Support at Home Classification 5: Moderate-High Care (2026)
Andre Smith
Co-founder & CEO
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Key points
- Support at Home classification 5 is for older Australians with moderate-high care needs
- Annual funding of approximately $39,697 ($9,924 per quarter)
- 10% care management deduction leaves roughly $35,728 for services per year
- Clinical services (nursing, allied health) are fully funded with no participant contribution, and from 1 October 2026 personal care also becomes fully government funded
- Independence services attract contributions of 5% to 50% depending on income
- Everyday living services attract contributions of 17.5% to 80% depending on income
- Most closely replaces the old Level 3 Home Care Package ($38,454/year)
- Provides enough funding for daily personal care, regular nursing, and comprehensive support
What is Support at Home classification 5?
Classification 5 is the middle tier of the intermediate care classifications in Australia’s Support at Home program. It is designed for people with moderate-high care needs who require daily personal care, regular clinical support, and ongoing domestic assistance.
At this level, your care needs are increasing. You likely need help with showering and dressing every day, regular nursing visits for chronic conditions, weekly allied health sessions, and consistent domestic support. You are still living at home and want to continue doing so, but you need a comprehensive care plan to make that work safely.
Classification 5 is the closest equivalent to the old Level 3 Home Care Package in terms of total funding. For how it fits alongside classifications 4 and 6, see our guide to Support at Home levels 4-6. For a full overview of the program, see the Support at Home Program complete guide.
Funding breakdown
Classification 5 provides a set annual budget paid in quarterly instalments. The government deducts 10% for care management before the remaining amount goes toward your services.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Quarterly budget | $9,924.35 |
| Annual total | $39,697.40 |
| Care management deduction (10%) | $3,969.74 |
| Available for services (annual) | $35,727.66 |
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. 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 5, 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 care plan development, coordination of services, regular reviews, and My Aged Care reporting. At classification 5, this amounts to $3,970 per year. Under the old Level 3 HCP, some providers charged 30% or more for administration and care management, consuming over $11,500 of the $38,454 annual budget. The fixed 10% cap is a meaningful improvement.
Three service categories and what you pay
Under Support at Home, services fall into three categories with different contribution rules.
Clinical services (0% contribution)
Clinical services include nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, podiatry, dietetics, and other allied health. These are fully funded by the government. 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 with no participant contribution.
At classification 5, you might access nursing visits 2 to 3 times per week, weekly physiotherapy or occupational therapy sessions, regular podiatry, and periodic dietetics consultations. All of this is fully covered.
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.
At this level, daily personal care assistance is common. You may also need substantial home modifications, continence products, and assistive technology to maintain your independence. Note that until 1 October 2026 personal care (showering, dressing, grooming, non-clinical continence, eating, hygiene, and help self-administering medication) attracted an independence-services contribution. From 1 October 2026 personal care moves into clinical supports and is fully government funded with no participant contribution.
Everyday living services (17.5% to 80% contribution)
Everyday living services include domestic assistance, gardening, meal preparation, social support, and transport. Contribution rates range from 17.5% to 80% based on income and assets.
Classification 5 provides enough for regular domestic help, ongoing meal preparation, transport to appointments and social activities, and garden maintenance.
Contribution rates by income group
| Financial circumstance | Clinical services | Independence services | Everyday living services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full pension recipient | 0% | 5% | 17.5% |
| Part pension recipient | 0% | 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 5 with $35,728 available for services. If they use $12,000 on clinical services (nursing, physio, OT, podiatry), they pay nothing. For $14,000 of independence services (daily personal care, equipment, home mods), they contribute 5%, which is $700. For $9,728 of everyday living services (cleaning, meals, transport, garden), they contribute 17.5%, which is $1,702. Total annual contribution: approximately $2,402.
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 ($7,000), and up to 80% for everyday living services ($7,782). Total annual contribution: up to approximately $14,782. To work out your own numbers, you can estimate your Support at Home budget and contributions based on your classification and income group.
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 from indefinite out-of-pocket costs.
What services are covered at classification 5
With approximately $35,728 available for services, classification 5 provides enough funding for a genuinely comprehensive care plan.
Typical services include:
- Nursing visits 2 to 3 times per week (wound care, medication management, chronic disease monitoring)
- Weekly allied health sessions (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or both)
- Daily personal care assistance (showering, dressing, grooming)
- Regular meal preparation support (3 to 5 times per week)
- Domestic help twice per week (cleaning, laundry, tidying)
- Continence management and supplies
- Home modifications (bathroom renovations, ramp installation, stair rails)
- Assistive technology (mobility aids, shower equipment, monitoring devices)
- Regular transport to medical and social appointments
- Short-term respite care for family carers
- Social support and community access
At classification 5, you might receive approximately 12 to 18 hours of support per fortnight. This level allows for a care plan that addresses clinical, personal, and domestic needs together in a coordinated way. Across inquiries from families using Carevo, the most-requested supports are personal care, domestic assistance and transport, which sit squarely within the kind of plan classification 5 funds.
