Home Care Package Levels 1-4 Explained
Home care package levels 1-4 explained: what each level meant, how funding scaled, and how the four levels became eight Support at Home classifications.
What the four levels were
How the funding scaled
How you were matched to a level
What a package covered
How four levels became eight classifications
Why you still hear about levels
What this means for you today
Frequently asked questions
What were the four home care package levels?
Level 1 covered basic care needs with a small budget, Level 2 low-level needs, Level 3 intermediate needs, and Level 4 high-level, complex needs with the largest budget. Funding rose steadily from Level 1 to Level 4, matched to assessed need at your aged care assessment.
Do home care package levels still exist?
Not for new entrants. On 1 November 2025 Home Care Packages became Support at Home, and the four levels were replaced by eight classifications. You will still hear the old level language in older paperwork, but the system now uses classifications matched more precisely to need.
What happened to my package when levels changed?
Existing recipients were moved to Support at Home automatically on an equivalent budget, with no need to reapply or be reassessed. The no worse off principle protected contributions, so they stayed the same or lower. Unspent funds were carried across.
Why are there now eight levels instead of four?
Four broad levels often left people stuck between two that did not quite fit their needs. Eight classifications create more steps, so funding can be matched more precisely to a person's situation and the old mismatch between approved and assigned levels is reduced.