Many people receive Commonwealth Home Support Programme CHSP funding while waiting to be assigned a Home Care Package (HCP). Once you accept your Home Care Package you will be required to finish up your CHSP funded services.

But don’t dismay, if there is a specific service you really enjoyed from the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, you will be able to find a replacement service to fund directly from your Home Care Package.

This means you won’t even have to pay the subsidised rate out of your own pocket. Your services will be 100% covered by your Home Care Package funding.

CHSP is considered to be at the entry level of the aged care system. This means it provides some low level support to older Australians who need some extra help at home. You get access to select services at a subsidised rate to help you live better at home until you need more assistance.

To be eligible for the CHSP you must be:

• 65 years or older (50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people), or
• 50 years or older (45 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and on a low income, homeless, or at risk of being homeless.

While the support provided by CHSP funding and HCP are fairly similar there are some key differences.  Click here for more on the difference between CHSP funding and HCP.