If an aged care letter or provider record mentions a Level 3 aged care package, the date and program name matter. The former Home Care Packages Program had four HCP levels. The Australian Government says it was replaced by Support at Home on 1 November 2025. Some people still have a transitioned HCP Level 3 funding label under the new program. Here, transitioned HCP means a previous Home Care Package funding arrangement carried into Support at Home.

This guide explains what that label means, the published funding amount and why it does not promise a particular service list or number of hours. It is about the transitioned HCP classification, not a personal eligibility assessment.

Key takeaways

  • Transitioned HCP Level 3 is not the same as ongoing Support at Home Classification 3.
  • My Aged Care lists transitioned HCP Level 3 funding as $10,808.30 per quarter and $43,233.21 per year, current from 1 October 2026 and retrieved 5 November 2026. The Department table has a different effective date.
  • Approved services, budgets and provider prices affect what support can be delivered; the level label does not guarantee a set number of hours.
  • People assessed as eligible for an HCP by 31 October 2025 were included in the transition arrangements, even if they were waiting for funding allocation.

What does a Level 3 aged care package mean now?

A Level 3 aged care package usually refers to the former HCP Level 3 category. It remains a relevant label for people whose funding transitioned from the Home Care Packages Program, even though new Support at Home assessments use a different classification framework.

The Australian Government’s Support at Home program page says Support at Home replaced the Home Care Packages Program on 1 November 2025. The new program has eight ongoing classifications and four transitioned HCP classifications. An ongoing Support at Home classification is the funding category assigned after assessment for ongoing services. The number “3” appears in both systems, but that does not make the labels interchangeable: transitioned HCP Level 3 is not ongoing Support at Home Classification 3.

When reading a letter or comparing funding tables, check whether it says “HCP Level 3” or “Support at Home Classification 3,” and note its date. For the wider background on the former levels and transition, see our Home Care Package levels overview.

How much funding does a transitioned HCP Level 3 receive?

My Aged Care lists $10,808.30 per quarter and $43,233.21 per year for Transitioned Home Care Package Level 3. These figures are marked current from 1 October 2026 on its Support at Home costs and contributions page, retrieved 5 November 2026. The page says the classification amounts include care management.

The Department’s funding classifications page lists Transitioned HCP Level 3 at $10,787.18 per quarter and $43,148.74 per year, with its table marked current from 1 July 2026 (retrieved 5 November 2026). The Department and My Aged Care figures have different effective dates; use the date attached to each source and do not blend them.

Both figures refer specifically to transitioned HCP Level 3. They are not the funding amount for ongoing Support at Home Classification 3, which is a separate category. Do not infer a dollar value from the level number alone.

Each source publishes quarterly and annual amounts separately; this article reports the values as listed rather than calculating one from the other. Before relying on a funding amount, check its effective date and confirm it against the person’s current allocation.

Funding is not the same as a personal spending balance or a guaranteed number of visits. The support plan, funding arrangements, care management and provider prices affect how the budget is used. For comparison with adjacent former tiers, read our Level 2 Home Care Package guide and Level 4 Home Care Package guide when available.

What services can the funding pay for, and does it mean a set number of hours?

No. HCP Level 3 does not automatically mean a fixed service list or a guaranteed number of hours. Under Support at Home, approved services are connected to the person’s assessment and support plan; the participant and provider work with an individualised budget and current service prices.

The same budget can buy different amounts of support depending on the service mix and provider prices. The government’s overview of how Support at Home works explains that the Notice of Decision and support plan set out approved services, and that providers set their prices.

When reviewing an arrangement, check the services in the current plan, the provider’s prices and how the budget and any contribution are applied. A website quoting a set number of hours for every Level 3 package may use a different price or funding framework from the person’s own arrangement.

Who was included in the HCP-to-Support-at-Home transition?

The transition applies to a defined group. People already receiving Home Care Packages moved into Support at Home with funding for ongoing services equivalent to their previous funding. People assessed as eligible for an HCP on or before 31 October 2025 but still waiting for a place moved to the Support at Home Priority System, the government process for allocating ongoing funding as it becomes available. When a place becomes available, they receive an ongoing funding level equivalent to their approved HCP level.

The Department’s funding guidance also says that a transitioned participant reassessed and approved for a higher classification will be approved for a Support at Home classification. A transition label alone does not show that someone has had a new assessment or been approved for every service they may now need.

The Department’s program overview describes the assessment, decision and allocation process. If paperwork or circumstances are unclear, confirm the person’s record with My Aged Care or the relevant government service. This article cannot determine an individual’s eligibility or predict an assessment outcome.

What should you know about contributions and waiting for funding?

The funding classification is only one part of what someone may pay. Support at Home contributions depend on service category and an income and assets assessment. The My Aged Care guide to contribution changes says people receiving or approved for a Home Care Package on or before 12 September 2024 are covered by the “no worse off” arrangements. Under those arrangements, their Support at Home contributions are the same as or lower than what they would have paid under the former HCP program.

That date matters. Do not assume the “no worse off” rule applies in exactly the same way to everyone who transitioned. A person’s contribution details should be checked against their Services Australia notice and official guidance, not estimated from the Level 3 label.

Approval and funding allocation are separate steps. People approved for ongoing funding may need to wait for allocation through a priority system. Check the decision letter, priority information and current My Aged Care record for individual status.

How can you check what applies to your record?

Start with the dated decision notice and support plan, then confirm the current allocation and budget with My Aged Care or the service provider.

  1. Read the exact label and date. Check whether the paperwork says transitioned HCP Level 3 or ongoing Support at Home Classification 3, and when the approval was made.
  2. Review approved services. The support plan or Notice of Decision shows services connected to the assessment; a funding label alone is not a service list.
  3. Confirm the current funding date. Check the effective date on the official My Aged Care page linked above.
  4. Ask how prices are applied. Have the provider explain service prices, budget statements and any applicable contributions.
  5. Clarify allocation status. If funding has not been allocated, check official priority information rather than assuming approval means services have started.

This guide focuses on transitioned HCP Level 3, not the full four-level framework.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Level 3 aged care package the same as Support at Home Classification 3?

No. HCP Level 3 is a transitioned category from the former Home Care Packages Program. Support at Home Classification 3 is one of the eight ongoing classifications for people assessed under the new program. Their numbers do not establish a one-to-one match.

How much is a Level 3 aged care package?

My Aged Care lists transitioned HCP Level 3 at $10,808.30 per quarter and $43,233.21 per year, current from 1 October 2026 and retrieved 5 November 2026. The Department table lists $10,787.18 per quarter and $43,148.74 per year, current from 1 July 2026. These are different dated tables, not figures for ongoing Support at Home Classification 3; confirm the applicable amount with the current official page and funding record.

How many hours does a Level 3 home care package provide?

There is no universal number of hours guaranteed by the Level 3 label. The approved supports, service mix and provider prices determine how a budget translates into hours or visits. Ask the provider to explain the individual budget and prices.

Can someone newly assessed receive a transitioned HCP Level 3?

The transitioned HCP label relates to people within the former program’s transition arrangements. New assessments use the current Support at Home framework. This article cannot determine a person’s eligibility or assessment result; contact My Aged Care for current process and record-specific information.

Information checked on 6 November 2026 against Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and My Aged Care pages. My Aged Care lists the transitioned HCP Level 3 amount as current from 1 October 2026; the Department table is marked current from 1 July 2026. Funding and contribution information may change; check the current official tables and your own decision documents before making a decision.