A guide for families

Support at Home classifications and budgets explained

By the Supportd team · Checked against official sources on 26 October 2026

The short answer

Support at Home has 8 ongoing classifications, each with a set quarterly budget, from $2,757.89 a quarter at classification 1 to $20,073.50 at classification 8 (amounts current as of 1 October 2026). The assessment decides your parent’s classification, 10% of each quarterly budget goes to care management, and separate short term funding covers restorative care, end of life care, and equipment and home modifications.

How the classification is decided

You do not choose a classification. It comes out of the aged care assessment: the Integrated Assessment Tool records your parent’s functional capacity, care needs, health and social circumstances, and a clinically trained delegate at the assessment organisation checks the result before it is finalised. Higher classifications carry more funding.

People who moved across from a Home Care Package keep one of 4 transitioned classifications, equivalent to their old package level. If they are reassessed, they move onto one of the 8 ongoing classifications.

The 8 classifications and their budgets

My Aged Care lists these amounts, current as of 1 October 2026. They were increased to reflect an increase to the Nurse Award, they include funding for care management, and they are indexed on 1 July each year.

Classification 1: $2,757.89 a quarter ($11,031.56 a year)
Classification 2: $4,120.89 a quarter ($16,483.55 a year)
Classification 3: $5,645.23 a quarter ($22,580.93 a year)
Classification 4: $7,632.04 a quarter ($30,528.15 a year)
Classification 5: $10,202.32 a quarter ($40,809.27 a year)
Classification 6: $12,365.48 a quarter ($49,461.91 a year)
Classification 7: $14,944.20 a quarter ($59,776.80 a year)
Classification 8: $20,073.50 a quarter ($80,294.00 a year)

The budget is not cash in hand. It is made up of government funding plus your parent’s own contributions, and the provider charges its prices against it.

How a quarterly budget works

The yearly amount is split into 4 budgets of 3 months each. Services Australia releases them at the start of each quarter: July, October, January and April. The first budget runs from the day your parent starts care to the end of that quarter; after that, each budget covers a full quarter.

The provider must give a monthly statement so you can track spending. The account cannot go into the negative: if a provider delivers more than the budget allows, the extra must either be paid by your parent (only if this was agreed in the service agreement) or written off by the provider.

Care management: the 10%

For ongoing services, 10% of each quarterly budget goes to the provider for care management: planning and reviewing care, coordinating workers and services, managing risks and helping your parent and family make decisions. It is done by a staff member called a care partner.

Providers must deliver at least one direct care management activity, such as a call or meeting with your parent or their registered supporter, every month. The 10% is deducted even if your parent chooses to self manage parts of their care.

Unspent money and running short

For ongoing services, unspent funds carry over to the next quarter automatically, up to whichever is higher: $1,000, or 10% of the quarterly budget. Short term pathway funding cannot be carried past the end of its period.

Anyone who had unspent government Home Care Package funds on 31 October 2025 keeps them in a separate budget, which can pay for assistive technology, home modifications or approved services if the quarterly budget runs out.

If your parent needs more than their budget allows, you can ask for a reassessment, which may lead to a higher classification. You can also make a private agreement with the provider to buy extra services, which the government does not fund.

The short term pathways

These are funded separately from the ongoing quarterly budget. The amounts below are what My Aged Care lists for people starting on or after 1 October 2026.

Restorative Care Pathway: intensive allied health and nursing to help regain function, for up to 16 weeks. Funding is $6,179.40 per unit, with a maximum of 2 units over 12 months.
End of Life Pathway: for people with 3 months or less to live who want to stay at home. Funding of $25,736.57 is available over 12 weeks and can be used for up to 16 weeks. The government plans to add a second round of funding for people who live beyond 12 weeks from early 2027.
Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme: assistive technology is funded in tiers of up to $513 (low), $2,052 (medium) and $15,390 (high, with more available for a prescribed need). Home modifications are funded up to $15,390. Funding is generally for 12 months, and complex home modifications can be extended to 24 months with evidence.

Funding for each approved service is allocated separately, so if equipment or home modification funding arrives before ongoing funding, your parent can start with that.

Next steps

Read the full picture in Support at Home explained.
Browse home care providers by suburb, Support at Home funded or private.
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Look up unfamiliar words in the aged care glossary.

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Common questions

How many Support at Home levels are there?

There are 8 ongoing classifications, plus 4 transitioned classifications for people who moved across from a Home Care Package, and 3 short term pathways: restorative care, end of life care, and assistive technology and home modifications.

What is the budget for Support at Home classification 1?

As of 1 October 2026, classification 1 is $2,757.89 a quarter, or $11,031.56 a year. Amounts are indexed on 1 July each year, so check My Aged Care for the current figures.

Can my parent choose a higher classification?

No. The classification comes from the aged care assessment. If their needs increase, you can ask for a reassessment, which may result in a higher classification.

Does unspent Support at Home money roll over?

For ongoing services, yes. Unspent funds carry over to the next quarter, up to the higher of $1,000 or 10% of the quarterly budget.

Does equipment come out of the quarterly budget?

No. The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme has its own funding, separate from the ongoing quarterly budget.

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Sources

General information only, last checked on 26 October 2026. Rules, wait times and amounts change, so check the official sources for the latest. For advice about your own situation, call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.