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 Support at Home 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.
Home Care services are funded in two parts:
Under Support at Home, there are different payment guidelines that will apply to each service category.
Category 1 - Clinical Care: you do not pay anything for these services. These include nursing care and Allied Health services (like physiotherapy).
Categories 2 & 3 - Independent Support and Everyday Living: you will pay a percentage of the cost for each service, with the government covering the rest. These services include housework, transport, shopping, meal preparation and more.
Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme: separate funding is available under Support at Home for these services. You will pay a percentage of the cost for each service, with the government covering the rest. Services under this scheme include mobility equipment, ramps, shower adjustments and more.
Your contribution (also referred to as co-contribution) is calculated based on:
Generally, full pensioners pay a lower contribution, part pensioners and those with a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card pay a moderate contribution and self-funded retirees pay a higher contribution.
What does the Support at Home budget cover?
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 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 and CHSP pricing brochures below.
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.
No, there is no formal income or asset assessment required to receive services under CHSP.
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.
