A common worry with any funded support program is losing money you haven't gotten around to spending. Support at Home has clear rules about this — here's how it actually works.
Quarterly budgets carry over
Support at Home funding is paid in quarterly budgets. If you don't use the full amount within a quarter, the unspent portion automatically carries over to the next quarter, rather than being lost.
Transitioning from a Home Care Package
If you moved from a Home Care Package into Support at Home, any unspent Home Care Package funds you had carried over with you — they weren't reset to zero as part of the transition.
What happens when your Support at Home agreement ends
This is where it's worth understanding the distinction between government funding and your own contributions:
- Unspent government funds are returned to the Department once your agreement ends, so they can be reassigned to other people who need support.
- Unspent personal contributions — money you paid yourself, such as a means-tested or daily fee contribution — are refunded to you or your estate.
Making the most of your budget
Rather than letting funds sit unused, it's worth talking to your provider or Care Partner about whether allied health or nursing support — things like a falls-prevention exercise program, a swallowing assessment, or ongoing wound care — could be a good use of your quarterly budget.
Want to talk through your options? Get in touch and we'll help you understand what's possible.