CHSP vs Support at Home: Which Program Does My Parent Actually Need?
By Wayly Editorial · Published 11 June 2026 · Last reviewed 11 June 2026
If you have been reading about aged care and keep bumping into two names, CHSP and Support at Home, you are not alone. They are both government funded. They both help older people stay at home. But they work very differently, and the one your parent is on decides how much help they can get and how flexible it is.
This guide puts them side by side, then helps you work out which one fits.
Key facts at a glance
- CHSP is the entry level. It suits people who need one or two services, like cleaning or transport.
- Support at Home is for higher or ongoing needs. It gives your parent an individual budget across many service types.
- CHSP funds providers with grants. Support at Home funds the person with a quarterly budget.
- Both use the same starting point: an assessment through My Aged Care.
- Your parent can usually only be on one of them at a time.
The short version
CHSP is a set of individual services you tap into as needed. Support at Home is a full care arrangement: a budget, a care plan, a named provider and a team who knows your parent. If your parent is mostly managing and just needs a hand with a couple of tasks, CHSP is the match. If their needs are growing, complex, or spread across many areas of daily life, Support at Home is built for that.
Side by side
| Feature | CHSP | Support at Home |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A little help, one or two services | Ongoing or complex needs, many services |
| Funding model | Government grants paid to providers | Individual budget paid quarterly to the person |
| Budget | No personal budget; pay per service | One of 8 classifications, from $10,731 to $78,106 a year |
| What you pay | Small contribution per service, no means test | Contribution based on income and assets; clinical care is free |
| Assessment | Single Assessment System via My Aged Care | Single Assessment System via My Aged Care |
| Flexibility | Each service is standalone | Flexible budget, services adjust as needs change |
| Statements | Per-service fees, set by provider | Monthly statement showing budget and spending |
| Providers | Often one provider per service | Usually one provider managing the plan |
The funding figures are the eight ongoing Support at Home classifications, from $10,731.00 (Classification 1) to $78,106.35 (Classification 8), effective 1 November 2025, per the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing factsheet Support at Home program, classifications and budgets. Budgets are paid in four quarterly instalments, and 10% of each quarter is set aside for care management.
How the money really differs
This is the part worth slowing down on, because it explains almost everything else.
Under CHSP, the government hands providers a grant to deliver services across their region. Your parent does not "have" any money. They have access to services, and they pay a small slice of the cost each time. The upside is simplicity. The downside is that once a provider's grant is committed to existing clients, they may have little room to take on more, which is why you sometimes hear "there is a waitlist" or "no capacity right now."
Under Support at Home, the money follows the person. Your parent is assessed into one of eight classifications, and that comes with a yearly budget split into quarters. They choose how to spend it across approved services, unused funds can roll over (up to $1,000 or 10% of the quarter, whichever is greater), and clinical care like nursing and physiotherapy is fully funded by the government. From 1 October 2026, personal care such as showering and dressing also becomes fully funded under Support at Home, with no contribution. That last change does not apply to CHSP.
Which one should your parent be on?
Use these quick tests.
Lean CHSP if: your parent is independent most of the time, needs help with one or two specific tasks, and their needs have been stable. A fortnightly clean and a lift to the doctor is a classic CHSP picture.
Lean Support at Home if: your parent needs help across several areas (personal care plus meals plus nursing, say), their needs are increasing, they have a condition likely to progress, or you are filling a lot of gaps yourself. Robert, who needs help showering, medication reminders, meal preparation and appointments, and whose wife also needs a break, is a Support at Home picture, not a CHSP one.
One more thing worth knowing. Because CHSP is heading into Support at Home from 2027, and because Support at Home is now the main program, the long-term momentum is with Support at Home. If your parent's needs are clearly growing, it can make sense to request the reassessment now rather than wait.
How to move from one to the other
If your parent is on CHSP and you think they need more, you do not switch programs yourself. You request a reassessment through My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. A reassessment can approve them for a Support at Home classification. You do not need a reassessment simply because of the 2027 change; you need one when needs increase.
Wayly can help you get ready. Run the Classification Self-Check to get a feel for where your parent might land, then use the Letters & Follow-ups to write a clear, specific request.
Frequently asked questions
Can my parent be on both CHSP and Support at Home?
Usually no. Most people are on one or the other. During the transition period there are limited short-term exceptions, but as a rule your parent will be approved for one program.
Is Support at Home more expensive for my parent?
Not necessarily. Clinical care is free, and contributions for other services depend on income and assets. Full pensioners generally pay the least. CHSP contributions are small but apply to most services.
Does moving to Support at Home mean changing providers?
Not automatically. Your parent can often stay with the same organisation if it delivers Support at Home, or choose a new one.
How many Support at Home levels are there?
Eight ongoing classifications, with annual budgets from $10,731 to $78,106, effective 1 November 2025 and indexed each July.
What replaced the Home Care Package?
Support at Home replaced Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care on 1 November 2025. CHSP was not part of that change and continues for now.
How do I start a reassessment?
Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or use Wayly's Letters & Follow-ups to put your request in writing.
This article is general information, not financial or care advice. Funding amounts are indexed annually. Confirm current figures at myagedcare.gov.au.
See also: the CHSP pillar, the caregiver guide, the 2027 transition.