Key points

  • Support at Home classification 2 is for older Australians with low care needs
  • Annual funding of approximately $16,035 ($4,008 per quarter)
  • 10% care management deduction leaves roughly $14,431 for services per year
  • Clinical services (nursing, allied health) are fully funded at 0% contribution
  • Independence services attract contributions of 5% to 50% depending on income
  • Everyday living services attract contributions of 17.5% to 80% depending on income
  • Provides enough funding for regular weekly support across multiple service types
  • Reassessment is available if your needs increase or decrease

What is Support at Home classification 2?

Classification 2 is the second tier of Australia’s eight-level Support at Home program. It is designed for people with low care needs who need consistent weekly support across several areas of daily life.

At this level, you are still managing many things independently, but you benefit from regular help with housework, getting to appointments, and possibly some assistance with personal care. You might be finding that tasks you once handled easily now take more effort or carry more risk.

Classification 2 sits within the broader group of basic care levels. For how it fits alongside classifications 1 and 3, see our guide to Support at Home levels 1-3. For a full overview of the entire program, see the Support at Home Program complete guide.

Funding breakdown

Classification 2 provides a set annual budget paid in quarterly instalments. The government deducts 10% for care management before the remaining amount goes toward your services.

ItemAmount
Quarterly budget$4,008.75
Annual total$16,035.00
Care management deduction (10%)$1,603.50
Available for services (annual)$14,431.50

Source: Australian Government Department of Health

How quarterly budgets work

Your funding arrives in four instalments each year, released in July, October, January, and April. You do not receive the full annual amount up front.

If you do not use your entire quarterly allocation, unspent funds can roll over to the next quarter. The rollover cap is $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget, whichever is greater. For classification 2, that means you could carry over up to $1,000 per quarter. Amounts above the cap are returned to the government.

Care management deduction

The 10% care management deduction covers your provider’s administrative costs, including care plan development, coordination of services, regular reviews, and My Aged Care reporting. Under the old HCP system, some providers charged over 40% in combined administration and care management fees. The fixed 10% cap under Support at Home is a significant improvement for most participants.

Three service categories and what you pay

Under Support at Home, services fall into three categories. Each has different rules about what the government funds and what you contribute.

Clinical services (0% contribution)

Clinical services include nursing care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, podiatry, dietetics, and other allied health. These are fully funded by the government with no participant contribution. From 1 October 2026, personal care (showering, dressing, grooming, non-clinical continence, eating, hygiene, and help self-administering medication) also moves into clinical supports and is fully government funded.

At classification 2, you might access regular podiatry, periodic physiotherapy for mobility or balance, occasional nursing visits for medication reviews, or dietetics consultations.

Independence services (5% to 50% contribution)

Independence services cover assistive technology, home modifications, and mobility support. Your contribution ranges from 5% to 50% depending on your financial circumstances. (Until 1 October 2026, personal care such as showering, dressing, and grooming sat in this category and attracted a contribution. From 1 October 2026, personal care moves into clinical supports and is fully government funded with no participant contribution.)

At this level, you might need help with showering or dressing a few times per week, or require home modifications like grab rails in the bathroom and improved lighting in hallways.

Everyday living services (17.5% to 80% contribution)

Everyday living services include domestic assistance, gardening, meal preparation, social support, and transport. These attract the highest contribution rates.

At classification 2, everyday living services will likely form a large part of your care plan. Regular cleaning, garden maintenance, transport to appointments and social activities, and meal preparation are all common uses.

Contribution rates by income group

Financial circumstanceClinical servicesIndependence servicesEveryday living services
Full pension recipient0%5%17.5%
Part pension recipient0%Up to 25%Up to 50%
Self-funded retiree (with CSHC)0%Up to 25%Up to 50%
Self-funded retiree (no CSHC)0%Up to 50%Up to 80%

Source: My Aged Care

What this means in practice

Consider a full pension recipient at classification 2 with $14,431 available for services. If they use $3,000 on clinical services (physio, podiatry, nursing, and from 1 October 2026 personal care), they pay nothing. For $4,000 of independence services (grab rails, assistive technology), they contribute 5%, which is $200. For $7,431 of everyday living services (cleaning, transport, garden, meals), they contribute 17.5%, which is $1,300. Total annual contribution: approximately $1,500.

A self-funded retiree without a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card at the same classification would pay nothing for clinical services, up to 50% for independence services ($2,000), and up to 80% for everyday living services ($5,945). Total annual contribution: up to approximately $7,945.

To work out your own figures based on your income group and service mix, you can estimate your Support at Home budget and contributions before you choose a provider.