A typical week at classification 5
Here is what a week might look like with classification 5 funding:
Monday: Morning personal care, nursing visit for medication management Tuesday: Morning personal care, physiotherapy session, domestic help (2 hours) Wednesday: Morning personal care, meal preparation, social support outing Thursday: Morning personal care, occupational therapy, garden maintenance Friday: Morning personal care, nursing visit for wound care, domestic help (2 hours) Weekend: Reduced support or respite care for family carer
The exact schedule depends on your assessed needs and provider availability. Work with your provider to build a plan that covers the areas most important to you.
Respite care at classification 5
Classification 5 includes enough funding to access short-term respite care for family carers. If a family member is providing significant unpaid care, planned respite gives them a break while ensuring your care continues. This might mean a few hours per week of in-home respite or occasional overnight respite at a facility.
How many hours of care can you get?
Classification 5 provides approximately $9,924 per quarter. After the 10% care management deduction, you have roughly $8,932 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
| Service | Weekday Rate | Saturday | Sunday | Public 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/trip | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Rates are indicative and vary by provider and region. Clinical services have no participant contribution regardless of rate.
Worked example: Patricia, 84, full pensioner with early dementia
Patricia has early-stage dementia and lives at home with support from her daughter. She needs daily personal care, medication support from a nurse, regular social activities to maintain cognitive engagement, and weekly cleaning.
Daily personal care (independence service):
- 1 hour per day, 7 days per week at $120/hr weekday, $157/hr Saturday, $195/hr Sunday
- Weekday: $120 x 5 = $600, Saturday: $157, Sunday: $195
- Weekly total: $952 x 13 weeks per quarter = $12,376
Nursing for medication management (clinical service):
- 2 visits per week, 30 minutes each at $210/hr = $105/visit x 2 = $210/week
- $210 x 13 weeks per quarter = $2,730
Social support outing (everyday living service):
- 3 hours per week at $120/hr = $360/week
- $360 x 13 weeks per quarter = $4,680
Cleaning (everyday living service):
- 2 hours per week at $120/hr = $240/week
- $240 x 13 weeks per quarter = $3,120
Total quarterly service cost: $22,906
Patricia’s contribution as a full pensioner:
- Personal care (independence, 5%): $12,376 x 5% = $619
- Nursing (clinical, 0%): $0
- Social support (everyday living, 17.5%): $4,680 x 17.5% = $819
- Cleaning (everyday living, 17.5%): $3,120 x 17.5% = $546
- Total out of pocket per quarter: approximately $1,984
Patricia’s total service cost exceeds her quarterly budget. In practice, she could reduce personal care to weekdays only (saving the higher weekend rates), which would bring the personal care cost down to $7,800 per quarter and the total to approximately $18,330. Her daughter could provide weekend support, with planned respite built in to prevent carer burnout. The nursing visits for medication management cost Patricia nothing, which is especially important for someone with dementia who needs consistent medication oversight.
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, and rely on family support or respite on weekends where possible
- Bundle tasks in one visit (for example, personal care and meal prep in the same morning session)
- Use clinical services freely since they are fully funded by the government, this is especially valuable for dementia-related nursing and allied health
- 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 5
To qualify, you must meet the basic eligibility criteria and be assessed as having moderate-high 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 assessors look for at classification 5
The single assessment workforce evaluates your needs across multiple domains. For classification 5, assessors are looking for people who:
- Need daily assistance with personal care activities
- Require regular nursing support for chronic health conditions
- Benefit from weekly allied health intervention
- Have moderate to significant mobility limitations
- Cannot maintain their home environment without regular help
- May have mild to moderate cognitive decline
- Need meal preparation support on most days
- Have family carers who need respite support
How to get assessed
- Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit their website
- Complete the initial phone screening
- Have your comprehensive assessment completed in your home (1 to 2 hours)
- Receive your classification level and support plan
- Choose a provider and begin services
A letter from your GP or specialist outlining your conditions and care requirements can strengthen your assessment. Bring any recent hospital discharge summaries or specialist reports to the assessment.
