Who Is Eligible for a Home Care Package? (2026 Rules)
Nobody can newly qualify for a Home Care Package: the program closed to new applicants on 1 November 2025, and Support at Home replaced it. To be eligible for home care funding now you must have care needs and be 65 or older, or 50 or older if you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person or are homeless or at risk of homelessness. An aged care assessment then decides which of eight Support at Home classifications you receive.
Key points
- Home Care Packages are closed to new applicants. Support at Home is the current program
- Age requirement: 65 or older, or 50 or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
- Income and assets do not affect eligibility. They affect what you pay
- Apply for an assessment at myagedcare.gov.au or on 1800 200 422
- After approval, funding is allocated by priority category: urgent, high, medium or standard
- Once funding is allocated you have 56 days to start services, plus a 28-day extension on request
- People who held or were approved for a package by 31 October 2025 moved to Support at Home with an equivalent budget
Who is eligible for a home care package?
There are three groups, and the answer is different for each.
| Your situation | What applies to you |
|---|---|
| You were receiving a Home Care Package on 31 October 2025 | You moved to Support at Home with a transitioned budget equal to your package level. You do not need to reapply |
| You were approved for a package by 31 October 2025 but had not been assigned one | You moved to the Support at Home Priority System. You receive a transitioned budget at your approved level when funding is allocated |
| You have not been assessed | You cannot get a Home Care Package. You apply for an aged care assessment and, if eligible, receive a Support at Home classification |
The transitioned budgets are $11,294.22 (Level 1), $19,860.56 (Level 2), $43,233.21 (Level 3) and $65,543.98 (Level 4) a year. Each level has its own guide: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4.
Who qualifies for Support at Home?
To qualify for an aged care assessment you must meet a needs requirement and an age requirement (My Aged Care, 2026).
Needs: you need help with some everyday tasks.
Age: you are one of the following.
- Aged 65 or older
- An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 or older
- Homeless or at risk of homelessness and aged 50 or older
The assessment then decides whether you are eligible for services and which program suits you. For home care that is usually Support at Home or the Commonwealth Home Support Program.
Your income and assets play no part in eligibility. See the means assessment below.
The Single Assessment System explained
The Single Assessment System is the one pathway for all government-funded aged care assessments. Since 9 December 2024 its assessment organisations have done the work that the Regional Assessment Service and Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT) used to do. Assessors use the Integrated Assessment Tool, which has been in use since 1 July 2024.
Our guide to aged care assessment levels explains how the old ACAT language relates to the current system.
How to get referred
- Apply online at myagedcare.gov.au. The form takes 15 to 20 minutes and you need your Medicare card
- Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
- Ask someone to apply for you. A family member, friend, GP or hospital worker can apply with your consent
An assessment organisation then calls you, usually within 2 to 6 weeks, to confirm your needs and arrange the assessment.
What happens during the assessment
A trained assessor usually visits you at home. Assessments can also happen at another location, by telehealth or over the phone.
The assessor asks about your situation and needs and works with you on which services might suit. Expect questions about:
- Moving around, falls and balance
- Showering, dressing and using the toilet
- Medication
- Memory and thinking
- Cooking, cleaning and shopping
- Your home and how safe it is
- Who helps you now, and how they are coping
What the assessor recommends
If you are approved for Support at Home, the assessment organisation sends you a Notice of Decision. It contains:
- The services you are approved to receive
- Your ongoing classification, from 1 to 8
- Any short-term approval: the Restorative Care Pathway, the End-of-Life Pathway or assistive technology and home modifications
- Your priority category
- Your support plan
- How to ask for a review
The eight classifications carry annual budgets from $11,031.56 (Classification 1) to $80,294 (Classification 8). Our guides to each start at Classification 1 and end at Classification 8.