Lifetime contribution cap

Your total contributions across all aged care services are capped at $130,000 (as of November 2025, subject to annual indexation). This protects people who receive care over many years.

What services are covered at classification 2

With approximately $14,431 available for services after care management, classification 2 provides enough funding for consistent weekly support.

Typical services include:

  • Domestic assistance 2 to 3 hours per week (cleaning, laundry, tidying)
  • Garden maintenance fortnightly or weekly
  • Transport to medical appointments and social activities twice per week
  • Personal care assistance 2 to 4 times per week (help with showering, dressing)
  • Meal preparation assistance several times per week
  • Social support and companionship visits
  • Regular allied health services (physiotherapy, podiatry)
  • Minor home modifications (grab rails, non-slip surfaces, improved lighting)
  • Basic assistive equipment (shower chair, raised toilet seat)
  • Home maintenance (changing light bulbs, minor repairs)

At classification 2, you might receive around 5 to 8 hours of direct support per week, depending on the mix of services and provider pricing. Across aged care inquiries on Carevo, the most requested supports are personal care, domestic assistance and transport, which lines up closely with the everyday living and personal care mix most classification 2 plans rely on. For current pricing benchmarks, see our guide to Support at Home prices in 2026.

Building an effective care plan at this level

Classification 2 gives you enough funding to address multiple needs simultaneously. A well-structured care plan might look like this:

Monday: Personal care assistance in the morning, domestic help for 2 hours Wednesday: Transport to physiotherapy, shopping assistance Thursday: Personal care assistance, garden maintenance Friday: Social support outing, meal preparation

The exact schedule depends on your assessed needs, your preferences, and your provider’s availability. Work with your provider to create a plan that covers the areas that matter most to you.

How many hours of care can you get?

Classification 2 provides approximately $4,008 per quarter. After the 10% care management deduction, you have roughly $3,607 per quarter to spend on services. How far that goes depends on the types of services you use, your provider’s rates, and when you schedule visits.

Indicative hourly rates

ServiceWeekday RateSaturdaySundayPublic Holiday
Domestic assistance~$120/hr~$157/hr~$195/hr~$227/hr
Personal care~$120/hr~$157/hr~$195/hr~$227/hr
Registered nurse~$210/hr~$270/hr~$330/hr~$390/hr
Allied health (physio, OT)~$180/hr~$230/hr~$280/hr~$330/hr
Transport~$50-80/tripVariesVariesVaries

Rates are indicative and vary by provider and region. Clinical services have no participant contribution regardless of rate.

Worked example: Frank, 81, part pensioner

Frank needs regular transport to medical appointments and light personal care assistance with showering several mornings per week.

Personal care (clinical support from 1 October 2026):

  • 2 hours per week at $120/hr = $240 per week
  • $240 x 13 weeks per quarter = $3,120

Transport (everyday living service):

  • 2 trips per fortnight at $65/trip = $130 per fortnight
  • $130 x 6.5 fortnights per quarter = $845

Total quarterly service cost: $3,965

Frank’s contribution as a part pensioner:

  • Personal care: from 1 October 2026 this is a clinical support and is fully government funded, so Frank pays $0 (until then it sat in independence services and attracted a contribution of up to 25%)
  • Transport (everyday living, up to 50%): $845 x 50% = $423
  • Total out of pocket per quarter: up to approximately $423

Frank’s actual contribution rate depends on his income assessment. A part pensioner on the lower end might pay closer to 25% on everyday living, which would reduce his transport contribution to approximately $211. Frank could also add a quarterly podiatry appointment ($180, clinical, $0 contribution) without it affecting his budget for other services.

These figures are indicative. Your actual hours depend on your provider’s rates, the services you choose, and when you receive them. Weekend and public holiday rates reduce your available hours.

Tips for stretching your funding

  • Schedule services on weekdays when rates are lowest
  • Bundle tasks in one visit (for example, personal care and light meal prep in the same morning) to reduce travel and minimum charge costs
  • Use clinical services freely since they are fully funded by the government
  • Track spending quarterly and adjust your care plan if you are underspending or overspending
  • Request a reassessment if your needs have increased and your current funding is not enough

Who qualifies for classification 2

To qualify, you must meet the basic eligibility criteria and be assessed as having low care needs.

Eligibility requirements

  • Aged 65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)
  • An Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a special category visa
  • Not already receiving equivalent government-funded aged care services
  • Assessed as having care needs that require support

What the assessment looks at

The single assessment workforce evaluates your needs across multiple domains:

  • Physical health: Mobility, balance, strength, chronic conditions, pain
  • Cognitive function: Memory, decision-making, orientation
  • Daily activities: Ability to manage personal care, housework, cooking, shopping
  • Psychosocial needs: Social isolation, emotional wellbeing, carer stress
  • Home environment: Safety hazards, accessibility, suitability

For classification 2, the assessor is looking for someone who needs regular weekly support across a few different areas. You might be someone who needs help with heavier housework, finds showering difficult without assistance some days, and benefits from regular transport to stay socially connected and attend medical appointments.

