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If you’re an older Australian looking to stay independent at home, the Support at Home program might be right for you. Support at Home provides government-subsidised aged care funding to help you access services that maintain your health, wellbeing and daily life.
In this article, we’ll outline the 5 steps to getting Support at Home Funding:
- Get assessed via the Single Assessment System
- Wait for your funding to be assigned
- Choose a Support at Home provider
- Enter into a service agreement
- Start accessing services with your funding.
Assessing your eligibility for Support at Home funding
Before you begin, it’s best to check your eligibility to be assessed for Support at Home. You may be eligible if:
- You’re aged 65 or over
- You’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person aged 50 or over
- You’re aged 50 or over and homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
If you meet one of these criteria and are finding it harder to manage day-to-day tasks or have had a decline in health, you may qualify for Support at Home funding.
You can check your eligibility for an assessment online by using the Assessment Eligibility Checker, or by calling My Aged Care to talk about your needs on 1800 200 422. If you prefer, a family member or other trusted person can also do this on your behalf.
Step 1: Get assessed via the Single Assessment System
Before you can access government-funded services, you’ll need an aged care assessment. This helps determine the types of support you’re eligible for.
You can apply for an assessment:
- Online at the My Aged Care website
- By calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422
- Through a face-to-face appointment with an Aged Care Specialist Officer (ACSO) at select Services Australia service centres (book on 1800 277 475).
A family member or other trusted person can also apply on your behalf if you authorise them to do so. It’s also possible for a care provider, such as your family GP, to refer you for an assessment.
If your application is successful, you will be called by an assessor from the Single Assessment System to arrange a face-to-face assessment, either in your own home or in hospital if needed.
The information captured during the assessment will inform what services you need. The assessor will work with you to develop an individual support plan, which provides an overview of your situation, along with a summary of your goals, strengths and assessed needs.
Find out more about preparing for an aged care assessment.
Step 2: Wait for your funding to be allocated
After your assessment, you’ll receive a Notice of Decision and, if you’re approved for Support at Home, a personalised support plan. These documents will also be available in your My Aged Care Online Account.
Your support plan will include:
- A summary of your needs and goals
- A funding classification with a quarterly budget
- Any short-term supports you’ve been approved for (such as home modifications, assistive technology, restorative care or end-of-life support).
Once approved, you’ll automatically enter the Support at Home Priority System. This system places people into one of 4 priority groups – urgent, high, medium or standard – based on the outcome of your assessment.
You won’t be able to access government-funded services until your funding is allocated. The amount of time this takes depends on your priority group.
Step 3: Choose a Support at Home provider
You’ll need a registered Support at Home provider to oversee your funding and quarterly budget, plus coordinate services according to your support plan.
All providers are required to charge a care management fee capped at 10%. However, their service prices and other benefits can vary, so it’s worth comparing. Your SAS assessor can help you find a provider. If you want to find your own home care provider, you can:
- Use the My Aged Care Find a Provider tool
- Call the My Aged Care Contact Centre on 1800 200 422
- Speak with an Aged Care Specialist Officer (ACSO) at Services Australia.
Aged care provider HomeMade, which is part of the same group as Mable, offers a self-managed option. Self-management lets you take the lead – choosing your own support workers, setting the schedule, and deciding how your care is delivered.
Find out more about using Mable if you are self-managed.
Step 4: Enter into a service agreement
When your funding becomes available, you can enter into a service agreement with your chosen provider. The agreement outlines the services you’ll receive, who provides them, how often, and the cost.
You’ll also work with your provider to finalise your support plan, which is based on your care needs and goals. It might also cover who will provide the services, when they will be delivered and how often.
If you’re self-managing with a registered provider who allows you to use Mable, this is when you can start choosing your own support workers who suit your lifestyle, personality and goals.
Step 5: Start accessing services with your funding
Once your agreement, care plan and budget are in place, you can begin using your services. Your funding officially begins on the date you sign your service agreement.
Support at Home funding covers a broad range of services based on your support plan. These are grouped into 3 categories:
- Clinical care: Such as nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and continence care.
- Independence: Such as help with hygiene, maintenance, taking medications, transport, social connection, assistive technology and respite care.
- Everyday living: Such as cleaning, gardening, shopping and meal preparation.
If you’re self-managing, your provider may allow you to find independent support workers through Mable. If they can’t, contact the Mable team, and we can talk to you about providers who can.
When your provider allows you to use Mable, it gives you more options for personalising your care. You can decide who delivers your support, when they visit, and what they do. This can help give you greater control over how your funding is used and provides the opportunity to build long-term relationships with support workers you know and trust.
All independent support workers must complete a verification process before they can offer their services on Mable. This includes completing an NDIS Worker Screening Check* and providing their ABN. Your provider can confirm that your chosen worker is suitably qualified and experienced for your needs.
*From 12 September 2025 the NDIS Worker Screening Check replaces the Police Check – any new support workers or current workers who have expired Police Checks must complete the NDIS Worker Screening Check.
Frequently asked questions
Is there any extra support available to help me access services?
Yes. If you need help understanding or accessing aged care, there are services available to support you:
- The Elder Support Program helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people access and understand aged care services in their community. This includes those living in urban, regional or remote parts of Australia.
- The care finder program is designed for older people who may not have family or community support and need extra help. Care finders provide intensive one-on-one support to help you access the services.
What happens if I'm currently waiting for a Home Care Package assessment?
If you've already applied and are waiting for a Home Care Package assessment, you don't need to do anything else. Your application will continue as planned. An assessment organisation will contact you within 2 weeks of accepting your referral to arrange a visit.
If your assessment has already been booked, it should go ahead as planned at the scheduled time and date.
You can read more about the Single Assessment System in the government fact sheet, or in our Topic Library.
Will there be any changes to the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) under Support at Home?
Not yet. If you currently receive services through CHSP, these will continue for the time being. CHSP participants will begin transitioning to the Support at Home program from 1 July 2027 at the earliest.
When this change occurs, it is expected that participants may be able to choose more than one registered provider to deliver their services.
This article, and any of our linked documents or articles, provides our summary of Support at Home terms and is intended for general purposes only. Please contact My Aged Care for information specific to your circumstances.