Home Care Package Levels 1 to 4: What Each Level Pays Now and How It Moved to Support at Home

By FindMyHelp Editorial Team · Reviewed against official sources on 2 November 2026

If Mum or Dad was approved for a "level 3 package" a while back, you might be wondering what that means now. Home Care Packages officially ended on 1 November 2025, when the Support at Home program took over. But the levels didn't disappear overnight. If your family member was already approved for a level, they kept an equivalent amount of funding under the new program.

This guide explains what each Home Care Package level is worth today, what changed in the move to Support at Home, and the practical steps to take next.

Quick answer: what each level is worth now

People who were approved for a Home Care Package on or before 31 October 2025 now get a transitioned Home Care Package classification. It's the same level number, with a quarterly budget instead of a yearly package (My Aged Care).

Former package level	Care needs it was designed for	Quarterly budget (from 1 Oct 2026)	Annual amount
Level 1	Basic care needs	$2,823.55	$11,294.22
Level 2	Low care needs	$4,965.14	$19,860.56
Level 3	Intermediate care needs	$10,808.30	$43,233.21
Level 4	High care needs	$16,385.99	$65,543.98

Budgets: My Aged Care - Support at Home costs and contributions, current as of 1 October 2026, when they rose to reflect the nurses' award increase. They're indexed on 1 July each year. Care-needs labels: My Aged Care's former Home Care Packages page.

So, how much is a level 4 home care package? As a transitioned classification, it's $16,385.99 a quarter, or $65,543.98 a year, as of 1 October 2026. That includes funding for care management.

Level 4 home care package: how much it is worth now

A level 4 home care package is now a transitioned Home Care Package classification worth $16,385.99 a quarter, or about $65,544 a year, as at 1 October 2026, including care management (My Aged Care). This level now applies to people who moved across from a Home Care Package; new approvals get a Support at Home classification instead.

Who is eligible for a home care package now?

Since 1 November 2025, people who are newly assessed get one of 8 Support at Home ongoing classifications instead of a Home Care Package level. People who already had a Home Care Package, or were approved for one on or before 31 October 2025, moved to an equivalent "Transitioned HCP" level 1 to 4 with the same funding, and they keep their unspent funds. If someone on a transitioned level is reassessed to a higher level, they move to a Support at Home classification (My Aged Care).

To be assessed for the first time, start with an ACAT assessment through My Aged Care.

What the levels used to pay

Before the change, Home Care Packages came in 4 levels, "from basic support needs through to high care needs". My Aged Care listed these yearly amounts in mid-2025 (archived My Aged Care Home Care Packages page, July 2025):

Level 1: basic care needs, $10,931.75 a year
Level 2: low care needs, $19,224.55 a year
Level 3: intermediate care needs, $41,847.25 a year
Level 4: high care needs, $63,440.65 a year

These are historical figures. Use the table above for today's amounts.

What changed on 1 November 2025

Support at Home replaced the Home Care Packages Program and the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme on 1 November 2025 (health.gov.au). Here's what that means day to day.

Quarterly budgets instead of an annual package

Funding is now split into 4 quarterly budgets, each covering 3 months. Services Australia releases budgets at the start of each quarter: July, October, January and April (My Aged Care - Managing your Support at Home budget).

10% goes to care management

For ongoing services, 10% of each quarterly budget goes to your provider for care management. That covers things like developing and reviewing the care plan and helping manage services (My Aged Care).

Example: On a transitioned level 3 classification ($10,808.30 a quarter), about $1,081 goes to care management, leaving about $9,727 for services.

A smaller carry-over each quarter

Unspent funds roll into the next quarter automatically, up to $1,000 or 10% of the quarterly budget, whichever is higher (My Aged Care).

Old unspent package funds are kept

If your family member had government unspent Home Care Package funds as of 31 October 2025, those funds came across to Support at Home. They sit in a separate budget and can be used for assistive technology and home modifications, or for approved services if the quarterly budget runs out. They move with you if you change providers, and you don't need to do anything to keep them (My Aged Care).

Contributions replaced the old daily fees

Under Home Care Packages, people could be asked to pay a basic daily fee and an income-tested care fee. Support at Home uses contributions instead: a percentage of the price of each service, based on the type of service and your income and assets. My Aged Care describes this as "a change from the income test and daily fee that was previously used for home care" (My Aged Care).