How to get assessed

  1. Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit their website
  2. Complete the initial screening over the phone
  3. Have your assessment completed by the single assessment workforce (usually in your home, taking 1 to 2 hours)
  4. Receive your classification level and support plan
  5. Choose a provider and begin services

You do not need a GP referral, though your doctor can make a referral on your behalf. See our My Aged Care registration guide for step-by-step instructions.

Comparison with old Home Care Package levels

Classification 2 sits roughly between the old Level 1 and Level 2 Home Care Packages.

FeatureOld Level 1 HCPOld Level 2 HCPSupport at Home Classification 2
Annual funding$9,271$16,335$16,035
Care management feesProvider-set (12-45%)Provider-set (12-45%)Fixed 10% ($1,604)
Funding structureSingle flexible budgetSingle flexible budgetThree service categories
Clinical contributionsPaid from packagePaid from package$0 (fully funded)
Budget deliveryMonthlyMonthlyQuarterly
Waiting timeMonths3-12+ monthsBased on assessment priority

Key differences

Comparable to old Level 2 HCP funding. At $16,035 per year, classification 2 provides a similar total to the old Level 2 HCP ($16,335). But because the care management fee is capped at 10% instead of the 20-35% many providers charged, more of the funding goes to actual services.

Clinical services are now free. Under the old system, every nursing visit or physio session came out of your package budget. Under Support at Home, clinical services cost you nothing. If you need regular allied health, this change alone can free up significant budget for other services.

Less flexibility between service types. The old HCP let you redirect money across any approved service. The three-category model under Support at Home is more structured. While this protects clinical funding, it does limit your ability to shift budget between categories.

Faster access. The old Level 2 HCP had waiting times of 3 to 12 months or longer in many areas. The Support at Home system aims for faster access after assessment, though the system is still maturing in 2026.

How to access classification 2

Step 1: Contact My Aged Care

Call 1800 200 422 or visit the My Aged Care website. A family member, carer, or GP can contact them on your behalf.

Step 2: Screening and prioritisation

My Aged Care will conduct a phone screening to understand your situation. Your assessment will be prioritised based on urgency.

Step 3: Face-to-face assessment

An assessor visits you at home and uses a standardised tool to evaluate your needs. The assessment typically takes 1 to 2 hours.

Step 4: Classification decision

Based on the assessment, you will be assigned a classification level. If your needs are assessed as low, you will receive classification 2.

Step 5: Choose a provider and start services

Once classified, choose an approved provider. They will develop a care plan with you and begin delivering services.

If you disagree with your assessment

The Independent Assessment Tool (IAT) has been criticised for underestimating care needs in some cases. If you believe your classification does not reflect your actual situation, you can request a reassessment. Contact the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) on 1800 700 600 for independent support and advice.

When you might need a higher classification

Your needs may change over time. Signs that classification 2 may no longer be enough include:

  • You need help with personal care every day
  • You require regular nursing visits for chronic conditions
  • Your mobility has declined significantly
  • You are at increased risk of falls or hospitalisation
  • Your current funding cannot cover the services you need
  • Your carer needs more respite support

If you notice these changes, talk to your provider and contact My Aged Care to request a reassessment. For information about higher classifications, see our guides to Support at Home levels 4-6 and Support at Home levels 7-8.

Find the right provider for classification 2

Choosing the right provider matters at every classification level. At classification 2, you want a provider with transparent pricing, the ability to deliver a mix of services, and good availability in your area. Even small differences in hourly rates add up over a year.

Carevo connects older Australians with quality aged care providers, with 2,131 providers in the directory to compare on pricing and availability. We can help you compare provider pricing, understand your funding, and get started with services.

Call 1800 953 253 to find the right provider for your Support at Home classification through Carevo.

Learn more about the Support at Home Program or read our complete guide to the Support at Home Program.

All Support at Home Classifications

ClassificationAnnual FundingBest For
Level 1$10,731Very low needs, occasional help
Level 2$16,034Low needs, regular weekly help
Level 3$21,966Low-moderate, several visits per week
Level 4$29,696Moderate, daily assistance
Level 5$39,697Moderate-high, multiple daily services
Level 6$48,114High needs, complex care coordination
Level 7$58,148Very high, extensive daily support
Level 8$78,106Highest/complex, alternative to residential