The latest government data shows the median wait time for ongoing Support at Home is 347 days. This timeframe covers your entire journey from your first My Aged Care application through to your first day of services. While this wait applies to ongoing care the government does fast track short term priority services. For example the median wait for end of life support is just 15 days while home modifications take around 102 days. Finding an aged care provider early ensures you are ready the moment your funding drops.
Key Takeaways
The median wait for ongoing Support at Home is 347 days
This timeframe covers your entire journey from application to your first day of care
Short term priority services like end of life support are fast tracked
Victoria has the shortest wait times while Queensland has the longest
Finding a provider early is the best way to reduce your total wait time
Stephanie Burdett
Content Writer · Aged Care Decisions
- Last updated 28 May 2026
How Long is the Waiting Time for Support at Home?
The government recently released the actual wait times based on historical data. The median wait time for ongoing Support at Home is 347 days.
According to the Aged Care Act 2024 Wait Times Report this measures your entire journey. It starts from your first My Aged Care application and ends on the exact day your services commence.
Your total wait time is made up of three parts.
Wait to be assessed Demand in your local area dictates when an assessor visits
Wait for funding You enter the national queue for funding assignment
Wait to commence services You must find a provider and sign an agreement
How Fast Are Priority Services Approved?
The government fast tracks specific short term priority pathways. If you are approved for these priority services the median wait times are much shorter.
End of life support 15 days
Assistive technology 101 days
Home modifications 102 days
Restorative care 163 days
Does Your Location Change Your Wait Time?
Yes your wait time can vary significantly depending on which state or territory you live in. The recent wait times report shows Victoria currently has the shortest median wait at 273 days.
Queensland has the longest median wait at 322 days. Inner metropolitan areas sometimes experience longer delays due to high demand.
How Support at Home Wait Lists Work
The Support at Home Program uses a national Priority System to decide who receives funding first. Instead of a simple first come, first served list, every person is given a priority category based on their specific needs and risks.
You are placed into a queue with others at the same priority level. Within that level, funding is generally offered based on your approval date. However, people with urgent needs will always be prioritised over those with standard needs, regardless of how long they have been waiting.
What Affects Your Place in the Queue?
Your priority category is the main factor deciding your wait time. This is set by your assessor during your home visit, based on criteria like:
- Safety risks: Are you feeling unsafe at home due to falls, finding it hard to keep track of medications or perhaps having difficulty managing daily tasks?
- Current supports: Do you have any help in place already or are you managing entirely alone?
- Carer wellbeing: Is the main person providing your care feeling overwhelmed, exhausted or finding it hard to keep up?
- Health changes: Have there been recent hospital stays or noticeable changes in your mobility?
If your situation changes, for example, if a carer falls ill or mobility suddenly gets worse, you can ask My Aged Care for a review. This may move you to a higher priority category and reduce your remaining wait.
How Can I Check on My Support at Home Application?
You can check your status and estimated wait time whenever you need to:
- Log in to your My Aged Care online account to see your approval status and priority level.
- Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to ask about your current position and any updates to wait times.
Ensure your status is listed as “seeking services.” If you are approved but not marked as seeking services, you will not be offered funding.
What if My Needs Change While I am Waiting?
If your health or circumstances change while you are in the queue (for example, if you have a fall, a hospital stay, or your carer is no longer able to support you) you should act immediately.
Contact My Aged Care to request a review of your priority status. Evidence of your changed needs (like a letter from your GP) can help speed up this process. If your situation is deemed more urgent, you may be moved to a higher priority category, which can significantly reduce your remaining wait time.
Next step: While you wait, start researching local providers so you are ready to go. Get a free list of available providers in your area from Aged Care Decisions to save time.
Why is There a Waiting Time for Support at Home?
Waiting times exist because demand for home care is high and growing. More older Australians want to stay in their own home, and there are limits to the national budget and the number of available care workers.
The Government’s new Priority System aims to ensure people with the most critical needs get help fastest. Extra funding is being released over time to bring wait times down, with a target of reaching an average wait of 3 months by July 2027.
How Many People are Waiting for Support at Home Funding?
The government does not publish an exact number of people currently waiting for funding because the list updates daily. We do know the government is significantly expanding the program to meet growing demand.
According to the Department of Health and Aged Care the government is releasing extra funding to support 300,000 more participants over the next decade. Their goal is to help 1.4 million older Australians stay at home by 2035.
Your priority category determines your specific timeframe so your wait depends entirely on your own needs rather than the overall size of the queue.
What to Do if Your Care Needs Increase
It is normal for care needs to change over time. If you feel your current support is not enough there are steps you can take.
First, try adjusting within your current budget. Speak with your care provider about mixing and matching services to better fit what you need now. They may be able to reallocate your budget without needing a formal review.
If your needs have significantly changed, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 and ask for a Support Plan Review. If the review shows you need a higher level of support, you can be reassessed and allocated a higher Support at Home classification with more funding to match your new needs.
How to Actively Reduce Your Wait Time
The 347 day wait includes the time it takes to find a provider and sign an agreement. You can actively reduce your overall wait by having a provider ready to go early.
You only have 56 days to sign an agreement once the government assigns your budget. Doing this research now removes the guesswork when your approval letter finally arrives.
Aged Care Decisions offers a free, independent service to help you find Support at Home providers with current availability in your local area.
We match you with providers based on your specific care needs, budget, and location. Instead of calling around yourself, you receive a tailored list of options to chose from.
