Support at Home Classifications 1–8 Explained (2026 Budgets)
By FindMyHelp Editorial Team · Reviewed against official sources on
If your parent has been approved for Support at Home, their letter will mention a classification: a number from 1 to 8. That number sets their funding. This guide explains what each classification is worth, how it's decided, and how the budget actually works day to day.
Try it: see what your classification budget covers with our free Support at Home fee estimator.
What is Support at Home?
Support at Home started in November 2025. It replaced the Home Care Packages Program and the Short-term Restorative Care Programme (My Aged Care – Support at Home). It helps older people stay at home with:
- clinical supports, such as nursing, occupational therapy, podiatry, and help with showering or dressing
- independence supports, such as transport, respite and social support
- everyday living supports, such as cleaning, gardening, shopping and meal preparation.
What is a Support at Home classification?
If you're approved for ongoing Support at Home services, you're assigned one of 8 classifications. Each comes with funding, including funding for care management (My Aged Care).
Your classification depends on your care needs and is decided by an aged care assessor during your assessment (My Aged Care – costs and contributions). Higher classifications are for people with higher or more complex needs.
Classification budgets 1–8 (from 1 October 2026)
| Classification | Quarterly budget | Annual amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,757.89 | $11,031.56 |
| 2 | $4,120.89 | $16,483.55 |
| 3 | $5,645.23 | $22,580.93 |
| 4 | $7,632.04 | $30,528.15 |
| 5 | $10,202.32 | $40,809.27 |
| 6 | $12,365.48 | $49,461.91 |
| 7 | $14,944.20 | $59,776.80 |
| 8 | $20,073.50 | $80,294.00 |
Source: My Aged Care – Support at Home costs and contributions. Amounts are current as of 1 October 2026, when they rose to reflect the nurses' award increase. They're indexed on 1 July each year.
Your classification didn't change because of the October increase. Only the dollar amount went up (My Aged Care news).
Moved from a Home Care Package?
If you were assessed as eligible for a Home Care Package on or before 31 October 2025, you keep an equivalent transitioned classification (My Aged Care):
| Transitioned classification | Quarterly budget | Annual amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,823.55 | $11,294.22 |
| 2 | $4,965.14 | $19,860.56 |
| 3 | $10,808.30 | $43,233.21 |
| 4 | $16,385.99 | $65,543.98 |
When we checked, the official table showed the level 4 quarterly and annual amounts in each other's columns. $16,385.99 is the quarterly figure.
If you're reassessed, you'll move to one of the 8 ongoing classifications.
How the budget works
Quarterly budgets
Your budget is allocated each quarter (3 months). Your provider sets prices for each service, and those charges come out of your quarterly budget (My Aged Care).
10% goes to care management
For ongoing services, 10% of your quarterly budget goes to your provider for care management. That includes developing and reviewing your care plan and helping manage your services. Providers can get a supplement for extra care management if you have specific needs.
Example: On classification 4 ($7,632.04 a quarter), about $763 goes to care management, leaving about $6,869 for services.
Carrying over unspent funds
Unspent funds can be carried into the next quarter, up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget.
Monthly statements
Your provider must give you a monthly statement so you can keep track.
Contributions
You may pay a contribution towards some services, depending on the type of service and your income and assets. Clinical supports have a 0% contribution. From 1 October 2026, personal care is fully government-funded if it's in your support plan and you have enough funds in your budget (My Aged Care). See our guide Support at Home Fees and Contributions.
Waiting for your classification funding
Being approved doesn't always mean funding starts straight away. Funding for ongoing services is allocated through the Support at Home Priority System, based on your priority category and your approval date (My Aged Care – Assessment outcome).
| Priority | Estimated wait (as at 30 June 2026) |
|---|---|
| Urgent | Within 1 month |
| High | 1 month |
| Medium | 5 to 6 months |
| Standard | 7 to 8 months |
Interim funding: If waits are longer than expected, you may get interim funding, which is 60% of your approved funding. The rest follows when it's available.
Once funding arrives: You have 56 days from the date on your letter to sign a service agreement and start services, with a possible 28-day extension. If you don't, the funding is withdrawn and given to the next person (My Aged Care).
Short-term pathways (separate from classifications 1–8)
Support at Home also has short-term funding, separate from your ongoing classification (My Aged Care):
- Restorative Care Pathway: up to 2 units of $6,179.40 over 12 months, for intensive allied health or nursing to regain function. Each episode is usually 16 weeks.
- End-of-Life Pathway: $25,736.57 over 12 weeks, usable over up to 16 weeks, for people with 3 months or less to live.
- Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme: assistive technology tiers of $513 (low), $2,052 (medium) and $15,390 (high), plus home modifications up to $15,390. These usually run over 12 months.
The Restorative Care and End-of-Life pathways have no waitlist once approved.
What if the classification seems wrong?
- You can raise concerns about your outcome, including your classification or priority. Your letter explains how to ask for a review (My Aged Care). See our guide How to Apply for an Aged Care Assessment for the review steps.
- If your needs change, ask for a reassessment. You and your provider can also change the mix of services at any time (My Aged Care).
Frequently asked questions
What are the Support at Home classification levels?
There are 8 ongoing classifications, from $2,757.89 a quarter (classification 1) to $20,073.50 a quarter (classification 8), as at 1 October 2026.
Who decides my classification?
An aged care assessor, based on your assessed care needs.
What is the highest Support at Home classification?
Classification 8: $20,073.50 a quarter, or $80,294.00 a year.
Does my whole budget go on services?
No. 10% goes to your provider for care management. The rest pays for services, and you may also pay contributions for some services.
Can I save unspent funds?
You can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget into the next quarter.
What happened to Home Care Package levels 1–4?
People approved on or before 31 October 2025 keep an equivalent transitioned classification. If they're reassessed, they move to one of the 8 new classifications.
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This guide is general information, not financial advice. Always check My Aged Care for your situation.