When you receive Support at Home services, you are allocated funding to pay for the services you need. This is your Support at Home budget.
Your budget depends on your classification and includes contributions from you and the government.
This page covers how a Support at Home budget works, how to manage your funds, what to do with unspent funds, and more.
How does my Support at Home budget work?
You will be allocated a funding amount based on your Support at Home classification.
For ongoing classifications, the funding is split into 4 budgets that each cover 3 months of the year. This is your quarterly budget.
For short-term classifications, the budget covers the specific period of the pathway or scheme:
- up to 16 weeks for the Restorative Care Pathway
- 12 weeks for the End-of-Life Pathway
- 12 months for the AT-HM scheme (in most cases).
What makes up my budget?
Your Support at Home budget is made up of:
- funding from the Australian Government
- your contributions (where applicable).
What if I need more funding than my budget allows?
If your situation changes and you need services over and above your allocated budget, you can request a reassessment. This will determine whether you can be approved for a higher classification level.
Can I get interim funding while I wait?
If there’s a delay in getting full funding through the Support at Home Priority System, you may get interim funding instead. This is 60% of your total funding, and it helps you get the most important services first, so you can keep living at home.
Can I carry over unspent funds from my quarterly budget?
Yes, but only for ongoing services. Funding for the AT-HM scheme is valid for 12 months (in most cases). Funding for the Restorative Care Pathway and the End-of-Life Pathway is valid for the duration of the episode.
Can I go over my quarterly funds?
If a provider gives you more services than your quarterly budget allows, that’s called an overspend. This is something that shouldn’t happen.
Support at Home fee estimator
You can work out how much you might need to pay for Support at Home services and plan your budget accordingly, using our Support at Home fee estimator and budget planner tool.