If you receive services through Support at Home, you may notice a balance sitting in your account. This is often described as unspent funds, meaning the portion of your home care funds that has not yet been used for approved supports.
If your balance keeps growing, it can be a sign that your services are not fully matching your day-to-day needs. Support at Home is designed to help you live safely and independently at home, so it’s worth making sure your funding level is working for you.
What are unspent funds?
Support at Home provides funding based on your assessed needs. Your ongoing funding is linked to your classification level, and each classification has a quarterly budget.
Unspent funds are the amount left over after your services and any agreed charges are paid. This can build up if:
- You are not using all the services available in your plan
- Services are paused or reduced for a period
- You are unsure what you can use the budget for
- You are waiting to organise supports
It’s also important to know that there are also carryover limits. Under Support at Home, you can generally carry over up to $1,000 or 10% of your ongoing quarterly budget (whichever is higher) into the next quarter, if there are unspent funds available.
If you were receiving a Home Care Package before 1 November 2025 and had unspent funds, you will keep those funds.
Any unspent package funds must be used first to pay for eligible services and home modifications before accessing government-funded supports under the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme, which is part of the Support at Home program.
Why you shouldn’t let your funds sit unused
Unspent funds are there to support your wellbeing, safety, and independence at home. If they sit unused for long periods, you may be missing out on practical help that could make everyday life easier, such as personal care support, allied health, or help around the home.
Moreover, even if Support at Home services are stopped for an extended period, carryover limits still apply. This means if a person doesn’t receive services for four quarters in a row (one year) their funding can be withdrawn.
If you are thinking of pausing services, it is worth speaking with your aged care provider first, so you understand what it means for your funding and your plan.
How to check your unspent funds balance
Start with your monthly statement
Providers must give you a monthly statement showing your available funds, how the funds are being spent, and any unspent amounts.
A helpful rule of thumb is to look for four key areas:
|
What to look for |
What it tells you |
|
Funding coming in |
Your Support at Home funding and any other amounts included in your budget |
|
Services and items |
What was delivered and what it cost |
|
Fees and charges |
Any agreed home care fees and other charges listed |
|
Closing balance |
Your remaining balance, including unspent funds |
Your provider is required to give you a monthly statement by the last day of the following month. For example, a July monthly statement will be due for 31 August.
Who to speak to
If you’re unsure what the numbers mean, the best next step is to talk with your provider. They can explain:
- What your balance includes
- Which supports you are approved for
- What your Support at Home classifications mean in practice
- Whether your current plan still reflects your needs
Tips to understand your monthly statement
Monthly statements can feel technical, especially if you are looking at several line items and service descriptions. When you review yours, these questions can help:
- Are you receiving the services you expected each week or month?
- Are there long gaps between visits that are not explained?
- Are you paying aged care fees or home care fees you do not recognise or understand?
- Is your unspent balance steadily increasing each month?
If the answer to any of these is “yes”, it is a good time to request a budget and care plan review.
Smart ways to use your unspent funds
What you can use your funding for depends on your assessed needs and approvals. Your provider can confirm what is suitable for you. Here are some examples of common, practical supports that many people find helpful.
- Personal care to help with parts of daily life that you may find harder such as showering, dressing and grooming.
- Allied health services to help you stay steady and independent, particularly if mobility, balance, pain, or recovery have become concerns.
- Light housekeeping such as grocery shopping and meal preparation to continue your independence at home.
- Home maintenance to help you with heavier tasks around the home which you can no longer complete independently.
How Catholic Healthcare can help
At Catholic Healthcare, we work with you to make sure your services feel purposeful and tailored. That includes helping you understand your monthly statement, clarifying your fees and charges, and planning services so your Support at Home funding is used in ways that genuinely support your life at home.
We can help you:
- check your unspent balance and understand what is driving it
- adjust your services if your needs have changed
- plan ahead across the quarter so support stays steady and predictable – consider planned holidays, expected medical visits or family visits that you may need assistance with.
- align your services to your Support at Home classifications and goals
If you are unsure what you can use your unspent funds for, or you simply want reassurance that your plan makes sense, get in touch with our friendly team today.
Catholic Healthcare is a leading not-for-profit provider of residential care, home care, and retirement living along Australia's east coast. With over 30 years of experience, we offer care and support to people of all faiths and backgrounds. Our services aim to enrich clients' lives by nurturing their bodies, minds, and spirits with a holistic, person-centred approach. We operate 41 residential aged care homes, 13 retirement living communities, and provide home and community services to more than 6,500 clients.
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