Home Care Package vs NDIS: What's the Difference?
Home Care Package vs NDIS: how the aged-care and disability systems differ, why age 65 is the dividing line, and which one you're eligible for in 2026.
If you're trying to work out whether disability support should come through the NDIS or through aged care, the difference usually comes down to one thing: your age when your support needs began. This guide explains how Home Care Packages and the NDIS differ, why 65 is the dividing line, and which system is likely to be yours.
Two different systems
What a Home Care Package was (and Support at Home now)
What the NDIS is
Why age 65 is the dividing line
Home Care Package vs NDIS at a glance
Can you be on both?
What happens if you're already on the NDIS at 65
Working out which one is yours
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a Home Care Package and the NDIS?
A Home Care Package (now delivered through the Support at Home program) is aged-care funding for older people to get help at home. The NDIS funds people with a permanent, significant disability who entered before 65. Both can pay for similar support, but they're separate systems for different…
Can I have both a Home Care Package and NDIS funding?
Generally no. The two systems are designed not to overlap, so you use one or the other for the same needs. If you might be eligible for the NDIS, check before you turn 65 — that's the last point at which you can enter the scheme.
What happens to my NDIS plan when I turn 65?
You don't lose it. If you're already an NDIS participant at 65, you can choose to stay on the NDIS or move to aged care. Many people stay because their plan is built around their disability. The age-65 rule is about entering the scheme, not staying.
I'm over 65 and have a disability — which system?
If your need for support first arose at 65 or older, your path is aged care through My Aged Care and the Support at Home program, not the NDIS. The NDIS can only be entered before 65. See our NDIS vs aged care guide for more detail.
Related guides
- In-Home Support vs Centre-Based: Which Suits You?
- NDIS vs Aged Care: Which One Are You Eligible For?
- NDIS vs CHSP: Which Support Program Should You Use?
- NDIS vs Insurance Schemes (iCare, TAC, Lifetime Support): Who Covers What?
- NDIS vs Medicare for Therapy: What's Covered by Which?
- NDIS vs Private Health Insurance: What Each One Pays For