Home Care Package · Level 2 of 4
Level 2 Home Care Package: Low-level care needs
Level 2 Home Care Package supports older Australians with low-level care needs – more substantial domestic + personal care help than Level 1, with regular allied health + nursing input. It is the most common HCP level by participant volume per Department of Health data, suiting people who need consistent weekly support but not high-intensity nursing oversight.
★Key takeaways
- ✓Level 2 Home Care Package: federal subsidy of ~$18,622/year paid by the Commonwealth to your provider (roughly $716/fortnight, $358/week).
- ✓Typical service volume: 4–5 hours of direct care per week – covering personal care, domestic help, nursing + allied health.
- ✓You pay the basic daily fee (17.5% of the single Age Pension, ~$12.75/day) and, if your income is above the threshold, an income-tested care fee capped at ~$36.04/day.
- ✓Care + package management fees combined are capped at 20% of the package value under the 2024–25 reforms. Exit fees are banned.
- ✓Gateway: ACAT assessment via My Aged Care (1800 200 422) – free, federally funded, conducted in your home.
Funding at a glance
Federal subsidy for Level 2
Annual subsidy
$18,622
paid to your provider, not to you
Fortnightly
$716
paid in arrears to provider
Direct care volume
4–5 hours
per week typical
Subsidy figures indexed twice yearly with the Age Pension by the Department of Health. Cross-check current rate at health.gov.au/our-work/home-care-packages-program/funding before any financial decision.
Who qualifies
ACAT eligibility for Level 2
ACAT assesses you as having low-level functional decline – typically: one or two chronic conditions, occasional difficulty with one or two ADLs (showering, dressing, mobility), limited capacity for heavy domestic tasks, manageable in your own home with regular weekly support. Many post-stroke or post-falls recovery clients commence at Level 2.
Application steps
- Apply via My Aged Care online or 1800 200 422.
- Complete an ACAT in-home assessment (typically 4–6 weeks scheduled out).
- Receive your written approval letter with assigned level.
- Choose an HCP provider from myagedcare.gov.au.
- Sign the Home Care Agreement + Care Plan with your provider.
- Services commence once the package is assigned + activated.
What it covers
Typical services in a Level 2 care plan
- Domestic assistance (2–3 visits/week, ~3–4 hours total)
- Regular personal care (showering, dressing, ~2–3 hours/week)
- Allied health appointments (physio, podiatry, OT, dietetics – typically fortnightly)
- Nursing visits (medication management, wound care, monthly review)
- Transport to medical + social appointments
- Social support + community participation
- Minor home modifications (handrails, ramps, shower modifications)
- Assistive technology (mobility aids, personal alarms)
What it doesn't cover
- × Overnight or 24/7 nursing support
- × High-intensity dementia management
- × Live-in support workers
- × Daily living expenses
- × Items already funded under Medicare or NDIS
Sample weekly budget
How a Level 2 package gets spent
Indicative breakdown for a typical Level 2 care plan. Actual spend varies by provider hourly rates, location + your individual care plan. Total annual federal funding ~$18,622.
| Service component | Weekly cost |
|---|---|
| Domestic assistance (3 hrs/wk) | $195 |
| Personal care (3 hrs/wk) | $225 |
| Allied health (physio + podiatry, fortnightly) | $75 |
| Nursing visit (fortnightly review) | $65 |
| Transport (1 trip/wk) | $35 |
| Care + package management fee (20% cap) | $72 |
| Total weekly direct spend | $667 |
Hourly rates used: personal care ~$80/hr (varies $70–$110), domestic assistance ~$65/hr ($55–$80), nursing visit ~$130/hr, physiotherapy ~$120/visit. Provider rates published on individual provider websites; compare 2–3 quotes before signing the Home Care Agreement.
Transitioning between levels
If your needs change
Your care plan can be reviewed at any time by your provider, your treating clinician, your family or you. If needs grow beyond Level 2, request an ACAT reassessment through My Aged Care. The reassessment is free, in-home + can be triggered by anyone in your care circle.
- Reassessment takes ~2–4 weeks to schedule.
- Higher level is offered when available – interim period can use lower-level services.
- You can switch providers when changing levels – packages are fully portable.
Family caregiver considerations
For the family supporting the recipient
Level 2 is professional support – not a replacement for family caregiving. Families remain central to: care plan decisions, medication management, social companionship, end-of-life planning + advocacy when something isn't working.
- Free carer support: Carer Gateway 1800 422 737 + carer respite via residential respite.
- Carer Payment + Carer Allowance (Centrelink) if you provide substantial daily care.
- OPAN advocacy service: free, independent help if something goes wrong with the package. opan.org.au.
Common questions
Level 2 Home Care Package – common questions
Is Level 2 enough to support a person living alone?
For many people, yes – particularly with strong family support. Level 2 provides ~4–5 hours of professional support per week. If you live alone + have no informal carer network, the level may feel inadequate for safety + companionship; in that case request reassessment for Level 3.
How much does a Level 2 package cost out of pocket?
Most full-rate pensioners pay only the basic daily fee (~$12.75/day, $89/week, $4,650/year). Self-funded retirees with higher incomes pay an additional income-tested care fee on top – capped at ~$36/day. Lifetime out-of-pocket cap is $85,000. See <a href="https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/income-and-assets-tests-for-aged-care?context=22126" class="text-[var(--vbrand)] underline">Services Australia means assessment</a>.
Can I top up a Level 2 package with private services?
Yes – many participants supplement their package with privately-paid services (extra cleaning, a private personal-care worker for additional hours, paid companionship). The HCP funds the regulated services in your care plan; anything extra you fund yourself directly with a provider of your choice.
How quickly can a Level 2 package start?
Typical wait from approval to commencement is 1–3 months. Faster than Levels 3–4. ACAT-approved priority cases (e.g. carer in crisis) can start within weeks.
Will my Level 2 package follow me if I move interstate?
Yes – packages are nationally portable. Notify your provider of the move, they coordinate with a provider in your new location, your level + funds transfer. Allow 3–4 weeks for the transition. Some providers operate nationally + can manage the move internally.
Compare across levels