What’s the difference between the NDIS and Support at Home?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and Support at Home are two separate government programs, and the difference comes down to age and the reason for support.
The NDIS is for people who apply before turning 65 and who have a permanent disability that significantly affects their daily life. Support at Home, which replaced Home Care Packages, is for older Australians (generally 65 and over) who need help with daily living due to the effects of ageing, rather than a lifelong disability.
Eligibility is usually the deciding factor between the two. People can access one program or the other, not both. If you're already an NDIS participant when you turn 65, you can choose to stay on the NDIS rather than move across to Support at Home. If your support needs start after 65, you'd access Support at Home instead, assessed through My Aged Care.
Key differences between the NDIS and Support at Home
| NDIS | Support at Home | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | People under 65 with permanent, significant disability | People 65 and over (50 and over for First Nations people) who need support to stay living at home |
| What it covers | Individualised plan covering disability-related supports | Eight funding classification levels covering personal care, domestic assistance, nursing, allied health, and clinical care |
| How you access it | Apply to the NDIA, get a plan approved | Register with My Aged Care, complete an Aged Care needs assessment |
| Who runs it | National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) | Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, delivered through My Aged Care |
| Funding structure | Individualised plan budget | Quarterly budgets, paid through Services Australia |
When was the Support at Home introduced?
On 1 November 2025, the Support at Home program replaced Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care under the Aged Care Act 2024. This was part of the government's response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which called for a simpler, more consistent system for older people wanting to stay at home.
While the old system had four Home Care Package levels, Support at Home introduces eight classification levels, designed to more closely match funding to individual needs. Budgets are now paid quarterly through Services Australia rather than as a single package amount.
How to navigate the NDIS or Support at Home
If you're helping someone navigate whether they’ll receive support from the NDIS or Support at Home, it helps to ask the age-based question first:
- Is the person under 65, or 65 and over (50 and over for First Nations people)?
- For someone under 65, the starting point is checking their NDIS eligibility and applying to the NDIS.
- For someone 65 and over, the starting point is figuring out how aged care can help in their situation and applying for an aged care needs assessment.
Households with members on both the NDIS and Support at Home need to deal with each system separately. Assessments, plans and budgets aren't shared between them.
Hireup operates across both the disability and aged care sectors, which can be useful for families or coordinators navigating supports across the NDIS or Support at Home. More than 11,000 NDIS and Aged Care clients trust Hireup as a platform where they can find, book and manage aged care and disability support workers all in the same place.
Is Support at Home the same as the NDIS?
No, Support at Home is the Australian Government's in-home aged care program for people 65 and over (50 and over for First Nations people). The NDIS is for people under 65 with permanent, significant disability.
They're run by different agencies and have different eligibility rules.
What happened to Home Care Packages?
Home Care Packages and Short-Term Restorative Care were replaced by Support at Home on 1 November 2025. Existing package holders were automatically moved across, and unspent funds carried over into the new quarterly budget structure.
Can I use my NDIS plan after I turn 65?
If you're already an NDIS participant before turning 65, you can choose to stay covered under the NDIS or move to the aged care system. This is a personal decision, and it's best confirmed directly with the NDIA based on your supports and situation.
Can participants receive funding under both systems?
No, participants can’t be funded by the NDIS and the aged care Support at Home program at the same time. They are two separate funding streams.
Does Hireup work under Support at Home?
Yes, Hireup can help aged care participants (in the Support at Home program) find support. Using our platform, you can search, book and manage verified and experienced support workers near you.
Find support workers on Hireup
Hireup is an NDIS-registered disability support platform that connects support workers (covered under Hireup's registration) and participants on their own terms.
We believe everyone should have full choice and control of the support they need and the work they do, with safeguards to give everyone full peace of mind.