Support at Home “Use It or Lose It” Rule Explained

If you receive Support at Home funding, you may have heard about the “use it or lose it” rule. It can sound alarming, especially if you moved across from a Home Care Package, where unspent money simply built up over time. The good news is that the rule is simple once you understand it, and a little planning makes sure your funding goes where it’s meant to: towards the support that keeps you safe, well and independent at home. 

In this guide, we explain what the rule means, how the carryover cap works, what happens to older Home Care Package savings, and practical ways to make every quarterly budget count.

Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025. Your annual funding, based on your assessed needs and classification, is now split into four quarterly budgets, and you can access the full amount at the start of each quarter. Your budget is made up of government funding and your own contributions, where they apply. 

That budget is designed for your needs now, not to be saved for later. At the end of each quarter, you can keep only a small portion of any unspent funds. Anything above that is returned to the government and can’t be used for your future care. That’s the “use it or lose it” rule.

You can carry over $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget, whichever is higher. Anything above that limit doesn’t roll over. 

Quarterly budget	10% of budget	Maximum you can carry over
$8,000	$800	$1,000
$15,000	$1,500	$1,500
$20,000	$2,000	$2,000

For example, with an $8,000 quarterly budget and $2,500 left at the end of the quarter, you can carry over $1,000. The other $1,500 goes back to the government. 

Quarters end on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December. The next cut-off is 31 December, right in the busy festive season. 

The carryover only applies to ongoing services. Short-term funding, such as the AT-HM Scheme (usually 12 months), the Restorative Care Pathway (up to 16 weeks) and the End-of-Life Pathway (12 weeks), is only valid for its set period.

The aim is to make sure funding supports your health, safety and independence now, rather than sitting unused. You also no longer need to save for big items like walkers or home modifications, because these are funded through a separate pool, the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme. In short, your everyday budget can now be spent on everyday support, with the bigger items handled separately.

Any unspent Home Care Package funds you had as of 31 October 2025 carried over to Support at Home in full. They aren’t affected by the quarterly cap, and there’s no limit on how much of them you can use. They’re generally used first for eligible assistive technology and home modifications, and can go towards ongoing services once your quarterly budget is fully spent. Our guide From Home Care Packages to Support at Home explains the change in more detail. 

1. Check your monthly statement. It shows your opening balance, spending and what’s left. My Aged Care’s fee estimator and budget planner can help too. 
2. Talk to your Care Partner early. If you have funds left halfway through the quarter, there’s still time to plan useful services. 
3. Add extra everyday help. Domestic assistance, extra meal preparation or shopping assistance can make daily life easier. 
4. Book allied health. Physiotherapy, podiatry or occupational therapy can help you stay mobile, safe and well. 
5. Stay connected. Transport to appointments, community groups or simply out for a coffee helps you stay social. Our social support team can help. 
6. Plan around the festive season. If you’ll be away or family is visiting, plan your services around it. If a family member cares for you, in-home respite can give them a break. 
7. Review your Care Plan if money is regularly left over. You may need a different mix of services, not less support. 

Remember, Support at Home funding can’t be used for everything. Items you’d normally buy from your general income, household bills, holidays and entertainment aren’t covered. If you’re unsure, ask your Care Partner before you book. 

If you pause your services, for example during a hospital stay or a holiday, your quarterly budget keeps coming in, but you won’t be spending it. That means unspent funds can build up quickly. The same carryover cap applies at the end of the quarter, and the 10% care management allocation continues. If you know you’ll be away, talk to your Care Partner before you go about planning the rest of the quarter. 

If your needs change, you can request a reassessment for a higher classification through My Aged Care – your Care Partner can assist you. If there’s a delay in getting your full funding, you may receive interim funding of 60% while you wait. You can also top up with privately funded care at home. 

Your dedicated Care Partner checks in at least once a month and reaches out before each quarterly cut-off, so unspent funds go towards care, not back to the government. With our provider-managed services, we manage your budget and pay invoices for you, and our simplified monthly statements show your budget, spending and contributions at a glance. We’re not trying to make aged care any more confusing than it needs to be. 

You’ll also see the same Support Worker around 80% of the time, so care feels familiar and personal. Find out more about our Support at Home services, or view our fees schedule. 

• A Care Partner who helps you use your budget before every quarterly cut-off. 

• Statements you can actually understand, with budget, spending and contributions at a glance. 

• Flexibility when funding falls short, with privately funded top-ups. 

• The same faces, week to week, with the same support worker around 80% of the time. 

Have questions? Call our Support at Home team on 1300 602 469, email homecare@chrisbarnardhealth.com or book a free consultation.  

By Paul Lloyd
Client Relationship Manager