Home Care Package vs NDIS: What’s the Difference?

Note: Home Care Packages were replaced by the Support at Home program from November 2025. References to Home Care Packages below now apply to Support at Home.

Home Care Packages (HCP), now replaced by Support at Home, and NDIS are two completely different Australian government programs. The main difference is age and eligibility:

Support at Home (formerly Home Care Packages): For older Australians (usually 65+) needing aged care support
NDIS: For people under 65 with permanent disability or functional impairment

You generally can’t have both at the same time (with some exceptions).

Quick Comparison

Feature	Home Care Package	NDIS
Age	Usually 65+	Under 65
Eligibility	Aged care needs	Permanent disability
Funding type	4 package levels	Individualized based on needs
Typical funding	$9k-$55k/year	$20k-$300k+/year
Assessment	ACAT assessment	NDIS planning
Waiting time	6-12+ months	3-6 months
Provider choice	Free choice	Free choice
Who manages	You choose (self/provider/plan managed)	You choose (self/plan/NDIA managed)
Can work?	Yes	Yes

What is a Home Care Package (now Support at Home)?

The Support at Home program (formerly Home Care Package) is government funding for older Australians who need support at home.

Home Care Package Eligibility

To qualify you must:

Be 65+ (or 50+ for Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander)
Have aged care needs (difficulty with daily living)
Want to stay living at home (not residential aged care)
Have ACAT assessment approving you

NOT eligibility:

Having a disability (that’s NDIS, not HCP)
Being under 65 (unless you’re Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander)

Home Care Package Levels

HCP has 4 levels based on your care needs:

Level 1: $9,500/year

Basic care needs
Help with housework, shopping, transport

Level 2: $17,000/year

Low-level care needs
Personal care assistance, more frequent help

Level 3: $37,000/year

Intermediate care needs
Regular personal care, nursing, therapies

Level 4: $55,000/year

High care needs
Intensive support, dementia care, complex needs

Your level is determined by ACAT based on your needs.

What Home Care Package Covers

Typical services:

Personal care (showering, dressing)
Domestic assistance (cleaning, laundry)
Meal preparation
Transport to appointments
Social support and companionship
Nursing care
Allied health (OT, physio)
Respite care
Equipment and home modifications (limited)

What HCP does NOT usually cover:

✗ Gardening and home maintenance (limited)
✗ Full-time live-in care
✗ Hospital-level medical care
✗ Accommodation costs

What is NDIS?

NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) is government funding for people with permanent disability.

NDIS Eligibility

To qualify you must:

Be under 65 when you first apply
Have permanent disability or functional impairment
Disability significantly impacts daily life
Need support now and likely throughout life
Be Australian citizen/permanent resident

NOT eligibility:

Temporary injuries (NDIS is for permanent disability)
Normal aging (that’s Support at Home)
Being over 65 for first application

Note: If you’re already on NDIS when you turn 65, you can stay on NDIS.

NDIS Funding Levels

NDIS funding is individualized:

No “levels” like Support at Home
Funding based on YOUR specific needs
Can be anywhere from $5,000 to $500,000+ per year

Typical NDIS plans:

Low support: $15,000-$30,000/year
Moderate support: $30,000-$80,000/year
High support: $80,000-$200,000/year
Very high (SIL/24-7): $200,000-$400,000/year

Your funding depends on:

Your goals
Level of functional impairment
Supports needed
Evidence from assessments

What NDIS Covers

NDIS has 3 budget categories:

Core Supports (daily assistance):

Support workers
Personal care
Transport
Community participation

Capacity Building (building skills):

Therapies (OT, physio, speech)
Support coordination
Psychology
Employment support

Capital Supports (equipment):

Assistive technology
Home modifications
Vehicle modifications
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

NDIS is much more flexible than HCP and can fund a wider range of supports.

Home Care Package vs NDIS: Key Differences

Difference 1: Age and Eligibility

HCP: Aged care program for older Australians (65+)

Based on aging needs
Don’t need to have disability
Just need support to stay home instead of aged care facility

NDIS: Disability program for people under 65

Must have permanent disability
Disability must significantly impact life
Age cutoff: must apply before 65

Example: Sarah (68) has mobility issues from aging. She needs help with showering and housework. → Home Care Package

Example: David (45) has cerebral palsy and needs daily support. → NDIS

Difference 2: Funding Amount

HCP: Fixed levels ($9.5k - $55k/year)

Cannot get more than Level 4 ($55k)
Level determined by ACAT
Less flexibility in funding amount

NDIS: Individualized (anything from $5k to $500k+/year)

No maximum limit
Based on your specific needs
High support needs can receive much more funding

Example: If you need 24/7 support in SIL, NDIS can fund $200k-$400k/year. Home Care Package maxes out at $55k.

Difference 3: Scope of Supports

HCP: Aged care focus

Basic to moderate support
Cannot fund specialist disability accommodation
Cannot fund extensive employment support
Limited assistive technology funding

NDIS: Comprehensive disability support

Can fund SDA (specialist housing)
Can fund significant home modifications
Can fund high-cost assistive technology
Can fund employment supports
Can fund behavior support
Much broader range

Example: Need ceiling hoist for transfers? NDIS can fund it ($20k+). Home Care Package has very limited funding for this.

Difference 4: Philosophy

HCP: Aging-in-place support

Help you stay at home longer
Alternative to residential aged care
Practical daily assistance

NDIS: Capacity building and independence

Build skills and independence
Choice and control
Achieve your life goals
Mainstream community participation

Can You Have Both Home Care Package and NDIS?