How to prepare for your assessment
- Do not play down your difficulties. The assessor can only work with what you tell them
- Have someone with you. A family member or carer can describe the help they already give
- Describe your worst days. Give examples, such as “I fell twice last month getting out of the shower”
- Gather your documents. Medicare card, a list of medications, and letters from your GP or specialists
- Show the assessor your home. Point out the bathroom, steps or kitchen tasks that worry you
- Talk about your carer. If the person helping you is worn out, say so
The means assessment
The means assessment decides how much you contribute. It does not decide whether you get funding.
How it works
Services Australia assesses your income and assets in a similar way to the Age Pension means test. If you already get a full or part pension, it uses the information it holds.
You pay a percentage of the price of each service you receive. The percentage depends on the service category.
| Your assessment outcome | Clinical supports | Independence | Everyday living |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full pensioner | 0% | 5% | 17.5% |
| Part pensioner or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holder | 0% | Between 5% and 50% | Between 17.5% and 80% |
| Self-funded without a Seniors Health Card, or means not disclosed | 0% | 50% | 80% |
Clinical supports include nursing, allied health and care management. Personal care has had no contribution since 1 October 2026.
What is included in the assessment
Your income, your assets and your pension status. If you do not give Services Australia your financial information, you are treated as “means not disclosed” and pay the maximum rates.
What is NOT included
The means assessment has no effect on whether you are eligible or which classification you receive. Those depend only on your assessed care needs.
For what counts as income and assets, check with Services Australia. The rules are detailed, and Carevo cannot assess your finances.
Lifetime contribution cap
Contributions stop once you reach the lifetime cap of $140,652.80 (as at 20 September 2026). The cap is indexed each 20 March and 20 September. It is a combined cap with the non-clinical care contribution in residential aged care.
If you were receiving or approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024, the no worse off principle applies. Your cap is $88,934.57, and you pay the same or less than you did under your package.
If you cannot afford your contributions, you can apply to Services Australia for financial hardship assistance.
The national priority system
Being approved does not mean funding starts straight away. Ongoing funding is allocated through the Support at Home Priority System, based on your priority category and your approval date.
There are four priority categories. My Aged Care publishes estimated waits for each.
| Priority category | Estimated wait for ongoing funding |
|---|---|
| Urgent | Within 1 month |
| High | 1 month |
| Medium | 5 to 6 months |
| Standard | 7 to 8 months |
Source: My Aged Care, last updated 30 June 2026. Check the current table, because the estimates change.
When funding is allocated, you get a letter. You have 56 days from the date of the letter to sign a service agreement with a provider and start services. My Aged Care can give you a 28-day extension. If you do not start in time, the funding is withdrawn and you need to rejoin the priority system.
What affects your wait
- Your priority category. The assessor sets it from what they learn at your assessment
- Your approval date. Within a category, earlier approvals are funded first
- The service. Assistive technology and home modifications have their own priority systems. The Restorative Care Pathway and End-of-Life Pathway have no waitlist
What to do while waiting
- Ask about interim funding. When waits are longer than expected, you may be allocated 60% of your budget first. The rest follows when it is available
- Use the Commonwealth Home Support Program for basic services if you are approved for it
- Tell My Aged Care if things change. You can ask for a reassessment if your needs increase
- In an emergency, call Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737 for emergency respite
- Start comparing providers so you are ready when the letter arrives
The Support at Home assessment
There is one assessment, and it covers both eligibility and funding.
What the assessment determines
- Whether you are eligible for government-funded aged care
- Which program suits you
- Your Support at Home classification, from 1 to 8
- Any short-term pathway or equipment funding
- Your priority category
Concerns about the assessment process
If you think the outcome is wrong, you can raise it. You have the right to question both your classification and your priority category. Your Notice of Decision explains how to ask for a review.
What to do about it
- Read the reasons in your Notice of Decision
- Gather evidence the assessor did not have, such as a letter from your GP
- Follow the review steps in the letter, or call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
- Get free help from the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) on 1800 700 600
Support at Home Eligibility: The Assessment Process
This section is a short version of the steps above.
