The Support at Home waiting list: how long, and what to do while you wait

Getting approved for Support at Home is not the same as getting your funding. After your assessment, many people join a national queue and wait for their budget to be released. It is the part of the process that frustrates people most, partly because it is poorly explained. So let us explain it properly, give you a realistic sense of the wait, and, most importantly, tell you what you can do in the meantime.

Approval, then a wait

When your aged care assessment is done and you are approved for Support at Home, you receive an outcome letter. For ongoing services, that approval places you in a national queue. Your funding is released when a place becomes available at your priority level.

This is not first-come, first-served. It is needs-based.

How the priority system works

When you are approved, you are sorted into one of three priority categories:

Priority	What it means
Urgent	Most pressing needs; funded first
High	Significant needs; funded ahead of standard
Standard	Stable needs; funded as places allow

Someone with urgent needs is always funded ahead of someone with standard needs, no matter who has waited longer. That can feel unfair if you have been waiting a while, but the intent is to get help to the people in the greatest difficulty first. The official outcome information is on the My Aged Care assessment outcome page.

Budgets are released quarterly

Support at Home budgets for ongoing services are released at the start of each quarter: July, October, January and April. So even once a place is allocated to you, the funding tends to switch on at the start of the next quarter rather than the day you are approved.

How long is the wait in 2026?

This is the question everyone asks, and the honest answer is that it varies and the numbers move. As a guide, the inaugural Aged Care Act 2024 Wait Times Report (published May 2026, covering services commenced 1 November 2025 to 31 March 2026) puts the national median wait for an ongoing Support at Home place at around 347 days, roughly twelve months from application to services starting, with variation between states and priority levels. Wait times depend heavily on your priority level: urgent needs are funded far faster than standard ones.

These figures change as the government releases more places, so treat any single number as a snapshot, current as of the May 2026 report. The most reliable sources are the regular updates from the Department of Health and what My Aged Care tells you about your own situation. If your circumstances worsen, your priority can be reviewed, which can shorten your wait.

What to do while you wait

This is the useful part. Waiting does not have to mean going without support. Here is a practical checklist.

Use entry-level support in the meantime

The Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) still runs as the entry-level program, separate from Support at Home, until at least 1 July 2027. It can provide things like cleaning, Meals on Wheels, transport and basic social support, often with shorter waits. Ask My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 whether CHSP services are available to you now. The official detail is on health.gov.au.

Arrange short-term and respite care

If a carer needs a break, or you need short-term help after a hospital stay, respite care can be arranged while you wait for your ongoing package. It is funded separately and can be a real relief.

Pay privately for a stop-gap, if you can

If you can afford it, you can buy services privately while you wait, then fold them into your funded plan once your budget arrives. Browse providers now in our home care directory so you are ready to move.

Keep your assessment up to date

If your health declines while you wait, tell My Aged Care. A change in your situation can lift your priority. Do not sit quietly assuming nothing can be done.

Lean on community and informal supports

Plenty of help does not need a package at all. A neighbourhood house, community centre or senior centre can offer social contact, activities and sometimes practical help. Charities often run support services, transport and meal programs. Staying connected is good for you and takes some pressure off.

Get your finances and paperwork sorted

Use the wait to complete your income and assets assessment with Services Australia so there is no delay once your funding is released. Consider getting financial advice if your situation is complex.

A quick checklist for the waiting period

• Confirm your priority level and what it means for your likely wait
• Ask whether CHSP entry-level services are available to you now
• Look into respite care if a carer needs relief
• Shortlist providers from our home care directory
• Report any decline in your health to My Aged Care promptly
• Connect with local community centres and charities
• Complete your means assessment so funding can start without delay

When your funding is released

You will be contacted and your budget switches on, usually at the start of a quarter. At that point you choose or confirm your provider, agree a care plan, and services begin. If you lined up a provider during the wait, you can move quickly.

Frequently asked questions

Why am I still waiting if I was approved months ago? Approval places you in a needs-based queue. People with higher priority are funded first, and budgets release quarterly. Time waited is not the only factor.

Can I do anything to speed it up? You cannot jump the queue, but if your health declines, report it. A higher priority level is funded sooner.

Is CHSP a replacement for my package? No, it is lighter entry-level support, but it can tide you over while you wait for ongoing Support at Home funding.

What if I cannot cope at all while waiting? Tell My Aged Care your situation is urgent, look at respite care, and contact local charities for immediate support. Do not struggle in silence.