Key points

  • Levels 7 and 8 are the highest classifications under the Support at Home program
  • Designed for people with complex, high-level care needs who would otherwise require residential aged care
  • Level 7 provides approximately $50,000 to $65,000 per year across three funding streams
  • Level 8 provides approximately $65,000 to $78,000+ per year for the most complex needs
  • Replaces the old Level 4 Home Care Package ($62,589/year) with more targeted, flexible funding
  • Covers nursing, personal care, allied health, equipment, home modifications, and 24/7 support options
  • Funding is split across independence, everyday living, and clinical care streams

What are Support at Home classification levels 7 and 8?

Levels 7 and 8 are the highest support classifications available under Australia’s Support at Home program. They exist for one reason: to give people with complex, high-level care needs the option of staying at home instead of moving into residential aged care.

These classifications replaced the old Level 4 Home Care Package when the Support at Home program launched in November 2025. Where the old system offered a single flat budget at Level 4, the new system provides higher funding amounts split across three targeted streams, giving people more money directed at the services they actually need.

Level 7 is for people with high-level care needs requiring regular clinical intervention, significant personal care, and ongoing professional support. Level 8 is for the most complex cases, where care needs are intensive and may require near-constant or 24/7 support coordination.

If you or a family member has been told that residential care might be the next step, levels 7 and 8 are worth understanding. For many people, this funding makes staying at home a realistic alternative.

How much funding do levels 7 and 8 provide?

The Support at Home program structures funding differently from the old Home Care Packages. Instead of one lump budget, funding is allocated across three streams based on what you need.

The three funding streams

1. Independence funding This stream covers services that help maintain or restore your ability to do things independently. It includes allied health (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology), assistive technology, home modifications, and equipment. The goal is to prevent further decline and keep you as independent as possible.

2. Everyday living funding This covers the practical support you need to get through each day: domestic assistance, meal preparation, transport, and social support. Note that from 1 October 2026 personal care (showering, dressing, toileting, grooming, eating, hygiene) moves into clinical supports and becomes fully government funded with no participant contribution. Until 1 October 2026 contributions applied to personal care; from then it is fully government funded.

3. Clinical care funding This stream covers nursing and clinical services: wound care, medication management, catheter care, chronic disease management, palliative care support, and other health-related interventions. At levels 7 and 8, clinical needs are typically substantial.

Funding amounts

ClassificationApproximate annual fundingTypical weekly equivalent
Level 7$50,000 to $65,000$960 to $1,250
Level 8$65,000 to $78,000+$1,250 to $1,500+

These figures are approximate because individual funding varies based on your assessed needs across each stream. Two people at Level 8 may receive different total amounts depending on whether their needs are primarily clinical, personal care, or a combination. To get a sense of the numbers for your own situation, you can estimate your Support at Home budget and contributions before you speak to a provider.

For context, the old Level 4 Home Care Package provided a flat $62,589 per year. Level 8 can exceed that by $15,000 or more, and the targeted funding structure means more money goes directly to the services you need rather than being spread across a general budget.

Classification 7 in detail

Classification 7 provides $58,148 per year ($14,536 per quarter). After the 10% care management deduction, approximately $13,083 per quarter is available for services.

Worked scenario: Helen

Helen is 86, a full pensioner with advanced Parkinson’s disease. She needs twice-daily personal care (morning shower and evening routine), regular nursing visits for medication management and health monitoring, occupational therapy to maintain safe mobility at home, and weekly respite so her husband can attend his own medical appointments and get a break from caring.

Her provider builds a care plan that covers:

  • Morning and evening personal care (14 visits per week)
  • Nursing twice per week for medication reviews and clinical monitoring
  • Fortnightly OT for mobility and equipment adjustments
  • One full day of in-home respite per week for her husband

Hourly rate guide (Classification 7)

ServiceTypical hourly rateHours per quarter (approx.)
Personal care$55 to $70/hr130 to 160
Nursing$90 to $130/hr15 to 25
Allied health (OT, physio)$100 to $160/hr8 to 15
Domestic assistance$50 to $65/hr20 to 30
Respite (in-home)$55 to $70/hr30 to 50

Actual hours depend on your provider’s pricing and your specific care plan. These estimates assume standard weekday rates. Weekend and public holiday rates are higher.

