Home Care Packages: The Complete 2026 Guide
Home Care Packages guide for 2026: how the four levels worked, why they became Support at Home, and what it means for existing recipients now.
What Home Care Packages were
The four package levels
What packages paid for
How fees worked
Why the change happened
What it means if you were a recipient
Where you go now
Frequently asked questions
Can I still get a Home Care Package in 2026?
No. Home Care Packages closed to new entrants on 1 November 2025 and became Support at Home. New applicants now go through My Aged Care for a Support at Home classification. Existing package recipients transitioned automatically to the new program.
What were the four Home Care Package levels?
Levels 1 to 4 ranged from basic care needs to high-level care, with funding rising at each level. An aged-care assessment set your level. Support at Home replaced the four levels with eight classifications for a closer match to individual needs.
What happened to my package when Support at Home started?
You transitioned automatically without reapplying. Your care continued, your unspent funds were protected in a separate balance, and the 'no worse off' principle means grandfathered recipients do not pay more towards care than they did under packages.
What did a Home Care Package cover?
It funded services tied to your assessed needs — personal care, nursing and allied health, domestic help, transport and social support. It could not be used for everyday bills, groceries, holidays, or care already covered by Medicare and the health system.