Government extends Support at Home claiming deadline after provider concerns

The Federal Government has extended the claiming deadline for the first quarter of the new Support at Home program, following advocacy from Catholic Health Australia (CHA) and concerns raised by providers during the transition.

Providers will now have 90 days, rather than 60, to submit claims for services delivered between 1 November and 31 December 2025. The deadline has been extended to 31 March 2026. The standard 60-day claiming period will apply from the second quarter onwards.

The Department of Health and Aged Care confirmed the change after feedback from providers about administrative pressure during the early stages of implementing the new Aged Care Act and Support at Home reforms.

“This is a welcome and pragmatic decision by the Government during a period of significant reform,” said Alex Lynch, Director of Aged Care at Catholic Health Australia.

“Catholic providers raised concerns about the original 60-day claiming window as they transition to the new Support at Home system. Extending the first quarter deadline to 90 days gives providers breathing room to focus on what matters most: delivering high-quality care to older Australians.”

CHA said it had raised the issue directly with Government and the Department in recent weeks.

“We appreciate the Department’s cooperation and constructive response,” Mr Lynch said.

“Providers will continue to monitor implementation of the Support at Home program and work collaboratively with the Government if further adjustments are needed. Our focus remains on making sure the new system works smoothly for older Australians and those who care for them.”

Administrative pressure under reform

Support at Home replaces the Home Care Packages Program and introduces new funding categories, reporting requirements and system changes. Providers have been adjusting billing processes, updating internal systems and training staff while continuing day-to-day service delivery.

Several sector leaders have recently spoken about the operational pressure associated with the reform rollout. Concerns have centred on system readiness, guidance clarity and cashflow timing. For providers operating on tight margins, delays or errors in claiming can have material consequences.

The extension applies only to the first quarter of the program. From January 2026 onwards, the 60-day claiming period will resume.

While limited in scope, the change acknowledges the administrative load involved in transitioning to the new framework. Providers will now have additional time to reconcile services delivered during the opening months of Support at Home before submitting claims.

The coming quarters will indicate whether further adjustments are required as the program beds down.