If you have been approved for in-home aged care, you may be wondering what you can spend your funding on. Under the current Support at Home program, it is not a general spending allowance. Funding can pay for services on the government’s service list that meet your assessed needs and are included in your support plan.
This guide explains how to check whether a support or expense fits, gives examples of common service boundaries, and explains the separate rules for people who moved from a Home Care Package (HCP). Support at Home replaced the HCP Program on 1 November 2025. The guidance below was checked against Australian Government sources on 5 November 2026.
Key takeaways
- Support at Home pays for approved services that match assessed needs and appear in your support plan.
- Paying for a service does not mean every related household expense is covered. For example, shopping assistance may be in scope while the groceries are not.
- Assistive technology and home modifications have a separate approval and funding pathway.
- People who transitioned from HCP may have retained unspent funds with specific permitted uses. Those rules do not apply to everyone.
What can Support at Home funding pay for?
Support at Home pays for services on the government’s list when they match the person’s assessed needs and are approved in their support plan. The list groups services into three categories: Clinical supports, Independence, and Everyday living. These categories also affect participant contributions.
Examples include nursing and allied health, personal care, transport, social support, cleaning, shopping assistance, meal preparation and essential gardening. These examples do not guarantee that each service will be approved for every person. The person’s Notice of Decision, the letter showing the assessment outcome, and their support plan list the services approved for them.
The Department’s services under Support at Home guidance says a care partner works with the participant to choose services from this approved list. The provider records the mix in the care plan and individualised budget, which shows how the funding is planned. Participants can change their mix of approved services. If their needs change, they can ask for a Support Plan Review.
Use the official Support at Home service list to check each service’s details. For services delivered from 1 October 2026, personal care is classified under Clinical supports. Older HCP guidance may show different categories, so check the current list and the person’s support plan.
How can I check whether a particular expense is eligible?
Before arranging a service or buying an item, check three things: whether the activity appears in the current service list, whether it fits the person’s assessed needs and approved plan, and what the provider confirms in writing about the service and its cost.
A useful distinction is support with an activity versus paying for everything involved in that activity. The service list includes shopping assistance, but not the cost of groceries and other purchased items. It includes meal preparation and prepared meal delivery, but not the cost of ingredients, takeaway food delivery or meals for other household members.
| Support the list includes | Related cost that is out of scope in the list |
|---|---|
| Shopping assistance | Groceries and other purchased items |
| Meal preparation or prepared-meal delivery | Ingredients, takeaway delivery or meals for other household members |
| Social support or an accompanied activity | Tickets, accommodation or membership fees |
| Transport assistance for usual activities | Holiday travel or ordinary vehicle costs |
These are examples from the government list, not a substitute for checking the full service description. The service list gives in-scope and out-of-scope activities for each service type, and notes that exclusions are not exhaustive.
Before you agree to a service, ask the provider which approved service it relates to, how it meets assessed needs, what the person will pay and which funding source applies. The provider must have a written service agreement before or on the day services start. It must list the services and agreed prices, as explained in the Department’s Support at Home service-agreement guidance. Ask for any other details you need in writing. If the support is not on the approved list or the person’s needs have changed, ask the provider or My Aged Care what review or approval process applies rather than assuming the expense will be reimbursed.
What are some practical examples of eligible support?
A practical example can help explain the difference between an approved service and a general expense, but approval still depends on the person’s needs and support plan.
Gardening: The service list includes essential light gardening such as lawn mowing, pruning and yard clearance for safe access. It excludes work such as landscaping or garden changes for visual appeal. If someone needs help to keep an access path safe, ask whether that task is covered by their approved service and how the provider will record it.
Transport: Support at Home can include group or individual transport assistance to connect a person with their usual activities. The list excludes holiday travel, purchase of a car and ordinary vehicle running costs. A trip to a regular appointment or activity is therefore different from paying for a holiday.
Social connection: Social support can include help to take part in community life or an accompanied activity. It does not automatically cover the activity’s ticket, accommodation or membership fee. Ask the provider to separate the funded support from any personal expense.
