If you're an older Australian who needs a wheelchair and you receive aged care support, the Support at Home program can help with the cost. It replaced Home Care Packages in July 2025. Here's how it works and what to expect.
- What Happened to Home Care Packages?
- Can Support at Home Fund a Wheelchair?
- How to Get a Wheelchair Through Support at Home
What Happened to Home Care Packages?
The New Support at Home Program (From July 2025)
The Australian Government replaced Home Care Packages (HCP) with the Support at Home program from 1 July 2025. If you were on a Home Care Package, you've already been transitioned across. The new program still funds support for older Australians to stay living at home, but with updated categories and spending arrangements.
Assistive equipment, including wheelchairs, is still fundable under the new program. If your previous HCP included equipment funding, that carries forward under Support at Home. Talk to your aged care provider or case manager to confirm where your plan stands right now.
Can Support at Home Fund a Wheelchair?
What Assistive Technology Is Covered?
Under Support at Home, assistive technology (AT) covers mobility equipment like manual wheelchairs, walking frames, transfer aids and shower chairs. AT funding is there to support your independence and safety at home and in the community. A wheelchair that helps you move around safely fits clearly within that scope.
Not every AT item is covered at every support level, and price thresholds affect how purchases are managed. Your aged care provider can tell you what's possible within your current allocation.
How Much Can Be Spent on a Wheelchair?
Support at Home doesn't set a single maximum wheelchair spend across all plans. What's available depends on your support level (Level 1 to Level 8 under the new system) and how your overall budget is split across services and equipment. Higher support levels come with more AT budget. Your case manager can help you work out how much can go towards a wheelchair purchase.
For context, quality everyday manual wheelchairs start from around $600 to $1,500. If the chair you need costs more than your AT allocation, you can choose to co-contribute the difference.
How to Get a Wheelchair Through Support at Home
Step 1: Get an Aged Care Assessment
If you're not yet in the Support at Home program, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au to arrange an Aged Care Assessment. This determines your eligibility and support level. You need to be 65 or older (or 50 and older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians).
Step 2: Confirm AT Budget with Your Provider
Once you're in the program, contact your aged care provider and ask specifically about your assistive technology budget. Find out what's available for a mobility aid like a wheelchair and what the purchasing process looks like under your plan. Some providers have approved supplier arrangements; others let you choose your own supplier.
Step 3: Work with Your Provider to Purchase
Once your AT budget is confirmed, your provider typically coordinates the purchase. You may need to get a quote first. If an occupational therapist assessment is required (which can happen for higher-value chairs), your provider should be able to arrange that. The OT confirms the wheelchair is the right fit for your needs before anything is purchased.
Key takeaways:
- Home Care Packages were replaced by Support at Home from July 2025; wheelchairs remain a fundable item
- How much is available for a wheelchair depends on your support level
- Talk to your aged care provider to confirm your AT budget and purchasing process
- Not yet assessed? Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to start the process
See our full guide on free and subsidised wheelchair options for other funding pathways, including NDIS and DVA. Browse our wheelchair range for options that suit common Support at Home budget levels.