Home Care Packages Fact Sheet
What are Home Care Packages?
Home Care Packages (HCP) are coordinated packages of care and services. They provide support so recipients in Australia can continue living independently in their own homes while choosing the care services and providers that best meet their needs and goals.
How much are Home Care Packages worth?
There are four levels of Home Care Packages, each including a specific amount of government-subsidised funding. Many Home Care Package recipients supplement this funding with their own income-based contributions, thereby increasing the amount they can spend on the providers, services and caregivers they need.
Subsidy amounts are adjusted on 1 July annually. Visit My Aged Care for the most up-to-date contribution figures.
Who is eligible for the Home Care Package program?
Home Care Packages are for elderly Australians and younger people with complex care needs. They are available to Australian residents above 65 years old, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals aged 50 and above. Those younger than these age thresholds must first assess their eligibility with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
How do you get a Home Care Package?
To apply for a Home Care Package, Australians must register with My Aged Care and answer a series of questions designed to assess their care needs. Visit My Aged Care’s online assessment to learn more about applying, or simply call My Aged Care at 1800 200 422 to start the process.
An assessment organisation contacts applicants within 2-6 weeks to confirm the information submitted during the application process and schedule an assessment. Assessments for Home Care Packages happen in one of two forms:
- A home support assessment with a Regional Assessment Service (RAS), which is generally for Australians with basic care needs who require low-level support
- A comprehensive assessment with an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), which is generally for care needs that are greater than what the Commonwealth Home Support Programme can support
What is an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT)?
Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT) comprise healthcare specialists such as nurses and allied health professionals. When Australians apply for government-funded services—including home care and residential care—ACAT conducts assessments to determine eligibility and level of need.
ACAT specialists assess physical, psychological, medical, restorative, cultural and social needs to help applicants and their loved ones access the appropriate types of support. Assessments are completed in the applicant’s home, when possible, and funded by the Australian Government, making them free of charge for applicants. Visit My Aged Care to learn more about assessments.
(Note: Applicants can check the progress of their My Aged Care application or assessment by logging into their My Aged Care Online Account using myGov. They can also call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.)
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What happens after an ACAT assessment?
About 2-6 weeks after the ACAT visit, applicants receive an eligibility letter with the results. The ACAT letter includes:
An assessment decision
The HCP level the applicant is approved for and their priority level
An explanation for the decision
A copy of the applicant’s care plan
The assessor’s contact details
The applicant’s referral code
Once an applicant is determined eligible for a Home Care Package, they receive approval and are registered in the Australian Government’s national priority system. If the applicant disagrees with the results, they have the option to appeal the decision by contacting their assessor.
Visit My Aged Care to learn more about priority levels, wait times and other post-assessment steps.
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What are Home Care Package fees?
Most Australians need to pay fees out of their own income in addition to the amount they receive from government subsidies.
Basic Daily Fee: A basic daily fee is a daily care fee providers can charge for their aged care services. It changes every year in March and September; some providers (such as The CareSide) choose to waive this fee.
Income Tested Care Fee: This fee is a recipient’s contribution to the costs of their home care. It is calculated through an income assessment, and just like the basic daily fee, it is subject to change every March and September.
My Aged Care has a fee estimator tool to help applicants and their families calculate potential costs.
What supplements are available?
Home Care Package recipients who require special types of care may qualify for funding supplements, which are added to their existing subsidies. Examples include:
People who live in rural and remote communities
Low-income Australians
Veterans with mental health conditions
Dementia and cognition supplements, oxygen supplements, and enteral feeding supplements are also available on a case-by-case basis. You can view a full list of supplements from the Australian Government on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.
Is there a waiting list for Home Care Packages?
Once an applicant has completed their assessment and received approval for a Home Care Package, they might have to wait to start in-home care services. Wait times depend on the applicant’s eligibility level and how urgently they need support. Priority is given to Australians with higher care needs. To view current wait times for Home Care Packages, visit My Aged Care
A wait isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It gives applicants and their families time to start researching service providers. It’s important to start this step as soon as possible so applicants can find available providers in their region and begin care right when they’re eligible.
How do you find a Home Care Package provider?
If applicants don’t begin support services within 56 days of receiving their referral code, their Home Care Package expires. That’s why researching providers and choosing one upon approval is an essential part of the process.
Home care in Australia operates on a consumer-directed basis, meaning applicants and their families have the power to choose the best providers for their care needs and goals. To find a Home Care Package provider, care recipients and their families should:
Research providers in their area using the My Aged Care “Find a Provider” tool and eek advice from people they trust (such as doctors and friends)
Create a shortlist of 3–5 potential providers
Interview providers on the shortlist and ask them important questions about pricing, quality and carer qualifications
Choose a provider and set a date to begin care
Read our step-by-step guide on how to find a Home Care Package provider, and keep in mind this decision is not permanent—care recipients can always change home care providers as their needs evolve.
- By Eddie Carroll
- By Eddie Carroll
- By Eddie Carroll