Classification 8 in detail

Classification 8 provides $78,106 per year ($19,526 per quarter). After the 10% care management deduction, approximately $17,574 per quarter is available for services.

At this level, care is almost equivalent to what residential aged care provides, but delivered in your own home.

Worked scenario: Tom

Tom is 91, self-funded, with complex needs following a stroke. He needs daily nursing for wound care and medication administration, personal care morning and evening (showering, dressing, continence support), regular allied health input from a physiotherapist and speech pathologist, delivered meals, and weekly cleaning. His family supplements funded hours on weekends.

His provider builds a care plan that covers:

  • Twice-daily personal care (morning and evening, 7 days per week)
  • Daily nursing visits for wound management, catheter care, and medication
  • Weekly physiotherapy for mobility maintenance
  • Fortnightly speech pathology for swallowing management
  • Meal delivery 5 days per week
  • Weekly domestic assistance (3 hours)
  • Continence products and supplies

Hourly rate guide (Classification 8)

ServiceTypical hourly rateHours per quarter (approx.)
Personal care$55 to $70/hr170 to 220
Nursing$90 to $130/hr25 to 40
Allied health (physio, speech)$100 to $160/hr10 to 20
Domestic assistance$50 to $65/hr25 to 35
Meals (delivered)$12 to $18/meal60 to 65 meals

Classification 8 is designed as an alternative to residential aged care for people who want to remain at home. Even with this level of funding, many families contribute additional private hours or informal care to fill gaps, particularly on weekends and overnight.

How levels 7-8 compare to the old Level 4 Home Care Package

The shift from Level 4 HCP to Support at Home classifications 7 and 8 represents a significant change in how high-level home care works in Australia. Understanding the differences helps you know what to expect.

FeatureOld Level 4 HCPSupport at Home Level 7Support at Home Level 8
Annual funding$62,589 (flat)$50,000 to $65,000$65,000 to $78,000+
Funding structureSingle budgetThree targeted streamsThree targeted streams
Provider fees15% to 35% of budgetPrice caps deferred; no entry/exit feesPrice caps deferred; no entry/exit fees
Equipment/modificationsFrom package budgetDedicated independence streamDedicated independence stream
Clinical servicesFrom package budgetDedicated clinical streamDedicated clinical stream
Waiting period9 to 18 months typicalAssessed and allocatedAssessed and allocated
Self-managementAvailableAvailableAvailable

Key differences explained

More funding available. The old Level 4 had a hard ceiling of $62,589. Level 8 can provide $78,000 or more per year for people with the most complex needs. This additional funding reflects the real cost of keeping someone with high-level needs safely at home.

Targeted funding streams. Under the old system, everything came from one budget. If you needed expensive equipment or home modifications, that money came directly out of your care hours. Under the new system, independence funding (equipment, modifications, allied health) sits in its own stream, so spending on a wheelchair ramp does not reduce your personal care hours.

Regulated pricing. The old system allowed providers to set their own fee percentages, anywhere from 15% to 35% or more. Providers charging 35% on a Level 4 package were taking over $21,000 per year in fees alone. The Support at Home program was due to introduce price caps to address this from 1 July 2026, but those caps were deferred in May 2026 with no confirmed new date. Bans on separate entry and exit fees still apply, and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission can order refunds for overcharging.

Assessment-based allocation. The old system assigned you to a level (1 through 4) and that was your budget. The new system assesses your needs across multiple domains and allocates funding accordingly. This means your funding is more closely matched to what you actually need.

