Support at Home Personal Care Is Now Fully Funded –Â What Older Australians and Families Should Know
From 1 October 2026, approved personal care under Support at Home has no participant contribution when it is included in a person’s support plan and sufficient funding is available. Other services may still attract contributions, and the cost of personal care still draws on the participant’s available Support at Home budget.
For many older Australians, being able to shower, dress and manage everyday personal tasks safely is central to remaining independent at home. Assistance with these activities can also provide considerable reassurance for family members who may be juggling work, caring responsibilities and concerns about a loved one’s wellbeing.
A change to the Australian Government’s Support at Home program took effect on 1 October 2026. Approved personal care services are now fully government funded for eligible participants, removing the participant contribution that previously applied to these services. This is welcome news, but it is important to understand what is covered, how individual care budgets still operate and why some other services continue to attract fees.
What changed on 1 October 2026?
Personal care moved from the Independence contributions category to the Clinical Supports contributions category under Support at Home. The practical result is that eligible participants no longer pay a contribution towards approved personal care services delivered from that date.
The change applies where personal care is included in the person’s approved support plan and sufficient Support at Home funding is available. It does not mean every older Australian automatically receives unlimited free personal care, or that every service delivered at home is now free.
For families, the distinction matters. Removing a participant contribution can make an existing care arrangement more affordable, but access to services is still guided by an assessment of needs, an approved support plan and the funding available in the person’s budget.
What counts as personal care?
Personal care generally means assistance with activities that a person needs to manage their day-to-day wellbeing. Government examples include help with showering, bathing, dressing, eating, personal hygiene, continence support and assistance with the self-administration of medication.
These activities may sound routine, but they can be fundamental to someone’s confidence and safety at home. A person with reduced mobility, for example, may be able to prepare meals and enjoy social activities but need assistance showering safely. Another person may need support dressing after an illness or managing personal hygiene because of a progressive health condition.
The service definitions have not been broadened simply because the contribution category changed. If you are unsure whether a particular activity is classified as personal care, ask your provider to identify the service type in your support plan and explain how it will appear on statements and invoices.
Who is eligible for fully funded personal care?
Two conditions are especially important. First, the person must have been assessed and approved for personal care in their Support at Home support plan. Second, there must be sufficient available funding in their Support at Home budget to pay for the services.
If those conditions are met, there is no participant contribution for the approved personal care services delivered from 1 October 2026. There is no need to undergo a fresh assessment solely because of the contribution change, and existing personal care arrangements can generally continue through the same provider.
If personal care is not currently included in the support plan, or the person’s needs have changed, the family should discuss the situation with the provider and seek guidance about whether a review of the care plan or reassessment is appropriate. The funding change itself does not automatically expand a person’s approved services.
Does this mean all Support at Home services are free?
No. Support at Home groups services into categories, and different contribution arrangements apply. Clinical Supports, which now include personal care, have no participant contribution. Other clinical services include certain nursing and allied health supports.
Independence services and Everyday Living services may still require contributions. Examples of services that can attract contributions include assistance attending appointments, domestic cleaning and gardening. The applicable percentage can depend on the type of service and the participant’s income and assets, subject to transitional protections for some people who were already receiving or approved for Home Care Packages.
This means two people receiving similar hours of assistance may have different out-of-pocket costs if their service mix or financial circumstances differ. It is worth asking your provider for a breakdown by service category rather than assuming a single rate applies across the entire care plan.
How do Support at Home budgets affect the change?
Support at Home participants receive funding based on their assessed needs and classification. The available budget is used to pay for approved services, and providers have their own published service prices.
Even when a personal care service attracts no participant contribution, its price is still met from the available Support at Home funding. Families should therefore continue to consider how the overall budget is allocated between personal care and other approved supports.
For example, if someone needs more assistance with showering following a change in mobility, the absence of a participant contribution may make those services more affordable. However, whether additional sessions can be scheduled will still depend on their approved plan, the funding available and the provider’s service arrangements.
Ask for a current budget summary showing planned services, the price of each service, available funds and any contributions that remain payable. This helps avoid confusion between ‘no contribution’ and ‘no impact on the care budget’.
What happens to existing agreements, invoices and past charges?
Providers are expected to reflect the new contribution arrangements in relevant documentation and billing. Government guidance says participants should see the change in statements and invoices after 1 October 2026, and providers may contact clients to update service agreements or care plans.
Personal care delivered before 1 October 2026 remains subject to the rules that applied when the service was provided. Contributions already paid for earlier services are not retrospectively refunded merely because the new arrangements have commenced.
If an invoice issued after the change still includes a personal care contribution, first check the date the service was delivered and the description of the service. If it relates to approved personal care delivered from 1 October, ask the provider to explain or correct the charge. Keep a copy of the invoice and the relevant support-plan details.
Five practical questions families can ask their provider
A short conversation with the care provider can help translate the policy change into the person’s actual arrangements:
- Is personal care explicitly listed in the current support plan?
- Which scheduled services are classified as personal care, and which remain Independence or Everyday Living services?
- Have participant contributions been removed for eligible personal care delivered from 1 October 2026?
- How much funding remains in the budget, and would any additional personal care affect the availability of other supports?
- Do the service agreement, budget and statements need to be updated?
If cost previously prevented someone from receiving the personal care they needed, ask whether their existing budget and support plan can accommodate a different mix of services. Changes should be considered against their goals, preferences and assessed needs, rather than made simply because one category has become more affordable.
Looking beyond the immediate saving
For many households, aged care decisions are part of a much broader financial conversation. Families may be considering the sustainability of care at home, the use of savings and investments, changes to government benefits, or the possibility that residential aged care may be needed in the future.
A reduction in personal care contributions is helpful, but it does not replace planning for other costs. Transport, household assistance, home maintenance, equipment, changing care needs and potential residential care fees can all affect long-term financial arrangements.
It is also worth recognising the emotional side of these decisions. Older people may value remaining in familiar surroundings, while family members may be concerned about safety, affordability or the demands of informal care. A good plan considers the person’s wishes alongside practical support and financial capacity.
Priority Advisory Group’s Aged Care team can help older Australians and their families understand how care costs, assets, income and longer-term financial decisions fit together. The aim is to support informed choices rather than focus on a single fee or policy setting.
Where to get help
Your Support at Home provider is the first point of contact for questions about approved services, budgets, invoices and agreements. My Aged Care also provides information about contributions and can be contacted on 1800 200 422. Independent aged care advocacy is available through the Older Persons Advocacy Network.
If you are uncertain about the financial implications of your care options, professional aged care financial advice may help you compare alternatives and understand the trade-offs.
The information above is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Support at Home rules and funding arrangements can change, so check current government guidance and your own support plan before making decisions.
Further Reading
My Aged Care: Support at Home personal care contribution changes
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/news-and-updates/support-home-personal-care-contribution-changes
My Aged Care: Support at Home funding changes from 1 October 2026
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/news-and-updates/support-home-funding-changes-1-october-2026
My Aged Care: Support at Home costs and contributions
https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/support-at-home-costs-and-contributions
Australian Government: Personal care now fully funded
https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-sam-rae-mp/media/personal-care-now-fully-funded-under-support-at-home