If you receive services through Support at Home, your funding is there to help you access approved care and support so you can live safely and independently at home.
If you do not use all your allocated funding in a quarter, the remaining balance is called unspent funds. A limited, capped amount of these funds can be rolled over into the next quarter. However, any unspent Support at Home funds above the rollover cap are returned to the government and cannot be used for your future services.
This is why it is important to use the funding you are entitled to for services that support your assessed needs.
What happens at the end of each quarter?
Support at Home provides a set budget each quarter based on your assessed needs and classification level.
At the end of each quarter:
· A limited amount of unspent funding can be carried over, or rolled over
· From 1 November 2025, Support at Home rollover funding is capped at $1,000 or 10% of your unspent quarterly budget
· Any funds above this cap are returned to the government and cannot be used for future services.
If you are a transitioned Home Care Package client
· Existing Home Care Account unspent funds can continue to roll over under Support at Home until they are used
· Your Support at Home unspent funds will still subject to the rollover cap $1,000 or 10% of your quarterly budget.
Home Care Account unspent funds must be used first for eligible services, assistive technology and home modifications before accessing government-funded supports under the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) Scheme, or ongoing support where all Support at Home funds are expended.
Any Support at Home funds above the rollover cap at the end of the quarter will be returned to the government.
Why it matters
Unspent funds may mean your current services are not fully meeting your needs, or that you may not be using the supports available to you as identified in your care plan. You may have paused services, be unsure what your funding can be used for, or need help organising supports.
Use your funds for approved supports
Using your funding regularly helps make sure your care plan is working for you and supports your wellbeing. It also reduces the risk of approved funds sitting unused and being returned to the government under rollover limits.
Check your balance and speak with your Care Partner team
Your monthly statement shows your unspent funds balance. If you need help reading your statement, you can watch our video explainer, here.
If you have unspent funds, your Care Partner team can help you understand what your balance includes, which supports you are approved for, and whether your current plan still reflects your needs and goals.
Ways your funding may be used
What you can use your funding for depends on your assessed needs and approvals. Your Care Partner team can confirm what is suitable for you. Common supports may include:
· Personal care, such as showering, dressing and grooming
· Allied health, to support mobility, balance, pain management or recovery
· Light housekeeping, such as grocery shopping and meal preparation
· Social outings, to help you stay connected with your community.
How Catholic Healthcare can help
At Catholic Healthcare, we can help you understand your monthly statement, review your services and plan ahead across the quarter so your funding is used in ways that genuinely support your life at home.
If you have unspent funds, now is a good time to talk with your Care Partner team about how your approved supports can be used before the end of the quarter.