For a detailed comparison of all changes, see our complete Support at Home guide.

What services do levels 7 and 8 cover?

At these classification levels, the range of available services is comprehensive. The goal is to replicate, as closely as possible, the level of support you would receive in a residential aged care facility, but delivered in your own home. Across inquiries on Carevo, the most-requested supports are personal care, domestic assistance and transport, all of which feature heavily in Level 7 and 8 care plans.

Nursing and clinical care

People at levels 7 and 8 typically need regular nursing care. This can include:

  • Wound management for complex wounds, pressure injuries, surgical wounds, and skin tears
  • Medication management including complex medication regimes, insulin administration, and medication reviews
  • Catheter and stoma care with regular monitoring and supplies
  • Chronic disease management for conditions such as heart failure, COPD, diabetes, renal disease, and Parkinson’s disease
  • Palliative care support for people managing terminal illness at home
  • Pain management including assessment, medication adjustment, and non-pharmacological strategies
  • Post-hospital care including rehabilitation support after surgery or acute illness
  • Clinical monitoring including vital signs, blood glucose, weight, and other health indicators

Nursing visits at these levels may occur daily or multiple times per week, depending on your clinical needs.

Personal care

High-level personal care is often the foundation of a Level 7 or 8 care plan. Services include:

  • Showering, bathing, and sponge bathing assistance
  • Dressing and undressing support
  • Toileting assistance and continence management
  • Skin care and pressure area management
  • Oral hygiene and dental care support
  • Hair care and grooming
  • Assistance with eating and drinking
  • Mobility and transfer assistance (bed to chair, chair to standing)
  • Overnight support for repositioning and toileting

At Level 8, personal care may be required multiple times per day and may extend to overnight support.

Allied health services

Allied health professionals play a critical role at these classification levels:

  • Physiotherapy for mobility maintenance, falls prevention, strength programs, and pain management
  • Occupational therapy for home modification assessments, equipment prescription, daily living strategies, and cognitive support
  • Speech pathology for swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), communication support, and cognitive-communication strategies
  • Dietetics for nutritional assessment, modified diets, weight management, and feeding support
  • Podiatry for foot care, diabetes-related foot management, and mobility support
  • Social work for emotional support, family mediation, advance care planning, and service coordination
  • Psychology for mental health support, adjustment to illness, anxiety, and depression management

Domestic support

Even at high care levels, practical household support remains important:

  • Cleaning and household maintenance
  • Laundry and ironing
  • Meal preparation (including modified texture diets)
  • Shopping and errands
  • Garden maintenance
  • Minor home repairs

24/7 support options

For people with the most complex needs, Level 8 funding can support near-constant or 24/7 care arrangements:

  • Live-in care, where a support worker stays in your home and provides assistance throughout the day and overnight
  • Rotating shift care, where multiple workers cover different shifts to provide around-the-clock support
  • Overnight monitoring, where a worker stays overnight for people who need help with repositioning, toileting, or who are at risk of falls
  • Emergency call systems and personal alarms that connect to 24-hour response services

True 24/7 care is expensive, and even Level 8 funding may not fully cover three shifts of daily support. Many families combine funded care hours with family support or supplement with private funding. Your care coordinator can help design a sustainable arrangement.

Equipment and home modifications

One of the most significant improvements under the Support at Home program is dedicated funding for equipment and home modifications through the independence stream. Under the old system, buying a wheelchair or installing grab rails meant taking money away from your care hours.

