When Support at Home replaced the old Home Care Packages, one of the biggest changes was how funding levels work. Instead of four package levels, there are now eight classifications, allowing a much closer match between the support someone needs and the funding they receive. Understanding how these classifications work, and how to make sure yours is right, is genuinely important. Here’s the plain-language guide.
Why Eight Levels Instead of Four
The old Home Care Packages system had just four levels, which meant a lot of people were squeezed into a funding level that didn’t quite fit, either more than they needed or, more often, less. Support at Home’s eight classifications were designed to fix that.
More levels mean finer gradations, so funding can be matched more precisely to actual assessed need. Someone whose needs sit between the old levels now has a classification that fits better, rather than being rounded down to a level that leaves them short. The top classification provides funding up to around $78,000 a year for those with the highest needs.
How Your Classification Is Determined
Your classification isn’t chosen, it’s assessed. After you register with My Aged Care, a trained assessor evaluates your needs, and that assessment determines which of the eight classifications you’re placed in.
The assessment looks at your daily life, your health and functional needs, and how much support you require to live safely and independently at home. The higher your assessed need, the higher your classification, and the more funding is available for your care.
This is why the assessment matters so much, it directly determines your funding level. Going in prepared, and describing your real needs honestly, is what ensures your classification reflects your actual situation.
Getting Your Assessment Right
Because the assessment sets your classification, preparing for it properly is one of the most valuable things you can do. The recurring principle: describe your hardest days, not your best ones. People routinely understate their struggles out of pride or habit, and an assessment based on a good day results in a lower classification and less funding than they genuinely need.
Think through, in advance, where you actually need help, what you can’t do alone, what a difficult day looks like, and how your needs have changed. Have a family member present who can describe what they observe, because they often see struggles the person themselves downplays. You’re entitled to have someone with you.
What Happens If Your Needs Change
Your needs aren’t fixed, and neither is your classification. If your situation changes, if your health declines or your support needs increase, you can request a reassessment. A reassessment can move you to a higher classification with more funding if your increased needs justify it.
This matters because ageing is rarely static. Don’t assume your initial classification is permanent, if your circumstances change meaningfully, seeking a reassessment is how your funding keeps pace with your real needs. Equally, there are short-term pathways for temporary increases in need, such as after a hospital stay.
Making Sure Your Level Matches Your Needs
A few practical checks. If your funded hours consistently fall short of what you actually need, that’s a signal your classification may not reflect your real situation, and a reassessment is worth pursuing. If your needs have clearly increased since your assessment, don’t wait, request a reassessment. And if you’re unsure whether your classification is right, your provider or a family member can help you evaluate whether it matches your day-to-day reality. The official detail on classifications and funding sits on the Department of Health’s Support at Home page.
The Bottom Line
Support at Home’s eight classifications are a genuine improvement, allowing funding to match need far more precisely than the old four levels. Your classification is set by your assessment, which is why preparing for it honestly, and describing your hardest days, matters so much. And because needs change, remember you can request a reassessment if your situation shifts. Get the assessment right and keep it current, and your funding will reflect the care you genuinely need. This is general information, not aged care, medical or financial advice.
Epik Wire covers aged care in plain language for older Australians and their families. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed.