Comparison with the old Level 3 Home Care Package
Classification 5 is the closest equivalent to the old Level 3 HCP in total funding.
| Feature | Old Level 3 HCP | Support at Home Classification 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Annual funding | $38,454 | $39,697 |
| Care management fees | Provider-set (12-45%) | Fixed 10% ($3,970) |
| Funding structure | Single flexible budget | Three service categories |
| Clinical contributions | Paid from package | $0 (fully funded) |
| Budget delivery | Monthly | Quarterly |
| Unspent fund rollover | Accumulated in package | Capped quarterly ($1,000) |
| Waiting time | 6-12 months typical | Based on assessment priority |
Key differences
Slightly more total funding. Classification 5 provides $39,697 compared to the old Level 3’s $38,454. That is an increase of $1,243 per year before fees are considered.
Much more reaches actual care. The bigger difference is in fees. If your old provider charged 30% in combined fees on a Level 3 package, you had approximately $26,918 for services. Under classification 5 with the fixed 10% deduction, you have $35,728. That is nearly $9,000 more for actual care.
Clinical services are now free. Under the old system, nursing and allied health came out of your package budget. At classification 5, clinical services cost you nothing. If you access $12,000 worth of clinical services per year, that entire amount is now protected from your personal contribution.
Quarterly instead of monthly budgets. Your funding arrives in larger quarterly instalments rather than monthly. This requires slightly different budgeting but offers more flexibility within each period.
Three categories instead of one budget. The old system gave you one budget for everything. The three-category model is more structured, which protects clinical funding but reduces flexibility to shift money between service types.
Managing your budget at classification 5
With nearly $36,000 available for services, classification 5 gives you a substantial care budget. Here is how to use it well.
Make full use of clinical services
Since clinical services are fully funded, there is no reason to hold back on the nursing and allied health support you need. Regular physiotherapy can prevent falls and hospital admissions. Nursing monitoring catches health changes early. Occupational therapy assessments can identify equipment and modifications that improve your safety.
Coordinate care across services
At classification 5, you are likely working with multiple types of support workers and clinicians. Good coordination makes a real difference. Ensure your provider has clear communication channels between your nurse, allied health therapists, personal care workers, and domestic staff. Your care plan should reflect how these services connect, not just list them separately.
Plan for seasonal fluctuations
Your needs may vary across the year. Winter often brings increased respiratory issues and falls risk. Recovery from illness or hospital stays requires extra support. Work with your provider to build flexibility into your care plan so you can increase services when needed.
Track your spending
Ask your provider for regular budget statements showing spending across all three service categories. Review these monthly so you can adjust before the quarter ends.
Short-term pathways
In addition to your ongoing classification 5 funding, you may be eligible for short-term support pathways:
- Assistive Technology and Home Modifications pathway: Up to $15,000 for equipment and modifications, separate from your ongoing budget
- Restorative Care pathway: Approximately $6,000 for focused allied health programs over 16 weeks
These pathways supplement your classification funding and are worth exploring with your provider.
Moving between classifications
Your classification can change as your needs change.
Moving up to classification 6, 7, or 8
If your care needs increase, you may qualify for a higher classification. Classification 6 ($48,114/year) provides significantly more funding for high care needs. Classifications 7 and 8 ($58,148 and $78,106/year) cover the most complex care situations. Contact My Aged Care for a reassessment.
For information about the highest classifications, see our guide to Support at Home levels 7-8.
Moving down to classifications 1-4
If your health improves after successful treatment or rehabilitation, a reassessment may place you at a lower classification. For information about basic classifications, see our guide to Support at Home levels 1-3.
Find the right provider for classification 5
At classification 5, your care involves multiple service types delivered by different staff. You need a provider who can coordinate this effectively. Look for providers with:
- Direct employment of nurses and allied health professionals
- Experience managing complex care plans across clinical, personal, and domestic services
- Good staff continuity so you see familiar faces
- Transparent budget reporting across all three categories
- Responsiveness to changing needs, including after hospital stays
- Availability of respite care for family carers
Carevo connects older Australians with experienced aged care providers who understand moderate-high care needs, drawing on 2,131 aged care providers listed across the directory. Whether you are transitioning from an old Level 3 package, have just been assessed, or need to change providers, we can help.
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
| Classification | Annual Funding | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $10,731 | Very low needs, occasional help |
| Level 2 | $16,034 | Low needs, regular weekly help |
| Level 3 | $21,966 | Low-moderate, several visits per week |
| Level 4 | $29,696 | Moderate, daily assistance |
| Level 5 | $39,697 | Moderate-high, multiple daily services |
| Level 6 | $48,114 | High needs, complex care coordination |
| Level 7 | $58,148 | Very high, extensive daily support |
| Level 8 | $78,106 | Highest/complex, alternative to residential |
Related Support at Home Guides
Support at Home on Carevo right now
Updated 2026-06-03Most-requested Support at Home services
Based on 412 aged care and Support at Home inquiries made through Carevo. See the full Support at Home Demand Report.
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