Understanding Aged Care Funding
1. Support at Home
Your Support at Home classification comes with a budget to help pay for the services you need. This budget sets out the total amount of funds that are available for you to use, and varies depending on the level of care you are eligible for.
The funds in your Support at Home budget are made up of:
- The government’s contribution to your ongoing services
- Any short -term pathway supports you are eligible for
- Any Assistive Technology and Home Modifications you are eligible for
- Any government funded supplements you are eligible for
- Any income tested care fee you are asked to pay
These funds, along with any additional fees you agree to with your service provider, will cover the cost of your Support at Home services.
It’s important to us that you are in control of your care and funding. If you partner with LiveBetter, we will break down your Support at Home budget together and work with you to choose the services that best meet your needs.
How much does the government contribute to my Support at Home budget?
Ongoing Services:
The amount of funding you receive from the government for ongoing care depends on which classification level you have been allocated. The current government subsidy for each Support at Home classification level is below.
| Classification level | Annual budget |
| Level 1 | ~$11,000 |
| Level 2 | ~$16,000 |
| Level 3 | ~$22,000 |
| Level 4 | ~$30,000 |
| Level 5 | ~$40,000 |
| Level 6 | ~$48,000 |
| Level 7 | ~$58,000 |
| Level 8 | ~$78,000 |
Care Management:
Support at Home participants will have 10% of their ongoing quarterly budget pooled into a Care Management Fund managed by your provider.
Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme:
Depending on the outcome of their aged care assessment, Support at Home program participants may receive a separate funding allocation for assistive technology, such as walking frames and wheelchairs, and Home Modifications such as grab rails and ramps.
Support at Home’s AT-HM scheme offers three tiers of funding:
| Funding tier | Amount |
| Low | Under $500 |
| Medium | Up to $2,000 |
| High | Up to $15,000 |
Participants may access assistive technology that exceeds the maximum $15,000 with a valid prescription from a health professional.
Restorative Care Pathway:
The Support at Home program includes a Restorative Care Pathway which provide up to 12 weeks of support from allied health professionals to help you stay independent and well. Eligibility for this pathway will be determined during your aged care assessment, and if approved, will provide a budget of approximately $6,000 to fund these extra supports.
End of Life Pathway:
Accessed through the Support at Home program, the End of Life Pathway provides extra help in the final three months of life so you can spend this time in your own home. This pathway provides a total budget of $25,000 over three months to fund the extra supports you need to remain at home.
2. Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP)
Government funding for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) is paid directly to service providers. Those providers then use that funding to provide their services to you at a lower cost.
When you receive CHSP services, you are expected to pay a contribution towards the cost of your care. Each provider charges a different amount for their services. Typically, you pay an hourly rate for the services you receive, on the days that you receive them.
A few things to note:
- Your service will start only after you have spoken with your service provider about their fees, and agreed to pay the cost. You then make regular payments to your provider for as long as you receive your services.
- There are no exit fees for CHSP customers, and you don’t need to complete an income assessment.
- If you can’t afford to contribute to your care, don’t worry: you won’t miss out. Please talk to us so we can discuss your options.
3. Veterans’ Home Care
The government subsidises home care services for veterans to make it more affordable for those who are eligible. If you qualify for Veterans’ Home Care, you will be asked to contribute a co-payment towards the cost of your services (the exception is respite care service, which has no co-payment).
The cost per service is $5 per hour and there is a cap on cost. The maximum co-payment for:
- Domestic assistance is capped at $5 a week
- Personal care is capped at $10 a week
- Safety-related home and garden maintenance is capped at $75 per 12-month period
If you can’t afford co-payments, you can apply for a waiver of your co-payment through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Please get in touch if you need assistance; we’re happy to help.
LiveBetter Home Care Services Pricing
To see LiveBetter’s rates and fees for home care services, visit our Home Care Services Pricing page.