Common equipment at levels 7-8

  • Hospital-style beds with adjustable positioning
  • Pressure care mattresses and cushions
  • Hoists and lifting equipment (ceiling hoists, mobile hoists, standing hoists)
  • Wheelchairs (manual and powered)
  • Shower chairs, commodes, and bathroom aids
  • Walking frames, rollators, and mobility aids
  • Continence aids and supplies
  • Communication devices
  • Personal alarm systems

Home modifications

For people with high-level needs, home modifications can make the difference between staying at home and moving into residential care:

  • Bathroom modifications (walk-in showers, grab rails, raised toilets)
  • Ramp installation for wheelchair access
  • Doorway widening for wheelchair and walker access
  • Kitchen modifications (lowered benchtops, accessible storage)
  • Bedroom modifications (space for equipment, emergency egress)
  • Stairlift or platform lift installation
  • Improved lighting and contrast for vision impairment
  • Flooring changes to reduce fall risk

An occupational therapist will assess your home and recommend modifications based on your specific needs and goals.

Who qualifies for levels 7 and 8?

Classification at Level 7 or 8 is based on an assessment of your care needs across multiple domains. The assessment is conducted through My Aged Care and determines where your needs sit on the classification scale.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for Support at Home, you must meet these basic criteria:

  • Age: 65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)
  • Residency: Australian citizen or permanent resident, living in Australia
  • Need: Requiring support to remain living independently at home

What assessors look at

The assessment process evaluates your needs across several areas:

Physical health and mobility

  • Can you move safely around your home?
  • Do you need assistance with transfers (bed, chair, toilet)?
  • Are you at risk of falls?
  • Do you have conditions requiring clinical management?

Personal care needs

  • How much help do you need with showering, dressing, and toileting?
  • Can you manage continence independently?
  • Do you need assistance with eating and drinking?

Cognitive function

  • Do you have dementia or cognitive impairment?
  • Can you make decisions about your daily care?
  • Do you need supervision for safety?

Clinical complexity

  • Do you have multiple chronic conditions?
  • Do you require regular nursing interventions?
  • Is your medication regime complex?
  • Do you have wounds or clinical needs requiring professional management?

Social and emotional wellbeing

  • Are you socially isolated?
  • Do you have mental health concerns?
  • Is your carer experiencing burnout?

Home environment

  • Is your home safe and accessible?
  • Are modifications needed?
  • Can services be delivered effectively in your current home?

The IAT assessment and what to expect

The Support at Home program uses the Independent Assessment Tool (IAT) to determine classification levels. This algorithmic tool has attracted significant criticism since its introduction, with aged care workers and advocacy groups raising concerns about its accuracy.

If you are preparing for an assessment:

  • Document everything. Write down your daily care needs with specific examples. How many times do you need help overnight? How long does your wound care take? What tasks can you not do safely without assistance?
  • Bring supporting evidence. Letters from your GP, specialist reports, hospital discharge summaries, and medication lists all help paint a complete picture.
  • Have someone with you. A family member or carer who sees your daily challenges can provide information you might forget or understate.
  • Describe your worst days, not your best. Many people minimise their difficulties during assessments. Be honest about the full extent of your needs.
  • Request a review if the result is wrong. If your classification does not reflect your actual care needs, you have the right to request a formal review. Over 400 review requests were lodged in the first few months of the program.

Staying at home versus moving into residential care

For many families, the question at the heart of a Level 7 or 8 classification is: can we actually make this work at home?

The honest answer is that it depends on several factors.

When staying at home works well

Home care at levels 7 and 8 tends to work well when:

  • The home environment is suitable or can be modified to be safe and accessible
  • Family or informal support is available to fill gaps between funded care hours
  • The person wants to stay home and is motivated to make it work
  • Care needs are predictable, even if they are high. Routine nursing, regular personal care, and scheduled support can be managed effectively at home
  • A good provider is in place with experienced staff and reliable service delivery
  • Clinical needs can be managed safely without 24-hour medical supervision

When residential care may be more appropriate

There are situations where residential aged care may be the safer or more practical option:

  • Unpredictable clinical episodes requiring immediate medical response (frequent falls with injury, seizures, acute confusion)
  • Behavioural symptoms of dementia that put the person or others at risk and require secure environments
  • Carer exhaustion where the family cannot sustain the level of support required alongside funded hours
  • Extreme social isolation where the person is alone for extended periods between care visits
  • The home is unsafe and cannot be adequately modified (steep stairs, inaccessible bathroom, structural issues)

The cost comparison

Understanding the financial picture helps with decision-making. For a detailed breakdown of residential aged care costs, see our guide on how much a nursing home costs in Australia.

