There are two government-funded home care programs available to older Australians, Support at Home (SAH) and the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP). SAH and CHSP both assist older people to live independently at home, but they support different levels of care needs.
Support at Home: is designed for people with higher or ongoing care needs. It offers a wider range of services, more flexibility and greater funding levels.
Commonwealth Home Support Program: is for people who need entry-level or low-level support. It provides simple, practical help such as cleaning, meals, transport or social support.
Eligibility for SAH and CHSP is determined through an assessment by My Aged Care, based primarily on your age, functional needs and citizenship status.
Check your eligibility here.
Government-funded home care in Australia is co-funded, with a shared model between you and the Australian Government.
Under Support at Home, there are different payment guidelines that will apply to each service category.
Your SAH contribution (also referred to as co-contribution) is calculated based on:
| Service/Care Type | Full Pensioner Cost | Self-Funded Retiree Cost |
| Clinical Care | $0 (100% government funded) | $0 (100% government funded) |
| Independent Support and Everyday Living | Lower co-contribution % | Higher co-contribution % |
| Assistive Technology and Home Modifications | Subsidised % | Subsidised % |
What does the Support at Home budget cover?
The Support at Home budget covers:
Under CHSP, you will pay a small fixed fee for each service, with the government covering the rest.
CHSP services include support with daily tasks such as:
Your CHSP contribution will depend on:
We know that getting started in home care can often feel a bit overwhelming. We're here to offer guidance, explain your options and support you every step of the way.
You can download a copy of our Support at Home (SAH) and Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) pricing brochures below.
CHSP: No, there is no lifetime contribution cap.
SAH: Yes, there is a lifetime cap on contributions. Once you reach your cap, you will no longer need to contribute, and the government will cover 100% of your care costs.
The cap is indexed, which means it may increase slightly over time in line with the cost of living. It is reviewed twice a year, in March and September.
Services Australia will let you know when you have reached the lifetime cap.
CHSP: No, there is no formal income assessment required to receive services under CHSP. It is not means-tested. Your service provider may ask you to pay a small, affordable contribution based on their own client contribution rules.
SAH: An income and assets assessment by Services Australia is used to determine your required service contributions, though it is technically optional. Without the assessment, you will automatically be required to pay the maximum participant contribution rate for your services.
Exceptions where you don't need to apply for an income assessment for SAH:
If you already receive certain government pensions, Services Australia can automatically determine your contribution level.
For more information, visit: Income and assets assessments for Support at Home | My Aged Care
We are here to help you if you are facing financial hardship and support is available. Please let us know, and we can provide information on available support options and the appropriate next steps.
If you face genuine financial difficulty in paying your contributions and you meet eligibility criteria, you can apply for financial hardship assistance with Services Australia. If approved, the government will pay a fee reduction supplement for some or all of your contributions for the period you are facing hardship.
The Salvation Army Aged Care acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and work and pay our respect to Elders past, present and future.
We value and include people of all cultures, languages, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and intersex status. We are committed to providing programs that are delivered through the lenses of local mission delivery, sustainability, safety culture and inclusive practice. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of people of all ages, particularly children.
