Support at Home Levels 1 to 8 Explained: A Complete Guide for Families

Support at Home is the Australian Government's in-home aged care program, and it uses eight funding classifications, Levels 1 to 8, to match your care budget to your assessed needs. The higher the level, the higher the quarterly budget and the more complex the care needs it is designed to support.

If you're trying to work out what level a parent or loved one might need, or what to expect after a My Aged Care assessment, this guide breaks it down simply.

What is Support at Home?

Support at Home replaced the old Home Care Packages (HCP) system on 1 November 2025. Where HCP had just four levels, Support at Home introduced eight, giving a more precise match between funding and need. Funding is paid quarterly rather than annually, and it can be used across three broad service types: clinical supports (like nursing and physiotherapy, which are always fully government-funded), independence supports (like personal care and social support), and everyday living supports (like domestic assistance and meal preparation).

Support at Home Levels 1 to 8, at a glance

It's worth noting that every level has access to the same service list. What changes between levels is the size of the budget, not which services you're allowed to use. A Level 2 recipient and a Level 8 recipient can both access nursing, personal care, and domestic assistance; the Level 8 recipient simply has a larger budget to draw on.

How is my level decided?

Your level is determined through an assessment arranged via My Aged Care. You can start this by calling My Aged Care directly or asking your GP for a referral to an assessment. The assessor looks at your daily living needs, health conditions, and living situation to recommend an appropriate classification.

Do the budget amounts change?

Yes. Funding amounts for each classification are indexed on 1 July every year, so the exact quarterly and annual dollar figures shift slightly over time. For current figures, always check the official Schedule of Subsidies and Supplements published by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, or ask your provider to confirm the latest numbers for your level.

What if my needs change?

You can request a reassessment at any time through My Aged Care or your provider if your care needs increase or decrease. This means your classification isn't fixed forever; it's designed to move with you as your circumstances change.

Getting started

Once you have an approved Support at Home package at any level from 1 to 8, InCare Supports can help match services to your funding, including personal care, domestic assistance, social support, and allied health, delivered in your own home.

If you don't yet have a package, the first step is contacting My Aged Care to arrange an assessment. In the meantime, our full range of aged care products and consumables is available to purchase privately, regardless of funding status.