Home Care Package Eligibility (Now Support at Home)
Home care package eligibility explained: who qualifies, how it's now assessed under Support at Home, and how to apply through My Aged Care.
The program has changed
The basic eligibility rules
Eligibility is about assessed need
The Single Assessment System
What the assessor looks at
After you're found eligible
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for a Home Care Package now?
Home Care Packages were replaced by Support at Home on 1 November 2025, so you now apply for that. You generally need to be 65 or over (50 or over for First Nations people), need help to live safely at home, and have your needs confirmed through an aged care assessment.
What age do you have to be to get home care funding?
You generally need to be 65 or over, or 50 or over if you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person. Some younger people facing hardship or homelessness may be eligible on special grounds, but the main pathway into aged care is age-based.
How is eligibility assessed?
Through the Single Assessment System, with My Aged Care as the entry point. After some initial questions, a trained assessor meets you, often at home, to understand how you manage daily life. If approved, you receive a Support at Home classification matching your assessed level of need.
Do I have to reapply if I already had a Home Care Package?
No. Existing Home Care Package recipients were automatically transitioned to an equivalent Support at Home classification when the program changed on 1 November 2025. Your funding continued, and a no worse off protection applies to your contributions.