Clinical supports (like nursing and occupational therapy) have no contribution.
Personal care has been fully government-funded since 1 October 2026, if it's in your support plan (My Aged Care).
Independence and everyday living services attract a contribution. For a full pensioner that's 5% and 17.5% of the service price.

See our guide Support at Home Fees and Contributions for the full table.

The "no worse off" protection

If your family member was receiving, or approved for, a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024, they're protected. If they paid fees before, they'll pay the same or less. If they didn't pay fees, they'll never be asked to pay contributions under Support at Home. Their lifetime cap stays at $88,934.57 (as at 20 September 2026, indexed) (My Aged Care).

Transitioned levels vs the 8 new classifications

Anyone newly assessed for Support at Home gets one of 8 ongoing classifications instead of a level 1 to 4. If someone on a transitioned level is reassessed, they move onto one of these 8 (My Aged Care).

New classification	Quarterly budget (from 1 Oct 2026)
1	$2,757.89
2	$4,120.89
3	$5,645.23
4	$7,632.04
5	$10,202.32
6	$12,365.48
7	$14,944.20
8	$20,073.50

The levels and classifications don't line up one-for-one, so there's no official "level 3 equals classification 5" conversion. If needs have increased, a reassessment may lead to a higher budget. If needs are stable, it's worth weighing up whether to ask for one. You can request a reassessment through My Aged Care if your situation changes (My Aged Care). Our guide Support at Home Classifications 1-8 explains the new budgets in detail.

Still waiting for a package?

If your family member was approved for a package level on or before 31 October 2025 but hadn't been assigned one, they'll get the equivalent transitioned classification when funding becomes available (My Aged Care).

Funding is now released through the Support at Home Priority System, based on priority category and approval date. As at 30 June 2026, My Aged Care's estimated waits were (My Aged Care - Assessment outcome):

Priority	Estimated wait
Urgent	Within 1 month
High	1 month
Medium	5 to 6 months
Standard	7 to 8 months

A few things to know:

Interim funding: if waits run longer than expected, you may get 60% of your approved funding first, with the rest when it's available. The remaining 40% isn't backdated (My Aged Care).
56 days to start: once funding is allocated, you have 56 days from the date on the letter to sign a service agreement and start services. You can ask My Aged Care for a 28-day extension. If you miss it, the funding goes to the next person (My Aged Care).
Referral code: give this to your chosen provider so they can see your support plan and start organising services.

What to do next

Check the letter. It shows the classification and whether it's a transitioned level or a new classification.
Ask the provider for a budget breakdown. You should get a monthly statement, so check it against the quarterly amount above.
Compare price lists. Every Support at Home provider must publish its full price list. Lower prices stretch the same budget further (My Aged Care).
Estimate your contributions with the official Support at Home fee estimator or our Support at Home fee estimator tool.
Think about a reassessment if care needs have changed.

Frequently asked questions

Do Home Care Package levels 1 to 4 still exist?

Not for new approvals. Since 1 November 2025, new approvals use 8 Support at Home classifications. People approved for a package on or before 31 October 2025 keep an equivalent "transitioned" level 1 to 4 classification until they're reassessed.

How much is a level 4 home care package in 2026?

As a transitioned classification, $16,385.99 a quarter, or $65,543.98 a year, as of 1 October 2026.

How much is a level 3 home care package in 2026?

$10,808.30 a quarter, or $43,233.21 a year, as of 1 October 2026.

How much is a level 2 home care package?

$4,965.14 a quarter, or $19,860.56 a year, as of 1 October 2026.

How much is a level 1 home care package?

$2,823.55 a quarter, or $11,294.22 a year, as of 1 October 2026.

Will I lose my unspent Home Care Package funds?

No. Government unspent funds held on 31 October 2025 carried over to Support at Home. You can use them for assistive technology, home modifications, or approved services if your quarterly budget runs out.

Can I keep my old provider?

Yes. Transitioned recipients didn't have to change provider. You can also change providers at any time, and your unspent package funds go with you.

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This guide is general information, not financial advice. Figures are as at 1 October 2026 (checked 2 November 2026) and change regularly. Check My Aged Care (1800 200 422) for your own situation.