Have unspent Support at Home funds? Now is a good time to review your budget 

If you receive Support at Home services, the start of a new quarter is a good time to check your care budget and review whether your current supports are still working for you. 

It is not unusual to have unspent funds in an aged care budget. 

Sometimes services have only recently started, visits have been cancelled or care needs have changed. In other cases, people are not sure what their funding can be used for, so support is not being used as fully as it could be. 

That does not mean you need to spend for the sake of it. It only means your budget should be working in a way that genuinely supports your safety, independence and daily routine. 

A budget review can help you understand: 

The goal is simple: to make sure your care is still doing what it needs to do. 

It can also be a good time to review the bigger picture: what your current services cost, whether your monthly statements are clear and whether your provider is helping you understand how your budget is being used. If you want more detail on recent changes, we’ve also previously talked about Support at Home pricing updates, refunds, price caps and provider transparency. 

Support at Home budgets for ongoing services are allocated quarterly. At the end of each quarter, there is a limit to how much unspent funding can carry over into the next quarter. 

Participants can carry over unspent funds up to $1,000 or 10% of their quarterly budget, whichever is greater. If a person has more unspent funding than the allowed carry-over amount, the extra may not be available in the next quarter. 

This is why it helps to check your budget early in the quarter, not only at the end. 

If you have carried-over funds, or if your previous quarter’s support did not fully meet your needs, now is a good time to speak with your provider and review what can be adjusted. 

Read the Leora Support at Home Guide

What you can use your Support at Home budget for will depend on your assessed needs, care plan and approved services. 

For some people, it may mean continuing or adjusting support with: 

For others, it might mean looking at whether the timing, frequency or type of support needs to change. 

Maybe morning support is becoming more important. Maybe you need extra help after being unwell. Maybe transport, meal preparation or home safety support would make the week easier to manage. 

If you are still working out what kind of support would be most useful, it may help to think beyond the service name and look at how care feels in your day-to-day routine. Good Support at Home should feel clear, flexible and practical, with a care team that can listen, plan and respond when needs change. You can read more in our guide on what good Support at Home should feel like. 

A new quarter is a good time to have a practical conversation with your provider or care team.  

You may want to ask: 

So instead of only asking, “How much funding is left?”, it may be more helpful to ask: 

Is my current support still meeting my needs? 

If the answer is no, or you are not sure, your provider can help you review your current services and discuss what options may be available within your care plan. 

If your current budget cannot meet your care needs, you may need to be reassessed for a higher classification and budget. 

You may also want to ask whether upcoming Support at Home changes could affect your care planning. For example, from 1 October 2026, personal care will be fully funded under Support at Home for eligible older Australians with approved personal care needs. This may be relevant if personal care is part of your current or future support plan. 

Here at Leora, Support at Home is not only about arranging services. Most importantly, is about understanding what support needs to look like in your everyday life. 

That starts before the first visit. 

Our team takes the time to understand your routines, preferences, care needs and what helps you feel safe and comfortable at home. From there, we can help review your Support at Home budget, talk through your current services and plan care that works around you. 

We also know that the right match matters. The people coming into your home should feel like the right fit for your needs, communication style and routine. That is why support matching is an important part of how we do care the Leora way. 

If you are unsure whether you have unspent funds, whether anything has carried over or whether your current supports still fit your needs, speak with our aged care team today. 

The start of a new quarter is a good time to pause, review and make sure your Support at Home services are helping you live safely, comfortably and confidently at home. 

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What are unspent Support at Home funds? 

Unspent Support at Home funds are funds that have not been used within a quarterly budget period. 

This can happen for a few reasons. Your services may have started later in the quarter, some visits may have been cancelled, your support needs may have changed or you may not have used your approved services as often as expected. 

Can unspent Support at Home funds carry over? 

Yes, some unspent funds can carry over, but there is a limit. 

Support at Home participants can carry over unspent funds up to $1,000 or 10% of their quarterly budget, whichever is greater, into the next quarter. This applies to ongoing Support at Home budgets. 

What happens if I have more unspent funds than the carry-over limit? 

If your unspent funds are above the allowed carry-over amount, the extra may not be available in the next quarter. 

That is why it is a good idea to review your budget early, rather than waiting until the end of the quarter. It gives you and your provider time to check whether your current services are still meeting your needs. 

How do I know if I have unspent Support at Home funds? 

Your provider should be able to help you understand your current budget, services and any unspent funds. 

Your Support at Home monthly statement should also show information about your funds and carry-over amounts. If anything looks unclear, it is completely okay to ask your provider to walk you through it. 

What can Support at Home funding be used for? 

Support at Home funding can be used for approved services based on your assessed needs and care plan. 

This may include personal care, domestic assistance, nursing, transport, meal preparation, social support, dementia-informed support or post-hospital recovery support. 

The main thing is that your services should support your wellbeing, safety and independence at home. 

Can I use my funds for more personal care? 

It depends on your assessed needs, approved services and available budget. 

Personal care may include support with showering, dressing, grooming and daily routines. From 1 October 2026, personal care will be fully funded under Support at Home for eligible older Australians with approved personal care needs. 

If personal care is something you need now or may need soon, it is worth raising this with your provider. 

Should I review my Support at Home budget every quarter? 

Yes, a quarterly review is a helpful habit. 

Because Support at Home budgets are allocated quarterly, checking your budget at the start and end of each quarter can help you see what has been used, what has carried over and whether your support still fits your day-to-day needs. 

What if my current Support at Home budget is not enough? 

If your current budget is not enough to meet your care needs, you may need to be reassessed for a higher classification and budget. 

Your provider can help you review your current support, talk through what has changed and discuss whether a reassessment may be needed.