One of the biggest changes to Support at Home since it began is the funding of personal care. This guide explains what changes on 1 October 2026, what does not, and what to check on your statements. It is written so that it makes sense whether you are reading before or after that date.
What changes on 1 October 2026?
From 1 October 2026, the Australian Government fully funds personal care services under Support at Home. My Aged Care says this means you can receive personal care at no out-of-pocket cost, as long as you have been approved for the personal care service type in your support plan.
In technical terms, the Department says personal care moves into the clinical supports contribution category on 1 October 2026. Clinical supports, such as nursing and physiotherapy, already had no participant contribution.
What counts as personal care?
Personal care is help with the private, everyday tasks of looking after yourself, such as:
- showering, bathing and washing your hair
- getting dressed and undressed
- grooming, shaving and oral care
- going to the toilet and managing continence
- getting in and out of bed or a chair
The official Support at Home service list sets out exactly what is included. If you are unsure whether a task is personal care or another service, ask your provider to show you where it sits on the list.
What about services before 1 October 2026?
The change is not backdated. Personal care delivered before 1 October 2026 still attracts the contribution that applied at the time, even if it appears on a statement you receive later. Personal care delivered on or after 1 October 2026 should not attract a contribution.
What does not change?
- You still need personal care to be an approved service in your support plan.
- Your classification and quarterly budget stay the same. Personal care is still paid from your budget; you just do not contribute to it.
- Contributions for other services, such as domestic assistance and gardening, still apply.
- You still choose your provider and agree with them how and when care is delivered.
Other independence services, such as transport and respite, still attract a moderate contribution, and everyday living services, such as cleaning and gardening, still attract the highest. Our guide to Support at Home contributions explains how these work.
Does fully funded mean unlimited?
No. Personal care is paid from your quarterly budget, so using more of it leaves less for other services. If your budget is not enough for the care you need, talk to your provider about the mix of services, or ask for a reassessment.
How should your provider tell you about the change?
The Department has asked providers to explain the change clearly, update care plans, budgets and service information so they are consistent, and make sure monthly statements explain your services, charges and any contributions that still apply. If your provider has not talked to you about it, ask them.
Where can you get independent help?
If you are unsure about your statements or services, the Aged Care Advocacy Line (1800 700 600), run by the Older Persons Advocacy Network, is free, confidential and independent of providers and government.
What should you do now?
- Check that personal care is listed as an approved service in your support plan.
- Read your monthly statement and confirm personal care from 1 October 2026 shows no contribution.
- Ask your provider whether your care plan and budget have been updated for the change.
- If personal care is not approved but you need it, ask about a reassessment through My Aged Care.
Kindora Connect delivers personal care for older people under Support at Home as an associated provider through VitalCare Support. We can also help with nursing care and domestic assistance. See Support at Home vs Home Care Packages for the bigger picture.