How does the budget work?

Under Support at Home you get a budget every three months, called a quarterly budget. Your provider holds it and pays for your services from it. One tenth is taken out first for care management [1].

The quarters start on 1 July, 1 October, 1 January and 1 April. The current quarter ends on 31 December [5].

What happens to budget I don't use?

Some of it carries over. You can take up to $1,000, or one tenth of your quarterly budget, into the next quarter, whichever is higher [1][2].

Here are two examples.

  • Your quarterly budget is $5,000. One tenth is $500, so the $1,000 limit applies. If you have $1,800 left, $1,000 carries over.
  • Your quarterly budget is $15,000. One tenth is $1,500. If you have $2,000 left, $1,500 carries over.

Anything above the limit does not move into your next budget.

Is unspent budget common?

Yes. Between 1 November 2025 and 30 June 2026, $727 million of Support at Home funding went unspent across Australia [6].

There are many reasons. One is cost. Some services need a contribution from you, and people often go without to avoid paying it.

Which services cost me nothing?

You pay no contribution for clinical supports. That includes nursing and physiotherapy [4].

Since 1 October 2026, personal care is also fully funded. Personal care is help with things like showering, dressing and taking your own medicines [3].

Contributions still apply to other services, such as cleaning, gardening and social outings. Your rate depends on your income and assets [4].

How do I check what I have left?

Your provider sends you a statement every month. It shows what you've used and what is left in your budget [2]. If you can't find it, ask your care partner to go through it with you.

What should I ask my provider?

  1. How much of this quarter's budget is unspent?
  2. How much of it will carry over on 31 December?
  3. Is physiotherapy in my support plan?
  4. Could I have physio, or more physio, before the quarter ends?

You can only use your budget on services that are in your support plan. If something has changed for you, such as a fall or a hospital stay, ask your provider whether your plan needs a review.

Can you be my physio?

Yes, if your provider arranges it. I'm a physiotherapist and I visit people at home. I work with Support at Home providers on the Sunshine Coast. If your provider hasn't worked with me before, they're welcome to contact me.

Read more about how Support at Home pays for physio at home.

Where do you visit?

I visit homes from Aura and Caloundra up the coast to Noosa, including Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, Buderim, Coolum Beach and Peregian Beach. In the hinterland I visit Maleny, Montville and Flaxton, and further north I visit Gympie, including Jones Hill, Southside and Monkland.