FactorSupport at Home Level 8Residential aged care
Government funding$65,000 to $78,000+/yearVaries by facility
Basic daily feeApproximately $13.75/dayApproximately $66.80/day
Means-tested feeIncome-dependentIncome and asset-dependent
AccommodationYou stay in your own homeRoom cost (RAD/DAP) of $300,000 to $700,000+
Additional servicesPrivate top-up possibleExtra service fees apply

For many people, staying at home with Level 8 funding is significantly less expensive than residential care, particularly when you factor in the accommodation costs (Refundable Accommodation Deposit or Daily Accommodation Payment) charged by aged care facilities.

Managing complex care at home: practical guidance

Living at home with high-level care needs requires organisation, communication, and realistic planning. Here are practical strategies that families and care recipients find helpful.

Building your care team

At levels 7 and 8, you will likely have multiple professionals involved in your care:

  • Care coordinator or case manager who oversees your care plan and funding
  • Registered nurses providing clinical care
  • Personal care workers assisting with daily activities
  • Allied health professionals (physio, OT, speech, dietitian)
  • GP and specialists managing your medical conditions

Good communication between these people is essential. Make sure your care coordinator knows about hospital visits, medication changes, and new diagnoses. Keep a folder at home with your current care plan, medication list, and emergency contacts so that any worker entering your home has access to up-to-date information.

Dealing with worker changes

One of the biggest challenges in home care is staff turnover and roster changes. Unlike a nursing home where staff are always on-site, home care relies on individual workers arriving at scheduled times. When a regular worker is sick or leaves, a replacement may not know your routines or preferences.

Strategies that help:

  • Keep written instructions for your daily routine (how you like your shower set up, your meal preferences, your mobility routine)
  • Build relationships with multiple workers rather than depending on one person
  • Communicate concerns about new workers to your provider promptly
  • Ask your provider about their backup and contingency arrangements

Emergency planning

At levels 7 and 8, having an emergency plan is not optional. Work with your care team to establish:

  • Who to call for medical emergencies, care emergencies, and after-hours concerns
  • Advance care directives documenting your wishes for medical treatment
  • Backup care arrangements if your regular workers cannot attend
  • Hospital bag packed and ready with medication list, health summary, and personal items
  • Personal alarm connected to a 24-hour response service

Managing medications

Complex medication regimes are common at these classification levels. Medication errors are one of the most frequent problems in home care. To reduce risk:

  • Use a Webster pack or dose administration aid prepared by your pharmacy
  • Keep an up-to-date medication list and share it with every health professional involved in your care
  • Report side effects or concerns to your GP and nurse promptly
  • Store medications safely and check expiry dates regularly

Support for family carers

If you are caring for someone at levels 7 and 8, you are likely providing a significant amount of unpaid support alongside funded services. The demands of high-level caring can be physically exhausting and emotionally draining.

Respite care options

Respite gives carers a break while ensuring the person they care for continues to receive support:

  • In-home respite, where a worker comes to your home so you can leave for a few hours or a full day
  • Day respite programs, where the person attends a centre-based program while you take time for yourself
  • Overnight respite, where a worker stays overnight so you can sleep without interruption
  • Residential respite, where the person stays in an aged care facility for up to 63 days per year

Respite can be funded through the Support at Home allocation or through the Commonwealth Carer Gateway program.