Home maintenance: The list includes essential minor repairs and maintenance where the task relates to safety or something the person used to be able to do themselves. It gives examples such as replacing a lightbulb or repairing a broken door handle. General professional work is not automatically covered; the list describes exceptions where there is an imminent age-related safety risk.
The service list sets detailed boundaries for each service type. For the complete category-by-category rundown, see our guide to Home Care Package inclusions and exclusions.
Can funding pay for equipment or home modifications?
Assistive technology and home modifications use the separate Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme. They cannot be paid from the ongoing Support at Home quarterly budget, even if funds remain. The scheme has its own assessment, approved list and funding pathway, as explained in the Department’s AT-HM guidance.
The scheme list includes examples such as mobility equipment, shower chairs, handrails and ramps. An item or modification must meet the scheme’s rules and address the person’s assessed needs. The participant’s approval is recorded in their Notice of Decision and support plan. Do not buy equipment or start a modification on the assumption that it will be paid back later.
For example, if a person is considering a grab rail, check whether they have AT-HM approval and whether the proposed rail appears on the AT-HM list. Home modifications must be prescribed by an occupational therapist working within their professional scope. The provider can explain what documentation and steps apply to that person’s approval.
What happens to unspent Home Care Package funds after transition?
People who moved from HCP to Support at Home kept any unspent Commonwealth Home Care Package funds. They can use these funds for AT-HM, or for extra approved services after the full quarterly budget is spent. The Department says there is no carryover limit for retained HCP funds.
Retained HCP funds are separate from the quarterly Support at Home budget. The two balances have different carryover rules, so do not assume they can be used in the same way.
When a transitioned participant receives an AT-HM funding tier, their unspent HCP Commonwealth funds must be used first for eligible AT-HM items. The separate AT-HM account can be used after those HCP funds are exhausted. People who entered Support at Home without transitioning from HCP do not have retained HCP balances.
The Department’s funding classifications guidance explains these transition rules. Check the person’s statements and support plan, as balances and approvals are specific to their circumstances.
What should I ask before arranging a service?
Before you commit to a service or purchase, ask the provider to confirm:
- What approved service does this relate to? Ask them to identify the service-list item and where it appears in the person’s plan.
- How does it meet the assessed need? If the person’s needs have changed, ask whether a Support Plan Review is appropriate.
- What will the person pay? Ask for the service price and any participant contribution in writing.
- Which funding source will be used? Confirm whether it is the quarterly budget, a retained HCP balance or an AT-HM approval.
- What related costs are not included? For example, ask whether the service charge is separate from groceries, activity tickets or other personal expenses.
For general eligibility and assessment information, read our guide to Home Care Package eligibility. For level and classification context, see Home Care Package levels explained. If you need help with a person’s approval or funding, contact My Aged Care or ask the provider to explain the service agreement.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose how to use my Support at Home funding?
You can choose a mix of services from the person’s approved list with their provider, but the funding is not an unrestricted spending account. Services must match assessed needs and be documented in the person’s support plan, care plan and budget.
Can Support at Home pay for groceries?
The service list includes shopping assistance, but excludes the cost of groceries and other purchased items. It also includes meal preparation and prepared meal delivery, but excludes ingredients, takeaway delivery and meals for other household members. Check the person’s approved services and the provider’s written terms.
Can I use the quarterly budget to buy a grab rail or mobility aid?
No. Assistive technology and home modifications use the separate AT-HM scheme and cannot be paid from the ongoing Support at Home quarterly budget. Check the person’s assessment, support plan and AT-HM approval before arranging an item or modification.
Can unspent HCP funds pay for extra services after I transition?
For people who transitioned from HCP, retained unspent Commonwealth HCP funds can be used for AT-HM or for extra approved services once the entire quarterly budget has been spent. These transition rules do not mean all Support at Home participants have unspent HCP funds.
Program information checked against Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and My Aged Care sources on 5 November 2026. The service list linked above is the September 2026 edition; the Department’s services page was last updated 1 October 2026, its funding classifications page 6 October 2026, and its AT-HM guidance 1 July 2026. My Aged Care’s guide to ongoing Support at Home services is dated November 2025 and states that its information is current from 1 November 2025. Individual approvals and support plans determine which services apply.
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