Generally NO. You must choose one.

The Rule

If you’re under 65:

Apply for NDIS if you have permanent disability
Cannot access Home Care Package

If you’re 65+ and:

Already on NDIS: You can stay on NDIS (don’t switch to HCP)
Not on NDIS: Apply for Home Care Package (too late for NDIS)
Applied for NDIS before 65: If approved after 65, you get NDIS

Rare Exceptions

You might have both if:

You’re transitioning from HCP to NDIS (temporary overlap)
You have NDIS for disability + HCP for aged care needs (very rare, requires approval)

In practice: NDIS and HCP don’t want to duplicate funding. If you qualify for both, you’ll be asked to choose.

Which Should You Choose (If Eligible for Both)?

If you’re 64 and qualify for both NDIS and Home Care Package, which is better?

Choose NDIS if:

✓ You have significant disability support needs
✓ You need more than $55k/year funding
✓ You need specialist disability supports (SDA, complex AT)
✓ You want to build skills and independence
✓ You’re likely to need high-level support long-term

NDIS advantages:

Much higher potential funding
Broader range of supports
More individualized
Better for complex needs

Choose Home Care Package if:

✓ Your needs are modest (under $55k/year would cover you)
✓ You mainly need personal care and household assistance
✓ You don’t have significant permanent disability (just aging)
✓ NDIS eligibility is borderline/unclear

HCP advantages:

Easier to qualify (no “permanent disability” test)
Simpler system
Adequate for most aged care needs

Default Recommendation

If you qualify for NDIS and need substantial support: Choose NDIS.

More funding potential
More comprehensive supports
Better long-term

If your needs are modest and aging-related: Home Care Package is fine.

Transitioning Between HCP and NDIS

HCP → NDIS (Uncommon, but possible)

Scenario: You’re on Home Care Package but develop permanent disability requiring NDIS.

Example: You’re 60, on Level 2 HCP. You have stroke causing permanent disability.

Steps:

Apply for NDIS (provide evidence of permanent disability)
If approved, NDIS notifies Home Care Package system
HCP ends when NDIS starts
No gap in funding

Note: Applying for NDIS after 65 is difficult but possible in rare cases (e.g., acquired disability after 64).

NDIS → HCP (More Common)

Scenario: You’ve been on NDIS since before 65. You turn 65+.

Options:

Stay on NDIS (most people do this)
- You can remain on NDIS after 65 if already receiving it
- NDIS usually provides more funding than HCP
- Recommended if you have ongoing disability support needs
Switch to HCP (rare)
- Only if NDIS funding is very low (under $15k/year)
- AND your needs are purely aged care (not disability)
- Usually not worth it (lose benefits)

Default: Stay on NDIS if you’re already on it.

Applying for Home Care Package

Step 1: Get ACAT assessment

Call My Aged Care: 1800 200 422
Book ACAT assessment (Aged Care Assessment Team)
Assessor visits your home

Step 2: Wait for approval and package level

ACAT recommends level (1, 2, 3, or 4)
You’re placed on waiting list (national queue)

Step 3: Wait for package offer

Waiting time: 6-12+ months (varies by level and location)
Higher levels wait longer

Step 4: Choose provider

Once offered package, you choose provider
Provider manages funding

Timeline: 6-18 months from assessment to receiving services

Applying for NDIS

Step 1: Call NDIS and request Access Request Form

Phone: 1800 800 110
Or apply online: ndis.gov.au

Step 2: Gather evidence

Medical reports showing permanent disability
Functional capacity assessments
Evidence of how disability impacts daily life

Step 3: Submit Access Request

NDIS decides if you’re eligible
Decision within 21 days

Step 4: If approved, planning meeting

Discuss your goals and needs
NDIS creates your plan and budget

Step 5: Start using funding

Find providers
Start services

Timeline: 3-6 months from application to receiving services

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m 64 with disability. Should I apply for NDIS now? Yes. Apply before 65. After 65 it’s much harder (near impossible) to enter NDIS.

I’m on NDIS and turning 65. What happens? Nothing. You stay on NDIS. Don’t switch to HCP (you’ll lose funding).

Can I have HCP and NDIS for different things? Rarely. Generally you must choose one. Exceptions require special approval and are uncommon.

Which is easier to get: HCP or NDIS? HCP is generally easier (less strict eligibility). NDIS requires proving permanent disability with significant functional impact.

Which has more funding? NDIS can provide much more (no maximum). HCP maxes at $55k/year (Level 4).

I’m 66 with new disability. Can I get NDIS? Usually no. NDIS is for people who apply before 65. You’d access Support at Home instead.

Which is better quality? Both give you choice of providers. NDIS has broader supports and often more funding. Quality depends on providers you choose, not the program.

Find Providers for HCP or NDIS

Browse aged care and NDIS providers on MD Home Care.

Browse Providers Find providers for Support at Home or NDIS supports.

Call 1800 953 253 for help understanding which program suits your needs and finding providers.

Key Takeaways:

Support at Home (formerly HCP) = aged care (65+), modest funding, aging support
NDIS = disability support (under 65), higher funding, comprehensive
You usually can’t have both
If under 65 with disability: apply for NDIS
If 65+ with aging needs: apply for Support at Home
If already on NDIS at 65: stay on NDIS

Related Guides:

Home Care Package vs NDIS: Key Differences 2026

Home Care Package vs NDIS: What’s the Difference?

Quick Comparison