By Steve Hadfield, AgedCareActionPlan.au · Last updated: 26 April 2026
The government publishes quarterly dollar amounts for every classification. No government website translates those dollars into hours. This guide does that calculation — for every classification level, across different types of support.
You've been approved for a Support at Home classification. The letter gives you a level number and a quarterly budget. What it doesn't tell you is how many hours of actual help that buys.
The answer depends on two things: what type of services you use, and what your provider charges per hour. This guide shows you the calculation at published market rates, so you have a realistic baseline before you start talking to providers.
Use the classification explainer if you want more detail on what each level covers. Use the fee calculator to see how provider fees reduce your available hours.
Under the Aged Care Rules 2025, 10% of every quarterly budget is allocated to care management — the coordination of your care plan and services. This deduction happens first, before any services are booked.
For Classification 3 (quarterly budget approximately $5,480), the care management deduction is $548, leaving $4,932 for direct services. This is the amount the hours calculations below are based on.
If your provider charges more than 10% for care management, they are charging above the legal cap. Use the overpayment calculator to check if this applies to your situation.
These figures are effective from 1 November 2025 and are indexed on 1 July each year. Source: Department of Health and Aged Care.
| Level | Description | Quarterly budget | Annual budget | After 10% deduction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Low care needs | $2,682.75 | $10,731 | $2,414.475 |
| Level 2 | Low to moderate | $3,941.25 | $15,765 | $3,547.125 |
| Level 3 | Moderate care needs | $5,480 | $21,920 | $4,932 |
| Level 4 | Moderate to high | $7,545.25 | $30,181 | $6,790.725 |
| Level 5 | High care needs | $10,588 | $42,352 | $9,529.2 |
| Level 6 | High to complex | $15,839 | $63,356 | $14,255.1 |
| Level 7 | Complex care needs | $22,097.75 | $88,391 | $19,887.975,000,000,002 |
| Level 8 | Very high / complex | $78,309.25 | $313,237 | $70,478.325 |
Budgets effective 1 November 2025. Indexed 1 July annually. Source: Department of Health and Aged Care.
Personal care — showering, dressing, grooming — is classified as an Independence service. Published rates range from approximately $120 to $135 per hour for weekday daytime services. Weekend and after-hours rates are higher.
These are approximate calculations based on published market rates as at November 2025. Your provider's actual hourly rate will affect the real figure — always ask for their published price list before signing a service agreement.
| Level | Hours/quarter at $120/hr | Hours/quarter at $135/hr | Approx. hours/fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 20 hrs | 18 hrs | ~2.9 hrs/fn |
| Level 2 | 30 hrs | 26 hrs | ~4.3 hrs/fn |
| Level 3 | 41 hrs | 37 hrs | ~6.0 hrs/fn |
| Level 4 | 57 hrs | 50 hrs | ~8.2 hrs/fn |
| Level 5 | 79 hrs | 71 hrs | ~11.5 hrs/fn |
| Level 6 | 119 hrs | 106 hrs | ~17.2 hrs/fn |
| Level 7 | 166 hrs | 147 hrs | ~24.0 hrs/fn |
| Level 8 | 587 hrs | 522 hrs | ~85.0 hrs/fn |
Source note: Hours calculated from quarterly budgets (Department of Health and Aged Care, effective 1 November 2025) after 10% care management deduction, at published market rates of $120–$135/hour for Independence services (personal care). Rates sourced from published provider price lists, November 2025. Weekend and after-hours rates are higher and will reduce available hours. Participant co-contributions apply to Independence services and will reduce the government-funded hours further depending on your income and assets.
Support at Home has three service categories. Who pays — and how much — depends on which category the service falls into. This is one of the most misunderstood parts of the new program.
| Category | Examples | Approx. hourly rate | Who pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical | Nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology | $190–$220/hr | Government pays 100% — zero co-contribution regardless of income |
| Independence | Personal care (showering, dressing), mobility aids, AT-HM equipment | $120–$135/hr | Moderate co-contribution — depends on pension status and income |
| Everyday Living | Cleaning, gardening, meals, transport, social support | $95–$110/hr | Highest co-contribution — depends on pension status and income |
From 1 October 2026, personal care moves from Independence to Clinical — meaning zero co-contribution for showering and dressing, regardless of income. This change will significantly affect how far budgets stretch for many families.
Before you sign a service agreement, get specific numbers from every provider you consider. Use this script:
"I'm on Support at Home Classification [level], which gives me a quarterly budget of approximately $[amount]. What is your total fee percentage — care management plus administration — as a percentage of my budget? And what is your hourly rate for personal care on weekdays? I need both figures before I can compare you with other providers."
Get these figures from at least three providers. Use our fee calculator to see how different fee percentages affect your available hours side by side.
Before signing, use the service agreement checker to confirm the agreement is legal and the fees are within the cap.
Use the fee calculator to see exactly how provider fees affect your available hours — at your specific classification level.
Classification 3 has a quarterly budget of approximately $5,480. After the 10% care management deduction, around $4,932 remains for services. At published rates of $120–$135 per hour for personal care (Independence services), this translates to approximately 36–41 hours per quarter — or about 2.8–3.2 hours per fortnight.
The care management fee is capped at 10% of your quarterly budget under the Aged Care Rules 2025. For Classification 3 (approximately $5,480 per quarter), the maximum care management fee is $548 per quarter. If your provider charges more than 10%, they are over the legal cap.
Clinical services — nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy — cost approximately $190–$220 per hour, but participants pay zero co-contribution. Independence services (personal care) cost approximately $120–$135 per hour. Everyday Living services (cleaning, gardening) are similar in cost but attract the highest co-contribution rates.
You can carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget (whichever is greater) to the next quarter. Amounts above this limit return to the government and cannot be accumulated. Plan services carefully to avoid losing funding you're entitled to.
Yes. If your needs have increased beyond what your classification covers, request a Support Plan Review through My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. If needs have changed significantly, you may be eligible for reassessment at a higher classification.
Need a complete personalised plan for your situation?
This guide is for information only — not legal, medical, or financial advice. Verified against the Aged Care Act 2024 and Aged Care Rules 2025. Check myagedcare.gov.au for current rates and rules.