Carer support services

Beyond respite, carers can access:

  • Carer Gateway (1800 422 737) for counselling, peer support, and practical assistance
  • Carer Allowance and Carer Payment through Services Australia for eligible carers
  • Support groups connecting you with other people in similar situations
  • Training and education to build confidence in providing care (manual handling, first aid, dementia care)

Knowing your limits

There is no shame in recognising that home care, even at Level 8 with strong provider support, is not sustainable for every situation. If you are consistently exhausted, your own health is suffering, or you feel unsafe, talk to your care coordinator about adjusting the care plan or exploring other options.

The best outcomes happen when the whole care arrangement, including the carer’s wellbeing, is taken into account.

Tips for getting the most from levels 7 and 8 funding

1. Choose your provider carefully

At high funding levels, provider quality and reliability matter enormously. Look for providers with experience in complex care, low staff turnover, and transparent pricing. Ask about their clinical governance, their backup arrangements when workers are unavailable, and how they handle after-hours issues. Families using Carevo can compare 2,131 aged care providers to shortlist those experienced in high-level home care.

2. Understand your funding breakdown

Know how much funding you have in each stream (independence, everyday living, clinical) and what you are spending. Ask your provider for regular statements showing how your funding is being used.

3. Use your independence funding strategically

Equipment and modifications funded through the independence stream can significantly improve your quality of life and reduce the amount of personal care you need. A ceiling hoist, for example, makes transfers safer and faster. A walk-in shower may mean you need less support with bathing. Investing in the right equipment early can make your everyday living funding go further.

4. Review your care plan regularly

Your needs will change over time. A care plan that worked six months ago may not reflect your current situation. Ask for formal reviews at least every three months, and contact your care coordinator whenever your circumstances change significantly.

5. Keep records

Document your care, your spending, and any issues that arise. If you need to request a review of your classification or lodge a complaint, having written records makes the process much easier.

6. Know your rights

You have the right to:

  • Choose and change your provider
  • Be involved in decisions about your care
  • Receive services that meet quality standards
  • Complain without fear of losing your services
  • Access advocacy support through the Older Persons Advocacy Network (1800 700 600)

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Level 7 and Level 8?

Level 7 is for people with high-level care needs requiring regular clinical support and significant daily assistance. Level 8 is for the most complex cases, where needs are intensive, often requiring near-constant support. The main difference is the severity and complexity of care needs, which translates to higher funding at Level 8.

Can I top up my funding with private money?

Yes. If your Level 7 or 8 funding does not fully cover the care you need, you can supplement with private funding. Many families use a combination of government-funded services and privately purchased additional hours.

What happens if my needs increase beyond Level 8?

If your care needs exceed what can be safely and effectively managed at home, even with Level 8 funding, residential aged care may become the more appropriate option. Your care coordinator and health professionals can help you make this decision when the time comes.

Can I change providers at levels 7-8?

Yes. You can change providers at any time. Your classification and funding stay with you, not with the provider. If you are unhappy with your current provider’s service quality, reliability, or communication, you have the right to move.

How long does Level 7 or 8 last?

Your classification continues as long as your assessed needs support it. Regular reassessments ensure your funding matches your current situation. If your needs decrease (for example, after successful rehabilitation), your classification may be adjusted. If your needs increase, your classification can be reviewed upward.

What fees do I pay at levels 7-8?

You will pay a basic daily fee (approximately $13.75 per day) and potentially a means-tested care fee based on your income. The basic daily fee applies to everyone. The means-tested fee depends on your financial situation and is capped at annual and lifetime limits.

Next steps

If you or a family member has high-level care needs and you want to explore whether levels 7 or 8 are the right fit, start with these steps:

  1. Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to begin the assessment process
  2. Gather documentation of care needs, medical conditions, and current support arrangements
  3. Talk to your GP about providing a referral and supporting information
  4. Research providers in your area who have experience with complex, high-level care

Carevo connects older Australians and their families with experienced aged care providers across Australia. If you need help finding a provider who specialises in high-level home care, or if you want guidance navigating the Support at Home system, call us on 1800 953 253.

For more information about aged care options and funding, explore our aged care resource hub or read our complete Support at Home guide.

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