines your fee contributions. To confirm eligibility and access government funding, you must request an aged care assessment through My Aged Care. An assessor will evaluate your mobility, health, and daily challenges to assign your funding classification.
Key Takeaways
- You are eligible for Support at Home if you are 65+ (or 50+ for First Nations people) and need help to live independently at home.
- To check your eligibility and access funding, you must request an aged care assessment through My Aged Care.
- An assessor will visit your home to review your mobility, safety, and daily care needs.
- The program offers eight classifications of support, matching funding to your specific needs.
- Aged Care Decisions provides a 100% free service to help you find a suitable Support at Home provider in your area.
Support at Home is the Australian Government’s in-home aged care program that helps eligible older people access services such as personal care, domestic assistance, nursing, allied health, transport, and home modifications so they can live safely and independently at home.
Deciding if Support at Home is right for you or someone close to you can be overwhelming. Many families want to keep a loved one safe and independent at home but are unsure whether they qualify for government-funded help, or where to even start.
Am I Eligible for Support At Home?
You are usually eligible for the Support at Home Program if:
- You are aged 65 years or older (or 50+ for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people)
- You are finding everyday tasks harder due to age or health
- You need support to stay living independently at home
- You live at home (not in residential aged care)
- You are an Australian citizen or permanent resident
If you think you or a loved one fits these criteria, the next step is to request an assessment through My Aged Care.
When Should I Request an Assessment?
You should consider requesting an assessment if you or someone you care for is finding it harder to manage everyday tasks safely.
Early action can help you or your loved one stay independent at home for longer. Request an assessment if you notice:
- Difficulty managing cooking, cleaning, shopping, or laundry
- The need for help with personal care like showering, dressing, or getting out of bed
- A recent fall, hospital stay, or noticeable change in mobility
- Increased forgetfulness, confusion, or anxiety about being home alone
- Feelings of isolation or difficulty getting to medical appointments
How Do I Apply for Support at Home?
You can request a Support at Home assessment in 3 different ways:
- Online via the My Aged Care website
- By calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
- Through a GP, nurse or hospital social worker who can refer you
You’ll be asked questions about your health, mobility, memory, current supports and any recent changes at home.
Learn more: How to Apply for Support at Home – A Step-by-Step Guide
Start comparing providers rightaway with a tailored report sent to you within 20 minutes. Get started here.
How Is Support at Home Eligibility Assessed?
A Support at Home assessment typically takes place in your home and involves a conversation about your care needs.
An assessor will visit for 1 to 3 hours to ask about your daily routine and the tasks that are becoming difficult. They will review your home environment for safety risks, discuss your physical and mental health, and identify any help you already receive from family. After the assessment, you will receive an outcome letter explaining whether you are eligible, your approved budget classification, and the types of services you can receive.
How Long Will it Take to Get an Assessment?
Assessment wait times vary significantly depending on your clinical urgency and location.
If you have an urgent clinical need (say for example, following a hospital stay or a serious fall) an assessment can sometimes be completed within a few weeks. For standard priority cases, wait times can stretch to several months. Because of these wait times, it is important to contact My Aged Care as soon as you notice changes in mobility or health, rather than waiting for a crisis.
How Long Does Support at Home Approval Take?
Once your assessment is complete, wait times to receive your funding depend on the priority category assigned to you.
The Support at Home priority system places you in an urgent, high, medium, or standard category based on your clinical risk. Urgent priority funding is usually released within one month, while standard priority can involve wait times of 9 to 12 months or longer. While you wait for your full budget to be released, you may be offered interim funding to cover essential daily services.
What if I Already Had a Home Care Package?
If you were assessed for a Home Care Package before the Support at Home program started, you automatically transitioned into the new system.
Your funding category depends on when you were assessed:
Type | Who this applies to | What it means for you |
Grandfathered Participant | Assessed on or before 12 September 2024 | Funding level stays the same; covered by the “no worse off” principle; no new fees if you previously paid none. |
Transitional Participant | Assessed between 12 September 2024 and 1 November 2025 | Transitioned automatically; you will pay standard Support at Home contributions based on your income and assets. |
If you are currently receiving the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), your services will continue unchanged. The CHSP is scheduled to merge with Support at Home no earlier than 1 July 2027.
What Can I Do While I Wait for Funding?
While you are waiting for your assessment or for your funds to be assigned, there are practical steps you can take to manage your care.
- Keep a simple diary of daily challenges, falls, or missed medications to share with your assessor.
- Talk to your GP about short-term strategies or allied health support.
- Use self-funded services like private cleaners, gardeners, or meal delivery to ease the immediate pressure.
- Research Support at Home providers in your area so you are ready to sign an agreement when your funds become available.
How do I find a Support at Home provider?
Finding the right provider can be time-consuming and confusing, especially when you’re already under pressure.
Aged Care Decisions helps thousands of Australian families each year by:
- Matching your care needs, budget, location and preferences with available providers
- Creating a personalised shortlist so you can compare options quickly
- Supporting you through the decision and onboarding process
Our service is 100% free, 100% independent and 100% personal.
If you’re exploring Support at Home eligibility, these resources may also help:
