Support at Home legislation to be passed as law, what it means for people with Home Care Packages and those applying for aged care in the future
Breaking news
Minister for Aged Care, the Hon Anika Wells MP announced today the new Aged Care Act legislation will soon be introduced to Parliament with bipartisan support. The reforms were developed in response to the recommendations of the Aged Care Royal Commission. Following the Royal Commission, the Minister led an Aged Care Taskforce which brought together older Australians, experts and residential aged care providers to review the funding model.
A key recommendation of the taskforce report was that Australians should make a reasonable, means-tested contribution to the cost of their care. How much you contribute will be assessed based on the Age Pension means test and your personal circumstances, from the level of support you need, to your combination of income and assets.
The Support at Home program funding will be available for the care needs proven to help people live safely at home and avoid hospitalisations. You may be required to make a greater contribution towards the types of services you may already pay for privately, such as cleaning or gardening.
The Support at Home model is designed to produce the following benefits:
- Support for 300,000 more people over the next 10 years.
- Shorter average wait times from assessment to receiving support. The target by 1 July 2027 is an average 3 month wait period.
- More tailored support, with 10 classifications of care funding levels.
- Support for home modifications, with up to $15,000 to make homes safer.
- Fast access to assistive technology, like walkers and wheelchairs, and a new equipment loan scheme.
When you access aged care now
New applicants for aged care will be assessed into one of 10 new funding classifications. Eight of those classifications are for ongoing care needs, two classifications are for the short-term care needs when someone is recovering from hospitalisation or receiving end-of-life care.
The Support at Home funding will provide support for:
- Clinical care (e.g. nursing care, occupational therapy)
- Independence (e.g. help with showering, getting dressed or taking medications)
- Everyday living (e.g. cleaning, gardening, shopping or meal preparation)
The Government will pay 100% of clinical care costs for all. Individuals may be required to make contributions towards services in the categories of independence and everyday living costs.
Contribution rates will be set as a percentage of the price of each service. If you are required to contribute, the amount is a set percentage of the service rate, and the government will pay the remainder as a subsidy to the provider.
A lifetime contribution cap will apply across the aged care system and means no one will contribute more than $130,000 to their care costs – regardless of their financial means or duration of care.
Existing Home Care Package recipients
When people who currently have Home Care Packages transition to Support at Home, from 1 July 2025, they will maintain the same level of funding and retain any unspent funds.
A no worse off principle will apply to people who, on 12 September 2024, were either:
- receiving a Home Care Package (HCP),
- in the National Priority System,
- assessed as eligible for a HCP.
The no worse off principle will ensure you make the same contributions, or lower, than you would have had under the previous Home Care funding system.
Out of Hospital care
People receiving Support at Home will also have expanded access to restorative support to get back on their feet after an illness or injury. This funding will enable individuals to receive care through a 12 week program of support from a team of allied health and other professionals.
End of life funding to stay supported at home
The Support at Home program includes the option to access $25,000 to fund additional support for end-of-life care. With this support, an individual can choose to spend their final months at home, surrounded by loved ones in a familiar and comforting environment, and not inhibited by visiting hours and hospital rounds.
Commonwealth Home Support Program
Older people receiving CHSP services are not expected to transition to Support at Home until July 2027.
There is more detailed information to come, which we will be sharing, and we are available to answer any questions our clients have as we learn more.
Your Side has long been preparing for these changes, including participating in consultations on the Draft Aged Care legislation. We welcome a rights based aged care act for all older people because we believe that every life should be good one.
