If you’ve recently been approved for the Support at Home program, you may have seen the term “quarterly budget” and wondered what it actually means.
Under the former Home Care Package program, funding was allocated annually. Under Support at Home, funding is structured differently.
Instead of one yearly package amount, your approved funding is divided into four quarterly budgets.
Here’s what that means in practical terms.
What Is a Quarterly Budget?
A quarterly budget is your annual Support at Home classification funding amount divided into four equal parts.
If you are approved for an ongoing Support at Home classification:
Quarterly budgets are released at the beginning of each quarter:
Services Australia holds this funding in your home support account. Your provider then claims against that funding after services are delivered.
What Happens If You Start Mid-Quarter?
If you enter Support at Home part way through a quarter, your funding is calculated on a pro-rata basis from your entry date to the end of that quarter.
If your classification increases part way through a quarter, your quarterly budget is adjusted from the date the higher classification takes effect.
This ensures funding reflects your actual care needs and start date.
What Makes Up Your Quarterly Budget?
Your quarterly budget includes:
Support at Home services are funded through a mix of:
When a service is delivered, the full service price is recorded against your quarterly budget. That price includes both the government-funded portion and any required participant contribution.
This is important to understand. The budget tracks the total cost of services delivered, not just the government’s portion.
What Happens If You Don’t Use All of Your Quarterly Budget?
Unlike Home Care Packages, unspent funds cannot accumulate indefinitely.
If you do not fully use your quarterly budget:
For example:
If your quarterly budget is $5,000 and you underspend by $600, that $600 can carry forward.
If you underspend by $2,000, only the capped amount (either $1,000 or 10%) will carry forward.
This structure allows some flexibility for emerging needs, but prevents large balances building up over time.
Carryover only applies to ongoing classifications. Different rules apply for short-term pathways and assistive technology funding.
What Happens If You Overspend?
Overspending cannot simply roll into the next quarter.
If services delivered exceed your quarterly budget:
This means active budget monitoring is essential.
Providers have a responsibility under the Aged Care Act 2024 to manage funding responsibly and ensure participants understand their budget position.
Is Care Management Included?
Yes.
For ongoing classifications:
• 10% of your quarterly budget is allocated to care management
This funding is transferred into the provider’s care management account and pooled at the service delivery branch level.
Care management funding is credited on the first day of each quarter.
This structure supports coordinated care planning, risk monitoring and service oversight as required under the new regulatory framework.
What About Assistive Technology and Short-Term Pathways?
Not all funding operates under the same quarterly rules.
For example:
These budgets operate separately from your ongoing quarterly allocation.
What Should Appear on Your Monthly Statement?
Under the Support at Home rules, you must receive a monthly statement showing:
Transparency is a core requirement under the Aged Care Act 2024. Registered providers must clearly show how funding is being used.
If you do not understand your statement, you should feel comfortable asking for clarification.
Why Quarterly Budgets Exist
Quarterly budgets were introduced to:
Under the Aged Care Act 2024, providers are required to demonstrate responsible stewardship of public funding. Quarterly budgeting supports this by aligning funding more closely with current care needs.
What This Means for Families
For participants, quarterly budgets mean:
Your provider must work with you to develop an individualised budget that aligns with your care plan and funding allocation.
Quarterly budgeting works best when there is regular communication and proactive review.
Final Thoughts
Quarterly budgets are one of the most significant structural changes under Support at Home.
When understood properly, they are straightforward:
The key is working with a provider who explains this clearly and reviews your budget regularly.
Understanding your quarterly budget early allows you to plan confidently and avoid surprises later.
