The Home Care Packages program will be replaced by the Support at Home program, aiming to improve access to services, products, equipment and home modifications.
Eight funding classifications will be available under the new program, ranging from around $11,000 to $78,000 per year, according to the Older Persons Advocacy Network.
Full and part pensioners’ Support at Home contributions will be decided by existing Age Pension incomes and asset assessments, a change from the current income test.
Under the ‘no worse off’ principle, those who already receive Home Care Package funding will be allocated a budget that is equal to their current funding under the new program.
In early September, the government announced 20,000 new Home Care Packages would be made available immediately following pressure in parliament.
Intereach welcomed the move, which is designed to support older people to continue living independently at home.
“Older people in our communities want to stay in the homes they love, connected to the places and people that matter most,” Intereach co-chief executive Yvette Buhagiar said.
“Our staff live and work in the same rural and regional communities, so we understand the challenges and strengths of regional life.”
As of Monday, October 6, more than 6600 packages had been allocated, with releases later in the week expected to take that number to half of the additional 20,000 packages.
The remaining packages are expected to be allocated before the transition to the new Support at Home program on November 1.
Demand for in-home care has more than doubled in the past five years, with an anticipated 320,000 people to have a Home Care Package allocation by October 31, compared to around 155,000 in 2020.
An extra 63,000 Support at Home places will also be rolled out by the middle of 2026.
For more information about the Support at Home program, visit myagedcare.gov.au/support-home-program
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