Who Qualifies for Support at Home
- You have care needs
- You are 65 or older, or 50 or older if you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, or 50 or older if you are homeless or at risk of homelessness
The Integrated Assessment Tool
The Integrated Assessment Tool is what assessors use to assess eligibility for government-funded aged care. It has been in use since 1 July 2024. You do not fill it in yourself. The assessor completes it from your conversation.
How to Prepare for Your Assessment
Bring your Medicare card, a medication list and any letters from your doctors. Have a family member or carer with you. Be specific about what you cannot do.
How to Apply
- Check the requirements with the online tool at myagedcare.gov.au
- Apply for an assessment online, or call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
- Take the call from the assessment organisation, usually within 2 to 6 weeks
- Have the assessment
- Read your Notice of Decision
- Wait for your funding letter, then choose a provider within 56 days
Our My Aged Care registration guide covers the first two steps in detail. For the program itself, see our complete Support at Home guide.
Special eligibility situations
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
The age requirement is 50 or older. Support at Home includes services that support culturally safe care, such as help to join cultural activities and access to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners and health workers.
Veterans
Veterans and war widows and widowers may be eligible for some aged care support without an assessment. Contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372).
People with younger onset dementia
If you are under 65, you only meet the age requirement if you are 50 or older and are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, or are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Otherwise, disability support for people under 65 is through the NDIS. Call My Aged Care if you are unsure which system applies to you.
Hospital discharge
Hospital staff can help you apply for an assessment before you go home. If you may need short-term help to recover, ask about the Restorative Care Pathway, which has no waitlist once approved.
End of life
People with 3 months or less to live can be referred for a high-priority assessment for the End-of-Life Pathway, even if they are not already in Support at Home.
Reassessment
If you already receive Support at Home and your needs change, you can ask for a reassessment. A transitioned Home Care Package recipient who is reassessed at a higher need moves to a Support at Home classification.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for Support at Home?
People with care needs who are 65 or older, or 50 or older if they are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person or are homeless or at risk of homelessness. An aged care assessment confirms eligibility and sets the classification.
How do I apply for Support at Home?
Apply for an aged care assessment online at myagedcare.gov.au or call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. An assessment organisation usually calls within 2 to 6 weeks to arrange it.
What is the Single Assessment System?
The single pathway for aged care assessments. Its assessment organisations replaced the Regional Assessment Service and ACAT on 9 December 2024.
How long does the process take?
The assessment organisation usually calls within 2 to 6 weeks of your application. After approval, the wait for funding depends on your priority category, from within 1 month for urgent to 7 to 8 months for standard (My Aged Care, 30 June 2026).
Do I need to pass an income test?
No. The means assessment sets your contribution rates. It does not affect eligibility.
Can my family member apply for me?
Yes, with your consent. You can also register them as your supporter.
What if I disagree with the assessment?
You can ask for a review. The steps are in your Notice of Decision. OPAN offers free advocacy on 1800 700 600.
Is there a means test?
There is an income and assets assessment by Services Australia. It decides the percentage you pay for independence and everyday living services. Contributions stop at the lifetime cap of $140,652.80.
What if I am under 65?
You meet the age requirement only if you are 50 or older and are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, or are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Otherwise, contact the NDIS about disability support.
Resources
- My Aged Care: Should I apply? - who qualifies for an assessment
- My Aged Care: How to get assessed - apply online
- My Aged Care: Assessment outcome - wait times and priority categories
- Services Australia: aged care - income and assets assessment
- Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) - free advocacy
Need help with the application process?
Carevo is a connection platform. We do not assess eligibility or deliver care. Once you have your Notice of Decision, we connect you with aged care providers so you can compare price lists and services before you sign a service agreement.
Get matched with the right provider or call 1800 953 253.
For all eight Support at Home classifications, read our Support at Home complete guide.
Co-founder & CEO · Updated
Andre is the co-founder and CEO of Carevo. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Marketing, and a Bachelor of Arts from UNSW Sydney, where his majors were International Relations, Politics, Information Systems, and Media and Communications, graduating in 2014, and went through the UNSW 10x Founders accelerator in 2023.
