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Costs & Funding

How Much Is a Level 4 Home Care Package?

Last reviewed 1 July 2026 · 6 min read · By Sarah M., Support Coordinator
In short

A Level 4 Home Care Package provides the highest aged-care subsidy, around $61,000 a year (as at 2025-26 — verify with My Aged Care), for people with high care needs. Home Care Packages are an aged-care program run through My Aged Care, separate from the NDIS, with four levels by support intensity.

Home Care Packages are aged care, not NDIS

Home Care Packages (HCP) are part of Australia’s aged-care system, administered through My Aged Care, not the NDIS. They are designed for older people, generally aged 65 and over (or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), who want to keep living at home.

The NDIS, by contrast, funds disability supports for eligible people under 65. The two programs are adjacent but separate, and a person usually receives one or the other rather than both. If you are unsure which scheme applies, an assessment through My Aged Care or the NDIS will help clarify your pathway.

Each package is allocated as a yearly subsidy that the participant directs toward services such as personal care, domestic help, nursing and allied health, through an approved aged-care provider.

The four Home Care Package levels

There are four levels, each matched to a different level of need. Your level is set after an aged-care assessment, and the indicative annual subsidies below are a guide only (as at 2025-26 — verify with My Aged Care, as figures are indexed).

Level
Support need
Indicative annual subsidy
Typical supports funded
Level 1
Basic care needs
Around $10,000
Light domestic help, occasional support, simple aids
Level 2
Low care needs
Around $18,000
Regular domestic help, personal care, transport, some allied health
Level 3
Intermediate care needs
Around $39,000
More frequent personal care, nursing, allied health, equipment
Level 4
High care needs
Around $61,000
Daily personal care, complex nursing, allied health, higher-cost supports

What affects what you actually receive

The subsidy is not paid as cash. It funds services delivered through your chosen provider, and the amount available is reduced by any income-tested care fee and the basic daily fee you may be asked to contribute. Provider management and administration costs also come out of the package.

Many people wait some time between approval and a package being assigned, because higher-level packages are released as funding becomes available. While you wait, you may be offered an interim lower-level package or other supports.

Get an assessment through My Aged Care to confirm your level
Compare provider management and administration fees before signing
Ask how unspent funds are treated month to month
Check whether an income-tested fee applies to you
Planning in-home support?

If you or a family member are working out the right in-home support, our team can talk you through your options under the relevant scheme.

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SM
Sarah M., Support CoordinatorReviewed by TQN.Care's NDIS support team · 8+ years in disability support coordination.
Common questions

Questions, answered.

Is a Home Care Package the same as NDIS funding? +
No. Home Care Packages are aged-care funding administered through My Aged Care, while the NDIS funds disability supports. They are separate programs, and a person generally accesses one based on age and eligibility.
How much is a Level 4 Home Care Package per year? +
A Level 4 package provides roughly $61,000 a year as at 2025-26. The exact subsidy is indexed and set by the Australian Government, so verify the current figure with My Aged Care.
How do I get a higher package level? +
Your level is determined by an aged-care assessment. If your needs increase, you can request a reassessment through My Aged Care, which may result in a higher level being approved.
Can I choose how my package is spent? +
Yes, within the rules of the program. You work with your provider to build a care plan, and funds are directed toward approved supports such as personal care, domestic help, nursing and allied health.
Do I have to pay anything toward my package? +
You may be asked to pay a basic daily fee and, depending on your income, an income-tested care fee. These contributions affect how much subsidy is left for services.
Keep reading

Related guides.

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