Support at Home Classification 1

From 1 July 2026, Classification 1 provides about $2,750 a quarter, or about $11,000 a year, in Australian Government funding for your care and services. The exact amounts are $2,752.50 a quarter and $11,010.01 a year. The Government indexes these amounts each July, so they change from year to year.
This funding is a budget for approved services. It is paid to your provider, not to you, and you choose how to use it within the Support at Home rules. If you want to compare the amount with the old Level 1 Home Care Package, see the comparison further down this page.

Classification 1 funds regular support that helps you keep living well at home. Your assessment and your goals decide which services you receive. Support at Home groups services into three areas: independence, everyday living and clinical care.

Services you can use your funding for

• Independence services include help with personal care, such as showering and dressing, as well as transport to appointments and the shops. They also include social support that helps you stay connected with other people and your community.
• Everyday living services include home help such as cleaning and laundry, meal preparation and shopping, and light gardening and home maintenance.
• Clinical care includes services such as nursing and allied health, for example physiotherapy or occupational therapy, when your assessment shows you need them. With a Classification 1 budget, clinical care and other services share the same funding, so most people use it for a few regular supports. Transport is one example Holdsworth can arrange.

Allowable costs with Support at Home Classification 1 (formerly Level 1 Home Care Package)

You can use your funding for approved care and services that match your assessed needs and the goals in your care plan. Your provider can confirm whether a service or item is allowable before you commit to it.

What is not covered?

Support at Home funding does not cover everyday living costs. Examples include rent or mortgage payments, household bills, groceries, entertainment and holidays. If you are unsure whether something is covered, ask your provider before you buy it.

Support at Home is for older people who need some help to keep living at home. To receive it, you need an aged care assessment through My Aged Care. You may have heard this called an ACAT assessment. The assessor looks at what you can do for yourself, what you find harder and what you would like to keep doing. They then decide whether you are eligible and which classification suits your needs. Age requirements apply, and My Aged Care can confirm whether you are eligible.

If you are already receiving help through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), you can keep receiving those services. CHSP is expected to move to Support at Home no earlier than 1 July 2027.

Applying takes a few steps, and Holdsworth can help with each one.

1. Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or at myagedcare.gov.au to ask for an assessment.
2. Complete your aged care assessment. The assessor will ask about your health, your home and your goals.
3. Receive your approval letter, which tells you your classification and your funding.
4. Choose a provider. If you choose Holdsworth, book a consultation or call us on 1300 882 962. We will help you plan your services and get started.

More about Support at Home with Holdsworth.

You may be asked to contribute to the cost of some services. How much you contribute depends on the type of service and your circumstances, including whether you receive an age pension. Your provider also charges fees for managing your care and services. Your provider should explain every fee in writing before you agree to start, so you know what you will pay.

Support at Home Classification 1 and the old Level 1 Home Care Package are not the same thing. People who already had a Level 1 Home Care Package moved to a separate classification called Transitioned Home Care Package Level 1. It keeps the same funding and provider as before. The table shows the funding for each from 1 July 2026.

Support at Home has eight classifications. Each one provides a different level of funding, based on your assessed needs. Classification 1 is the lowest, and Classification 8 is the highest.

When you have more complex needs, a higher classification provides more funding. Read more about Support at Home Classification 2 and the Level 2 Home Care Package and Support at Home Classification 3 and the Level 3 Home Care Package. Information about Classifications 4 to 8 is on our Support at Home page.

H2: How has Support at Home affected my care?

If you already had a Home Care Package, you do not need to reapply. Your services continue with your current provider, and your funding moved across to the matching Transitioned Home Care Package level. If you are new to aged care, Support at Home is now the way to receive help at home.
If you have questions about your care or your funding, call us on 1300 882 962. We are happy to talk it through with you and your family.