The simplest answer is this:
A service is usually eligible under Support at Home if it matches your assessed needs and appears on your approved list of services in your support plan. Your provider then works with you to decide which of those approved services you want to receive and documents them in your care plan and individualised budget.
If you want to use Careseekers with Support at Home funding, your approved aged care provider also needs to agree to pay Careseekers for eligible services delivered through the platform.
Start with your support plan
Your support plan is the first place to look.
Under Support at Home, your Notice of Decision and support plan outline your assessed needs and your approved list of services. You then choose from that approved list with your provider, and those chosen services are recorded in your care plan and individualised budget. Participants can also change the mix of services they access from the approved list at any time.
That means the question is not just, “Is this a useful service?” It is, “Is this service on my approved list and in line with my assessed needs?”
Not every kind of help is funded in the same way
Support at Home has a defined service list.
The service list has 3 main categories:
- clinical supports
- independence services
- everyday living services.
Examples include:
- clinical supports such as nursing care and nutrition
- independence services such as personal care, respite and transport
- everyday living services such as domestic assistance and home maintenance.
The service list also includes examples of what cannot be delivered through Support at Home, and the exclusions are not exhaustive.
Your provider confirms what can be funded
Even if a service sounds like it should fit, your provider is still the practical checkpoint.
Under Support at Home, you work with your provider to decide which approved services you will actually receive, and they document those services in your care plan and individualised budget. Your budget then pays for those agreed services.
That is why provider confirmation matters. A service may be generally available under Support at Home, but it still needs to match:
- your assessed needs
- your approved list of services
- your care plan
- your available budget.
How this works with Careseekers
If you are using Careseekers, the same rule still applies.
Support at Home services need to match your assessed needs and support plan, and your approved provider can help confirm whether a particular service can be funded through your package.
If your provider agrees, they can pay Careseekers directly using your government funding for eligible support services delivered through the platform. You can also use Careseekers for private aged care support.
What kinds of services can often be arranged?
Through Careseekers, workers can often provide support such as:
- personal care
- domestic assistance
- companionship
- transport
- respite
- dementia support
- palliative support
- overnight support, depending on the arrangement.
Whether those services are funded under Support at Home depends on your support plan and provider approval, not just whether the worker can provide them.
What if the service is not eligible?
If a service is not eligible under your Support at Home funding, that does not always mean you cannot arrange it.
My Aged Care says providers can enter into a private agreement for extra services that are not funded by the government.
That means some people use:
- funded support for approved services
- private support for extra help, extra hours or support outside the funded arrangement.
A few practical examples
A service is more likely to be eligible if:
- it directly relates to your assessed care needs
- it sits within your approved list of services
- it is documented in your care plan and individualised budget.
A service is less likely to be funded if:
- it falls outside your approved service list
- it does not match your assessed needs
- it is an extra service you want beyond what your funded arrangement covers.
What should you check before booking support?
Before you arrange support, it helps to be clear on:
- what your support plan allows
- whether the service is on your approved list
- whether your provider agrees it can be funded
- whether your quarterly budget can cover it
- whether you want funded support only, or funded plus private support.
The clearer those points are upfront, the easier it is to avoid confusion later.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a service is covered by my Support at Home funding?
Check whether it matches your assessed needs and appears in your support plan’s approved list of services. Your provider then confirms how it fits into your care plan and budget.
Does my provider decide if a service can be funded?
Your provider works with you to decide which approved services you will receive and records them in your care plan and individualised budget.
Are personal care, transport and domestic help usually eligible?
They often can be, because Support at Home includes independence services such as personal care, respite and transport, and everyday living services such as domestic assistance. Eligibility still depends on your assessed needs and support plan.
What if I want a service that is not funded?
You may still be able to arrange it privately. My Aged Care says providers can enter into private agreements for extra services that are not government funded.
Can I use Careseekers for funded and private support?
Yes. If your approved provider agrees, they can pay Careseekers directly for eligible funded services, and you can also use Careseekers for private support.
Can I change which approved services I use?
Yes. Participants can change the mix of services they access from the approved list at any time.
Ready to arrange the right support?
We make it easier to compare workers, understand what support you want to arrange, and choose care that fits your needs.
Read: How Does Support at Home Work with Careseekers?
Read: What is the Difference Between Home Care Packages and Support at Home?
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