How funding works
Support at Home, in plain English.
Aged care funding is genuinely confusing, and most websites make it worse. This page explains how it works the way a friend would, and when you call, we will explain it for your exact situation.
Three questions, always answered before care starts.
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What the government pays
Under Support at Home, the government funds care against your assessed classification. Clinical care is fully government funded.
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What you pay
Depending on your means assessment, you may contribute towards everyday living and independence supports. We tell you the exact figure before anything begins.
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What an hour of care costs
Real prices, in writing, mapped against your budget. If something will not fit, we say so up front.
Funding conversations happen at your table, in plain English.
How to get funded care, step by step.
Get assessed
It starts with a free assessment through My Aged Care, the government entry point for aged care. You can apply online or by phone, and we can help you understand the process before you do.
Receive your classification and budget
The assessment decides the level of support you are eligible for under Support at Home, and with it a quarterly budget for services. The higher your needs, the higher the classification.
Choose your provider
You choose who delivers your care. This is where we would love a conversation. We will explain exactly what your budget buys with Aldera, in dollars, before you commit to anything.
Feeling lost already? That is normal. Call 1300 998 928 before you do anything and we will walk you through it, including what to say to My Aged Care.
The jargon, translated.
- My Aged Care
- The government front door for all aged care. Assessments, eligibility and provider choice all start here, online or on 1800 200 422.
- Assessment
- A free conversation with an assessor about what you can do, what is getting harder, and what support would help. It decides your funding level.
- Classification
- Your assessed level of need under Support at Home. Higher classification means a larger quarterly budget for services.
- Quarterly budget
- The pool of government funding allocated to your care each quarter. Services you receive are paid from it.
- Contribution
- The part you may pay yourself for some service types, based on a means assessment. Clinical care requires no contribution.
- Care plan
- The written plan for your support. At Aldera it is built from your One Story and reviewed at your kitchen table every quarter.
Common questions
What is the Support at Home program?
Support at Home is the Australian Government program that funds in-home aged care. It replaced the former Home Care Packages program and provides a quarterly budget for services like personal care, domestic assistance, meals, transport and social support, based on an assessment of your needs.
How much does in-home aged care cost?
It depends on your assessed classification and your financial circumstances. The government pays the largest share for most people, and clinical care is fully government funded. Your contribution, if any, depends on a means assessment. When you call, we will explain exactly what an hour of care costs and what your out-of-pocket amount would be. No surprises.
Can I switch to Aldera from another provider?
Yes. You can change providers under Support at Home, and your funding moves with you. We manage the handover, and your care starts with a proper introduction, not a stranger at the door.
What if I am waiting for a package or have not been assessed yet?
Call us anyway. We will help you understand where you are in the process, what to say to My Aged Care, and what support is possible in the meantime, including private arrangements if you want care to start sooner.
Does Aldera charge more than the government budget covers?
Before any care starts you will see exactly what each service costs against your budget, in writing. We explain money like a friend would: what the government pays, what you pay, and what care costs.
Funding rules and rates change. This page is general information, not financial advice, and current figures are always confirmed with you directly and available at myagedcare.gov.au.
We answer the phone
Talk the money through with a human.
Ten minutes on the phone usually answers what an hour of reading cannot. We will be straight with you about costs, budgets and waiting times.
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Call us and a real person answers. Enquire online and we phone you back within two business hours.